Jajang

Jajang (590–658) was a monk born Kim Seonjong, into the royal Kim family, in the kingdom of Silla. He is credited with founding the temple of Tongdosa in 646 CE, near in what is now Busan, South Korea, and played a significant role in the adoption of Buddhism as the national religion of Silla. His biography is told in the anthology of Korean Buddhism: "Jogye Culture Web", Vol 10.¹²

Gyeyul (Korean: 계율종; Hanja: 戒律宗; MR: Kyeyuljong) and Yuljong 律宗, or Vinaya in Sanskrit) monastic order, founded by Gyeomik for the study and implementation of śīla (yuljang 律藏) the "moral discipline" or ""Budhhist ethics"), was lost after the decline of Baekje. After him, Jajang revived the Gyeyul order and built the Woljeongsa temple in 643 of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism on the eastern slopes of Odaesan in today Pyeongchang County. Jajang was born in Silla as a true bone (jin'gol) aristocrat. In 641 CE, Jajang and his disciple Seungsil traveled to Tang dynasty China where he received bone relic of Buddha's crown, Śarīra relics and an honorary robe. He also visited Yunju Temple where he stayed until his return to Silla in 643 CE.³

Training

In 636 Jajang traveled to China to study under the great Buddhist masters of the , for seven years becoming a taeguksa (Great Noble Priest) upon returning, receiving the highest honors from .