Jogye-sa Temple is the only major temple within the old city walls of Seoul. Built in 1910, the temple was first called Kakwang-sa. The name was changed to T'aego-sa during the time of the Japanese Occupation and in 1936, the temple became the headquarters of Korean Buddhism's Jogye Order. It is extremely important to all Korean Buddhists.

In 1954, after the great clean-up movement to rid the coun-try of any vestiges of the Japanese occupation, the temple came to be called Jogye-sa. This is the name of the mountain on which the Sixth Patriarch of Chinese Chan Buddhism, Huineng (638-713), lived. He is highly revered by Korean Buddhists and his life and teachings are constantly studied and remem-bered.

◇ Interior of the Main Hall(Chogye-sa temple) 

Born poor and illiterate, Master Huineng attained enlightenment on hearing the Diamond Sutra being chanted while he was selling wood. Eventually he was recognized by the Fifth Patriarch and became his successor. His teachings are simple. One of the most beautiful sayings ascribed to him is a true example of Buddhism. ＂In all conditions we should be humble and polite.＂ Today, Chogye-sa is the main temple of Korean Buddhism and its major sect, Jogye, which is a Zen sect.