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image adapted from Iddange Saegyojin Chungshin (The Spirit Etched on this Land) by Kim Bong Ryol, c. 1999
| Tongdosa temple (646 AD, oldest buildings 16th century onward) | Pusan, Korea |
Click on an arrow or a red region for
larger views. More images below.
image adapted from Iddange
Saegyojin Chungshin (The Spirit Etched on this Land) by Kim Bong Ryol,
c. 1999
Click to enlarge these views of the entry
sequence.
Tongdosa is one of the most important temples in Korea. Founded by the Priest Chajang upon his return from China in 646 AD, it reputedly houses relics of the historical Buddha himself, including a robe, a begging bowl, and a bone from his skull. The temple survived the fall of Silla and thrived well into the Koryo period (918-1392), when it became one of the three largest temples in Korea, a distinction it still shares with Haeinsa and Songkwangsa. At its height of its prosperity in the mid 15th century, Tongdosa may have contained hundreds of buildings and thousands of monks. Though most of these were destroyed in the Japanese invasions at the end of the 16th century, one building--the Taeungjon--escaped the flames, and was last repaired in the early 17th century.
Tongdosa is often called "The temple without a Buddha", for there is not a single outdoor statue of Buddha on grounds. Instead, the temple's courtyards are arrayed around several stupas (pagodas) that supposedly house Chajang's precious gifts. Another point of note is an eternal flame that is supposed to have been kept ablaze for over 1,300 years, but like all such stories, it is probably not true.
Bibliography
All images copyright 2000 Tim Ciccone
Kim, Bong Ryol.
Iddange Saegyojin Chungshin (The Spirit Etched on this Land)
Seoul, Korea. Isang
Kunchuk publishers. c. 1999
Nilsen, Robert South
Korea Handbook
Moon Publications, Inc.
China. 1997