Baegyangsa

Baegyangsa
Religion
Affiliation	Jogye Order, Korean Buddhism
Location
Geographic coordinates	35°26′21″N 126°52′59″E / 35.4392°N 126.8830°E / 35.4392; 126.8830
Korean name
Hangul	백양사
Hanja	白羊寺
Revised Romanization	Baegyangsa
McCune–Reischauer	Paegyangsa

Baegyangsa (Korean: 백양사), also spelled Baekyangsa,^[1] is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is situated in Bukha-myeon, Jangseong County, in South Jeolla province, South Korea. Built in 632 under the Baekje kingdom, it lies on the slopes of Baegam-san in Naejangsan National Park.

History

Baegyangsa was established by Zen Master Yeohwan in 632 AD. The temple's original name was Baegamsa. In the Goryeo Dynasty, it was called Jeongtosa. In Korean, Jeongto is the same concept of heaven as in Christianity. The name of the temple means "white sheep," and refers to a legend from the Goryeo period in which a white sheep came down from the mountain to listen to a sermon and was sufficiently enlightened that it was able to ascend into Paradise.

In the Japanese occupation era the temple was recognized as one of the main temples in the Korean peninsula. It belongs to the Chogye Order at the present time. These days, a large role has been given to Baegyang Temple for educating monks around Jeolla province.

The temple has recently become well-known as the home of monk and chef Jeong Kwan.

Forests

Large numbers of Torreya nucifera grow around Baegyang Temple. This area is one of the northernmost areas where Torreya nucifera can grow in the Korean peninsula.

Tourism

The temple is a notable tourist destination, offering a Temple Stay program. The Temple Stay offers a shorter program and an overnight program, in which participants can learn cooking with Jeong Kwan.

Transportation

Baegyangsa is serviced by intercity buses, with several buses per day to the main bus terminals in Jeongeup and Gwangju.

See also

• Jeong Kwan
• Buddhist temples in South Korea
• Religion in South Korea

References

External links

• Official site, in Korean
• Official Temple Stay site
• Photo gallery by Sean Coutts^{[permanent dead link]}
• KoreaTemple profile