108 Tongdosa-ro, Habuk-myeon, Yangsan-gun, South Gyeongsang Province
Having one of Korea's five major Buddha relic shrines, Tongdosa Temple
is regarded as the Buddha Jewel Temple which enshrines the Buddha’s
cremains and golden robe, both of which were brought by Vinaya Master
Jajang from Tang China. The name Tongdosa originated from the fact that Mt.
Yeongchuksan (lit. Vulture Peak), the mountain it sits on, had features similar
to Vulture Peak where the Buddha gave his teaching. The name “Tongdo” also
implies that anyone who wants to be a monastic must pass this ordination
platform at Tongdosa, and that the temple intends to save all beings by
uniting all truths. Tongdosa was the resident temple of Ven. Gyeongbong.
There are more than twenty hermitages scattered around the temple.
Tongdosa’s Sacred Treasure Museum is dedicated to preserving Buddhist
cultural properties.
