Jogyesa is the central temple of the Jogye Order in Seoul, established in 1910 during a movement for Korean Buddhist independence. Its ornate main hall and city-center setting bring a major religious institution into the everyday flow of Jongno.
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A temple courtyard surrounded by office buildings can make the city feel unusually close to worship. Jogyesa was established in 1910 under the name Gakhwangsa by monks seeking autonomy for Korean Buddhism and restoration of the national capital. It became the headquarters temple of the Jogye Order, Korea’s largest Buddhist order.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Established as Gakhwangsa in 1910.
- The temple moved to its present site in 1937.
- Jogyesa is the headquarters temple of the Jogye Order.
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