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Jogye Order (Korean: 조계종), officially Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (대한불교조계종), is a sect of Korean Buddhism. It is the largest Buddhist sect in Korea with around 3,100 temples and 13,000 monks as of 2018.[3] Although the order has its roots in Unified Silla, its modern form was established in 1962. Its principal scripture is the Diamond Sutra and its followers practice ganhwaseon meditation.

History

The order takes its name from Mount Caoxi where Huineng, the sixth patriarch of Chan Buddhism resided.[4] It has its roots in the Nine mountain schools established in Unified Silla. Its founder is thought to be Doui [ko] who first brought Seon (Zen) to Korea. Jinul is thought to be the Prospering Patriach (중천조) and Bou [ko] is thought to be the Reviving Patriarch (중흥조).[5]

Goryeo

The Nine mountain schools were reorganized into the Jogye Order and began to prosper under the leadership of Jinul. Jinul promoted the principle of donojeomsu [ko] (sudden enlightenment followed by gradual cultivation), emphasizing meditation as well as studying the Sutra. The order gained support from the Goryeo military regime due to its emphasis on continuous discipline and became a unique and indigenous Buddhist practice.[6]

Joseon

Joseon implemented policies that promoted Confucianism and suppressed Buddhism for centuries such as banning monks from entering the capital. During the reign of Prince Yeonsan, Jogye Order faced persecution. Nevertheless, Buddhism was preserved in sansa through the efforts of eminent monks such as Hyujeong and Yujeong during the Imjin War. Monks were permitted to enter the capital after the 1895 Kabo Reform.[5]

Japanese colonial period

Buddhists tried to rebuild Buddhist sects and expand Buddhism into cities through the establishment of Won Order and Imje Order, but these attempts were suppressed by Japanese colonial authorities. In response, eminent monks such as Jinjong and Manhae resisted Japanese rule and the movement to establish an independent Buddhist order continued such as the founding of Seonhakwon in 1921. In 1941, the Jogye Order of Joseon Buddhism (조선불교조계종), the predecessor of Jogye Order, was established.[5]

20th century after liberation

After the liberation of Korea, the Buddhism purification movement took place from 1954 to 1962 to restore Korean Buddhist traditions and root out daecheoseung [ko] (married monks) who appeared during the colonial period when the Japanese forced Buddhist monks to marry.[7] In 1955, the Jogye Order centered on bhikkus (unmarried monks) was established. Through mediation by eminent monks and the government, daecheoseung were tolerated and in 1962, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism was officially established.[5] However, in 1970, daecheoseung created a separate Buddhist Order (Taego Order).[8]

During the October 27th Buddhist Persecution in 1980, the Chun Doo-hwan government arrested and investigated monks and personnel of the Jogye Order in order to “purify the Buddhist community”. 153 people were arrested and investigated on October 27 and another 1,776 people were arrested three days later. The real reason of the incident is thought to be that the headquarter of the order had visited Gwangju to support the victims of the Gwangju Uprising and launched its own purification campaign. It is considered an abuse of state power under martial law and violation of religious freedom.[9]

In 1994, Ven. Uihyeon, the president at that time, attempted to secure a third consecutive term although the constitution of the order (종헌) did not clearly state whether the president could be elected three times. Consequently, young monks formed the Pan-Sangha Order Reform Promotion Committee (범승가종단개혁추진회) in 1994 and launched efforts to block his reappointment and reform the order. When it was later revealed that the headquarters hired thugs to enforce the election, the incident became a nationwide issue. The committee later established a reform council and rooted out corrupt monks.[10]

21st century

Participants of Templestay

To globalize Korean Buddhism, the order founded the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism (한국불교문화사업단) in 2004 and launched various programs such as Templestay, promotion of Korean temple cuisine, and training of foreign monks.[11] In the 2000s, the order helped restore Singyesa in North Korea.[12]

In a 2018 survey, the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders reported that the order has 3,185 temples, 13,327 monks, and 12 million followers, making it the largest Buddhist sect in South Korea.[3] However, as of 2017, the order has 260,000 registered followers.[13] As of 2026, the supreme patriarch (종정) is Ven. Seongpa[1] and the president (총무원장) is Ven. Jinu.[2]

Religious characteristics

The core principles (종지) of the order are direct pointing to the mind (직지인심; 直指人心), seeing one’s true nature and attaining Buddhahood (견성성불; 見性成佛) and transmitting Dharma and saving sentient beings (전법도생; 傳法度生). The principal scriptures of the Jogye Order are the Diamond Sutra and Dharma Words of the Transmission of the Lamp (전등법어; 傳燈法語) and its principle practice method is ganhwaseon where a master presents a hwadu (koan) to a disciple and guides his or her inquiry into it.[14] Meanwhile, the order acknowledges the tradition of syncretic Buddhism (통불교) that incorporates Huayan, Pure Land Buddhism, and Vajrayana and thus does not restrict the study of other scriptures and practices such as nianfo and chants.[5]

