Journey to See the Buddhas Relics | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Tongdosa Temple, one of the three great temples of Korea, is a Buddharupa temple that enshrines the Buddha's relics. According to the temple records, the name Tongdosa was given because the mountain where the temple stands resembles Yeongchwisan Mountain in India where the Buddha preached, and also because all aspiring monks must pass through the Geumganggyedan (Diamond Platform), symbolizing the meaning of 통도 (Tongdo) as embracing all truths to save all sentient beings. According to the Samguk Yusa, Monk Jajang of Silla studied Buddhism in Tang China, returned to Silla as the great national preceptor, and built Tongdosa by royal order. He widely taught Buddhist law, set monastic rules, and enshrined the Buddha's relics while building the Geumganggyedan platform enabling many aspirants to attain enlightenment. The buildings, except Daewangmyeongjeon, were reconstructed twice after destruction during the Imjin War. Because Tongdosa holds the Buddha’s relics, the main hall (Daewoongjeon) does not enshrine a Buddha statue. Daewoongjeon and Geumganggyedan are designated national treasures, and 26 items such as the bronze inlaid incense burner and Bongbaltap pagoda are kept in Tongdosa’s Sacred Relics Museum. Tongdosa Templestay is conducted on a large scale fitting for the large temple. It begins with etiquette instructions by monks, followed by cultural heritage explanations by the volunteer group Jeokmyeoldoryanghoe, offering core knowledge about the temple in a short time. After sunset, participants meditate silently in the Buddha relic shrine, holding lotus lanterns made that day, facing the relic pagoda where the Buddha’s relics and robes are enshrined. This meditation in the relic shrine is the core program of Tongdosa Templestay, with some attending solely for this experience.

Gyeonggi Restaurant, located at the entrance of Tongdosa Temple, one of Korea's three great temples, features mountain vegetable bibimbap and deodeok set meals as its signature dishes. Since 1975, it has been popular with tourists by serving generous meals made with ingredients that were the easiest to obtain at that time. The dishes, flavored with homemade doenjang and gochujang, offer a rustic taste, and the neat table settings create the atmosphere of a countryside feast with warm hospitality.

This temple was founded by monk Wonhyo during the reign of King Munmu of Silla. Wonhyo established it under the name Naksusa when he preached the Avatamsaka Sutra to 1,000 Tang dynasty monks at Cheonseongsan. The monks washed themselves in the waterfall next to the temple while listening to Wonhyo’s sermons, hence the name Naksusa. The mountain Cheonseongsan, where the temple is located, was originally called Wonjeoksan, but was renamed Cheonseongsan (Thousand Saint Mountain) because all 1,000 Tang monks attained enlightenment there. During the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War), Hongryongsa was burned down, leaving only the site for hundreds of years. In the 1910s, monk Beophwa of Tongdosa restored it. The name Hongryong derives from the waterfall at the temple. The Hongryong Waterfall has a first and second waterfall, and a legend says a celestial dragon lived beneath it and ascended to heaven riding a rainbow. Since the late 1970s, under head monk Ugwang, restoration efforts have repeatedly taken place. Existing buildings include the main hall (Daeungjeon), bell pavilion, meditation hall (Seonbang), and monks' quarters (Yosachae), with Okdang beside the waterfall.

Naewonsa Temple is a branch temple of Tongdosa, the 15th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, located on the foothills of Cheonseong Mountain with beautiful scenery and valleys. In 1898, Seokdam Yuseong Seonsa established Suseonsa together with Seolwoo, Toewoon, and Wanhae, renamed the temple Naewonsa, and named it Donggukjeil Seonwon, gaining fame as a Seon meditation center. Hyewol Seonsa, a Dharma heir of Gyeongheo Seonsa, resided as the head monk and produced great monks such as Myeongan Jongsa, who continued the Seon lineage of Korean Seon Buddhism with monks like Unbong and Hyanggok Seonsa. In 1979, Ven. Doyong was installed as head monk, and 18 monks began a three-year meditation retreat, completing their sixth retreat in 1999; today, bhikkhuni monks continue deep practice. Great monk Wonhyo led 1,000 followers from China’s Taehwa Temple to this mountain, founding Daedunsa and 89 hermitages. Among these, Naewon Hermitage remained after a great flood in the late Joseon period destroyed most hermitages and Daedunsa; it was rebuilt several times to become today’s Naewonsa. Even now, as the 'Donggukjeil Seonwon,' many bhikkhuni monks diligently pursue enlightenment here.