Sudeoksa, Buddhist temple in Yesan County, South Korea
Sudeoksa is a Buddhist temple situated on the southern slopes of Deoksungsan in South Chungcheong Province. The complex spreads across multiple buildings arranged on the hillside, with traditional structures and gardens integrated into the landscape.
The main hall was built in 1308 during the Goryeo Dynasty and stands as South Korea's oldest wooden structure. This early construction demonstrates important developments in Korean temple architecture of that era.
The temple functions as a major Buddhist training center where monks pursue meditation and monastic life daily, and visitors can observe these practices firsthand. The layout and use of spaces reflect how the Jogye Order structures its spiritual community.
Visitors can join the Temple Stay Program, which offers formal meals, meditation sessions, and traditional tea ceremonies with the resident monks. This experience provides insight into the daily rhythm of monastic life.
The temple preserves a stringed instrument once belonging to a royal patron, inscribed with meaningful characters and given to the head monk as a treasured gift. This artifact connects the temple's spiritual role to Korea's broader history.
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