Composition and operation

The Jogye Order is made up of headquarters (총무원, executive branch), central council (중앙종회, legislative branch), and precepts adjudication council (호계원, judicial branch). The supreme patriarch, who holds the highest status and authority within the order, is appointed and serves a 5-year term. The president, who represents the order and oversees administrative affairs, is elected through an indirect election system by a 321-member electoral body.[15] The abbot (주지) of a head temple represents the temple and is appointed by the president after being elected.[5]

Head temples

Jogye Order has 25 parishes (교구).[a] The head temple of a parish is called bonsa (본사; 本寺) and oversees parish affairs. Its subordinate temples are called malsa (말사; 末寺) and one parish has ten to hundreds of malsa.[16] The prototype of the 25-parish system is the 31-bonsan system implemented during the Japanese colonial period.[17]

There was a dispute between Jogye Order and Taego Order over the ownership of Seonamsa and a 2022 court ruling recognized the ownership of the latter.[18]

Philanthropy

In 2020, the order donated for the overcoming of COVID-19 pandemic.[19]

The Jogye Order Social Welfare Foundation, established in 1995, operates facilities for the disabled, elderly, and homeless.[20] It also has provided disaster relief to victims of the 2005 Sri Lanka earthquake, 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and 2014 Sinking of MV Sewol.[21]

Major controversies

During the 1998 president election, tensions escalated over Ven. Wolju’s bid for a third term, leading to violent clashes within the order.[22] The situation was eventually brought to an end by the police charging 28 people.[23] In later president elections, vote buying and black propaganda became a problem due to indirect election, prompting some to suggest alternative voting methods.[24]

In 2012, footage of monks gambling and drinking was revealed,[25] resulting in the entire executive board of headquarters resigning.[26] In 2018, Ven. Seoljeong was accused of falsifying his academic credentials and having a hidden wife and child,[27] resulting in him stepping down from president.[28] Some researchers argued that these scandals may have led to the decreased number of postulants.[29]

Affiliated organizations

Bulgyo Sinmun

Jogye Order founded the Buddhist newspaper Daehan Bulgyo on January 1, 1960 after realizing the importance of missionary work through documents. It was forcibly shut down by the government in 1980 in part because of the October 27th Buddhist Persecution. When it was revived on December 21 in the same year, it changed its name to Bulgyo Sinmun.[30]

Central Buddhist Museum

The order established the Central Buddhist Museum in 2007 to preserve Buddhist cultural properties difficult for individual temples to house and care for and to promote Buddhist culture. One of its important collections is Reliquaries from the Three-story Stone Pagoda of Bulguksa Temple designated as National Treasure.[31]

