Illjumun, the One-Pillar Gate, of Jogyesa

[Curator]

Jogyesa, the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, was founded 1910 in the hopes that it would bring about the independence and unification of Korean Buddhism. Originally, it was called Gakhwangsa. It was given its current name, Jogyesa, in 1954. “Iljumun,” the One Pillar Gate, is a temple’s doorway to the Buddha Land. Its pillars line up to support the structure, creating one straight line. Symbolically, it means that one should enter the temple with a mind fully centered on the world of truth.