Amongst the Three Jewel Temples of Korea, the Tongdosa temple, is located on Yeonchuk-san in Yangsan City, Gyeongsangnam-do, a province in Korea in the southeast Asia. The Three Jewel Temples of Korea are the three most important Buddhist temples in Korea that represent the three jewels of Buddhism - Buddha, dharma and sangha. The Tongdosa temple represents Buddha. The other two temples are Haeinsa (represents the dharma), also in South Gyeongsang and Songgwangsa (represents sangha) in South Jeolla Province. The history of the Tongdosa Temple states that it was constructed in 646 CE by the monk Jajang during the rule of Queen Seondeok of Silla. Master Jajang enshrined fragments of Buddha's bones, teeth, 100 relic stones and a robe he had brought all the way from Tang China in 643. It is because of this that the temple is considered the very home of Korean Buddhism. Tracing the history further, you will notice that the temple survived the Unified Silla and Goryeo period and was dominant even in the Joseon period. However, the Japanese invasion of the 16th century played the role of destructor. Of all (around hundred buildings), only one building, the daeungjeon or the central hall, was spared in the seven years war. The other building that were destroyed had to undergo reconstruction work post the war.


The Journey To The Temple And Within the Complex
Tongdosa means 'pass through to enlightenment'. As per its name, the approach to the temple is completely entrancing. With pine trees lined up on the entrance and gushing stream running out on your left, it is almost as if you are heading towards a journey that will transform you from a simple to an enlighten being. Moreover, the walk to the temple is also refreshing with fresh air instilling a renewed vigour in your body and soul.

The path leads upto Ilju Gate. There is a small drum which is meant to be used during prayers in front of a Buddha figure.

Within, the compound, there are 35 buildings and pagodas. The Main Hall has been given the status of National Treasure No.290. Actually, the temple is more like a museum housing 19 local treasures and 794 local cultural properties. There is no image of Buddha here, instead the main hall opens into a stupa that contains the relics of Buddha. Next to the Diamond or the Vajra Platform here is the place where the Jogye Order, Korea's celibate sect, traditionally holds its ordinations.

The uniqueness of the Main Hall lies in the fact that instead of being gabled on two sides, it is gabled on three sides. Because of this the hall appears exactly the same when viewed from different directions.

The complex of the temple also has 13 hermitage within its premises. These include Chuiunam Hermitage and Seounam Hermitage. The first of the two has a large meditation and retreat centre while at the second, the Tripitaka Koreana has been assiduously copied and glazed onto more than 160,000 tiles for future generation. Gyeongsangnam-do
A province in South Korea, Gyeongsangnam-do spreads over an area of 11,859 km² (excluding Busan, Daegu, & Ulsan). The province comprises 10 cities and 10 counties and has its capital at Changwon. Yangsan is one of the 10 cities of this province and occupies an area of 484.16 km².

The entire province of Gyeongsangnam-do is rich in tourist sites, particularly the mountains and national marine parks. Also, the province is home to two of the largest temples of Korea - Tongdosa and Haeinsa Temple.


Other Attractions

• Haeinsa Temple : One of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea, the Haein-sa Temple was constructed by Master Sunung and Master Ichong on their return from studying in China in 802 under directions from a grateful king Aejang whose ailing wife was cured of a tumor by efforts of the two monks. The temple was enlarged to present size later on. The main hall of the temple houses seven statues - an iron Avalokitesvara, a wooden Manjusri, a wooden Vairocana (which was previously the principal statue) another Vairocana (the present principal statue), a wooden Ksitigarbha, a wooden Samantabhadra, and an iron Popgi Bodhisattva. The Tripitaka Koreana (National Treasure No. 32) is another highlight of the temple.
  
  
• Ssanggyesa Temple : The temple is situated in Sachon-ri, a two square kilometer field surrounded by mountains. It is 7 km southeast of Jindoup, across the "Pass of the King's Graves". The temple was constructed by the great priest Tosun in the Shilla Dynasty and was named Ssangkye ("Two Streams") because of the two streams that flowed along both sides of the temple.
  
  
• Pyochungsa Temple : The temple was founded by Great Master (Daesa) Wonhyo during the Silla Dynasty about 1,300 years ago. Later, Seon Master Hwangmyeon reconstructed it during the reign of King Heungdeok in 829. This ancient temple became the base for four National Teachers (Guksa) from where they taught Buddhism to save all sentient beings.