Schools

As of 2003, the order operates 24 schools.[32]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Other sources state that the order has 24 parishes.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b “역대종정” [Supreme patriarchs of all time]. Jogye Order (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  2. ^ a b Lim, Ji-seon (2022-09-28). “조계종 신임 총무원장 진우스님 임기 시작” [New Jogye Order president Ven. Jinu begins his term]. Kyunghyang Sinmun (in Korean).
  3. ^ a b “2018년 한국의 종교현황” [2018 Religion Status in Korea]. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (in Korean). 2019-01-14. p. 101.
  4. ^ Hong, Jin-ho (2024-06-11). “[견지동45] 선과 Zen…韓 조계종 특별한 이유는?” [[Gyeonji-dong 45] Seon and Zen… Why is Korean Jogye Order special?]. BBS (in Korean).
  5. ^ a b c d e f Cho, Ki-ryong (2023). “대한불교조계종” [Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).
  6. ^ Eckert, Carter J (1991). Korea Old And New: A History. Ilchokak. p. 94. ISBN 0962771309.
  7. ^ Yoon, Sang-hyeon (2014). “불교정화운동” [Buddhism purification movement]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).
  8. ^ Jo, Gi-ryong (2023). “한국불교태고종” [Taego Order of Korean Buddhism]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).
  9. ^ Lee, Hye-yeong (2021). “10·27법난” [October 27th Buddhist Persecution]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).
  10. ^ Kim, Soon-seok (2013). “1994년 대한불교조계종 개혁종단의 성립과 의의” [Establishment of Reformative Order within Korean Buddhist Jogye Order in 1994 and Its Meaning]. Maha Bodhi Thought (in Korean) (20): 328 – via Korea Citation Index.
  11. ^ Ko, Sang-hyun (2021). “한국불교의 세계화 현황과 비전 – 대한불교조계종을 중심으로 -” [Current Status and Vision of the Globalization of Korean Buddhism: Focusing on the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism]. Journal of Eastern-Asia Buddhism and Culture (in Korean). 48 (48): 484. doi:10.21718/EABC.2021.48.15.
  12. ^ Byeon, Sang-uk; Kim, Chan-ho (2021-08-10). “(11)남북불교와 문화유산 사반세기 교류” [South and North (Korea) Buddhism and cultural heritage quarter-century exchange]. Weekly Kyunghyang (in Korean).
  13. ^ Roh, Deok-hyeon (2017-11-13). “조계종, 신도관리 체질 개선 나선다” [Jogye Order to Improve Believer Management]. Hyundae Bulgyo (in Korean).
  14. ^ Kim, Bang-ryong (2008). “한국의 간화선과 그 현대적 활용” [Ganhwa-seon in Korea and the modern application of that]. Studies in Philosophy East-West (in Korean) (49): 221. doi:10.15841/kspew..49.200809.219.
  15. ^ a b Son, Won-cheon (2026-01-07). “9월 총무원장·10월 중앙종회 의원·12월 종정… 조계종 선택의 해, 고민하는 불심” [September president, October central council members, December supreme patriarch… Jogye Order year of choice, concerned Buddhists]. Seoul Sinmun (in Korean).
  16. ^ “본사” [Head temple]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). 2022.
  17. ^ “31본산” [31 bonsan]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). 2022.
  18. ^ Jang, Areum (2022-07-07). “순천 선암사 소유권 분쟁…광주고법 “태고종 소유자로 인정”“ [Suncheon Seonamsa ownership dispute…Gwangju High Court “recognizes Taego Order as the owner”]. Yonhap News (in Korean).
  19. ^ Kim, Jae-hong (2020-02-27). “부산서 코로나19 조기 극복 위한 각계각층 기부 답지” [Donations from all walks of life to overcome COVID-19 early in Busan]. Yonhap News (in Korean).
  20. ^ Cho, Ki-ryong (2007). “불교종단 부설 사회복지법인의 역할 제고방안에 대한 연구 : 대한불교조계종 사회복지재단을 중심으로” [A Study on the Device to improve on the Functions of Social Legal Welfare attached to Buddhist Orders -Centered on the Social Legal welfare attached to the Jogye Orders of Korean Buddhism-]. Bulgyo Hakbo (in Korean). 46: 274 – via DBpia.
  21. ^ Baek, Jin-ho (2025-06-11). “30년 자비행 매진한 조계종복지재단 “100년 향해 뛰겠다”“ [Jogye Order welfare foundation strived for mercy for 30 years “We will run toward 100 years”]. Beopbo Sinmun (in Korean).
  22. ^ Lee, Byeong-du (2019-11-25). “120. 1998년 조계종 사태” [120. 1998 Jogye Order incident]. Beopbo Sinmun (in Korean).
  23. ^ “Monks charged over temple violence”. BBC. December 24, 1998.
  24. ^ Cho, Ki-ryong (2009). “대한불교조계종 총무원장 선출제도에 대한 연구 －추대제와 선거제의 비교－” [A Study of Selection Systems for the President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism – A Comparison of an Enthronement System with Election Systems -]. The Journal of the Korean Association for Buddhist Studies (in Korean) (54): 395–396 – via Korea Citation Index.
  25. ^ Kwon, KJ (June 8, 2012). “Monks’ gambling prompts South Korean temple to change financial management”. CNN.
  26. ^ Park, Sae-am (2012-05-10). “조계종 승려들, 억대 도박 파문‥총무원 간부 총사퇴” [Jogye Order monks… hundred million (won) gambling scandal.. Headquarters staff all resign]. MBC (in Korean).
  27. ^ “Top Buddhist leader in South Korea ordered to quit amid corruption, fatherhood claims”. South China Morning Post. 16 August 2018.
  28. ^ Oh, Dallan (2018-08-21). “‘은처자 의혹’ 설정스님 10개월만에 퇴진…수덕사로 떠나” [’Hidden wife and child allegation’ Ven. Seoljeong resigns in only 10 months… Leaves to Sudeoksa]. Seoul Sinmun (in Korean).
  29. ^ Kim, Kyungrae; Kim, Eunyoung; Seo, Wangmo; Park, Cheonghwan (2019). “Some Contemporary Dilemmas of Korean Buddhism: A Critical Review of the Jogye Order’s 2018 Periodic Report”. Religions. 10 (4): 234. doi:10.3390/rel10040234 – via MDPI.
  30. ^ “<다시 보는 불교 그날> 1960년 1월 1일, 조계종 <대한불교> 창간 지면 포교 시작” [<Buddhism that day revisited> January 1, 1960 Jogye Order <Bulgyo Sinmun> established, document mission work begins]. BTN News (in Korean). 2016-01-04.
  31. ^ Lee, Bun-hui (2011). “불교중앙박물관” [Central Buddhist Museum]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).
  32. ^ Jang, Yeong-seop (2003-02-28). “조계종립학교 운영현황 자료집 발간” [Reference on the operation of schools founded by the Jogye Order published]. Bulgyo Sinmun (in Korean).
  33. ^ Kim, Cheol-ho (1995). “중앙승가대학교” [Joongang Sangha University]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).