Tongdo-sa, ＂Pass into Enlightenment,＂ Temple is the first of the ＂Three Jewels＂ temples of Korea representing the Buddha. It is traditionally a Zen Temple and as far as the number of buildings is concerned, 65, it is the largest temple in Korea.

Tongdo-sa Temple, once a center of Korean Buddhism, was built in 646, in the reign of Queen Seondeok by Master Jajang on his return from China. One of Korea's greatest monks, Master Jajang, brought relics of the Buddha with him and these he enshrined at Tongdo-sa Temple.

◇ The Diamond Precepts Platform 

Master Jajang, coming from a royal family, could have advanced well in the court; instead he chose to be a monk. The king, appreciating his abilities, continued to request him to accept a court position which he refused. In exasperation, the king threatened the monk with the death penalty if he refused again. Master Chajang calmly replied, ＂I would rather die keeping the laws of the Buddha for one day than live for one hundred years breaking them.＂ Seeing the wisdom of this reply, the king permitted Master Jajang to continue his monk's life.