East Asia

Korea Temples

Korean Buddhism, its mountain monasteries and temple stay programmes.

Start here · Essential guide

A Guide to Korean Buddhist Temples

An overview of Korean Buddhism: how it arrived, why monasteries sit in the mountains, the role of Seon practice, and what visitors can expect at a temple.

5 min read

Bulguksa and Seokguram in Gyeongju

Bulguksa temple and the Seokguram grotto on Mount Toham near Gyeongju: their Silla-era origins, stone pagodas, carved Buddha and why UNESCO lists them.

4 min read

Haeinsa and the Tripitaka Koreana

Haeinsa on Mount Gaya keeps the Tripitaka Koreana, a Buddhist canon carved on about 81,000 woodblocks in the thirteenth century. Why it is valued.

4 min read

Korean Buddhist Bells, Drums and Daily Chanting

How a Korean monastery opens and closes its day with the bell, drum, wooden fish and cloud gong, followed by chanting and bows, in general terms.

4 min read

Korean Temple Food and Monastic Meals

The principles behind Korean temple food, a vegetarian cuisine of seasonal plants and fermented seasonings, and the formal bowl meal eaten in many monasteries.

3 min read

Lantern Festivals for the Buddha Birthday in Korea

How Korea celebrates the Buddha's birthday with lotus lanterns, temple courtyards and a city parade, and why the date moves each year on the calendar.

3 min read

Seon Buddhism and Korean Meditation Retreats

What Seon Buddhism is, how it relates to Chinese Chan and Japanese Zen, the hwadu method, and the seasonal three-month retreats of Korean monasteries.

4 min read

The Layout of a Korean Mountain Monastery

The usual sequence of gates, courtyards, halls and shrines at a Korean mountain temple, from the one-pillar gate to the mountain spirit shrine.

4 min read

The Three Jewel Temples of Korea

Tongdosa, Haeinsa and Songgwangsa are traditionally linked to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. What each temple is known for and where the idea comes from.

3 min read

What a Korean Temple Stay Is Like

A general description of Korean temple stay programmes: the daily schedule, typical activities such as bowing, tea and meals, and the conduct expected of guests.

4 min read

More in east asia

Buddhist China Chinese Buddhist history, caves and sacred mountains, with Mongolia. Kiyomizu-dera Kyoto’s hillside temple of Kannon. Temples of Japan Nara, Kyoto and the schools of Japanese Buddhism. Japan Pilgrim Routes The Shikoku trail and other temple circuits of Japan.