Sambo (삼보) means the three jewels of Buddhism (불법승) and refers to Bulbo (불보, the Buddha Jewel), Beobbo (법보, the Dharma Jewel) and Seungbo (승보, the Seungga Jewel, the Sangha Jewel). Bulbo represents the Buddha who teaches and guides all sentient beings. Beobbo is the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha. Seungbo represents the Seunga (승가, Sangha, the Buddhist community), the group of followers who learn the teachings of the Buddha and practice. Also called Sabudaejung (사부대중, the fourfold community- male/female monks and male/female lay people they are the companions) and Dharma friends to sentient beings who go on the way of truth together.

As Samgwuiwi (삼귀의, taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Seungga) is a fundamental guiding principle in the lives of the Buddhist community, these Three jewels are the most primary subjects of Buddhist faith. In Korea, Temples of the Three Jewels are Tongdosa (통도사), Haeinsa (해인사) and Songgwangsa (송광사). They are called ‘the Three Temples’.

Tongdosa in Yangsan is one of Jeokmyel-bogungs (적멸보궁, the Sacred Buddha Relic Temples) and enshrines Jinsin-saris (진신사리, sacred relics of the Buddha) which symbolize the Buddha-Dharma. In the mid 7th century, Ven. Jajang Sunim (자장스님, A.D. 590~ 658), one of Korea’s greatest masters received relics of the Buddha from Munsubosal (문수보살, Manjusri Bodhisattva) and brought them with him to Silla. He divided them into three portions and placed one each at Hwangryongsa (황룡사), Taehwasa (태화사) in Wulsan, and Tongdosa (통도사). He enshrined the relics in Geumgang-gyedan (금강계단, Diamond Alter), the Main Dharma Hall (National Treasure No. 290). Thus, Tongdosa became the ‘Buddha Jewel’. The Main Dharma Hall is unique in that it has no Buddha statue, only an alter and a window looking out to a stupa which enshrines the relics of the Buddha.

Haeinsa in Hapcheon is also called ‘the Dharma Jewel’ because it houses the wooden printing blocks of the Tripitaka Koreana (고려대장경, complete Buddhist scriptures of the Koryo Dynasty, National Treasure No. 32). The Haeinsa-jangkyoungpan-jeon (해인사 장경판전, Tripitaka Koreana Hall of Haeinsa) houses the collection and is one of the most precious one on site.

Songkwangsa in Seungju was built in the middle of the Koryo Dynasty by Ven. Jinul Sunim (지눌스님), one of the most famous grand masters in history. He tried to reform the then-corrupt Buddhist community and established a new tradition in Korean Buddhism by creating a movement called ‘Jeonghyegyoulsa’ (정혜결사, Concentration and Wisdom Community). Since then, the temple has produced sixteen national advisors in