| Part of theBuddhism in Korea series |
| Korean Buddhism |
|---|
 |
History and Origins |
Philosophy and Teachings
|
Practices and Rituals |
Organizations and Movements |
| Cheontae | |
| Hangul | 천태종 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 天台宗 |
| RR | Cheontaejong |
| MR | Ch'ŏnt'aejong |
Cheontae (천태, also known as theKorean Buddhist Cheontae sect대한불교천태종) is the Korean branch of the ChineseTiantai school, which was founded in 594 by the monkZhiyi (智顗) during theSui dynasty. Though Tiantai teachings were introduced to Korea earlier, it was during theGoryeo period that Cheontae was established as an independent school by Daegak GuksaUicheon (1055–1101), a royal prince and Buddhist scholar.[1][2]
Uicheon sought to bridge the gap between the doctrinal (Gyo 教) and meditative (Seon 禪) schools by promoting Cheontae teachings, which emphasize theLotus Sutra as the culmination of theBuddha's teachings. Central to Cheontae doctrine are three key insights:
This philosophy teaches that everyday sensory experiences are expressions of theDharma and pathways toenlightenment. These views are reflected in Korean temple aesthetics, such as the use of colorfulDancheong decorative painting, which contrasts with the minimalist style favored by JapaneseZen traditions.[3]
During the Goryeo period, Cheontae gained institutional recognition, coexisting with theJogye sect (曹溪宗). The major Zen temples were collectively known as theFive Mountain Zen Schools (Gusan Seonmun), and the Buddhist landscape was organized under the "Five Orders and Two Schools" (五派二宗), namely the Jogye and Cheontae sects.[4]
In theJoseon Dynasty, Cheontae influence waned. In 1407, King Sejong attempted to reunify various Buddhist schools, and by 1424 the Cheontae tradition was absorbed into theChongnam sect (摠南宗) and later into the Seon-dominated Buddhist structure known asSeon-Gyo Yangjong (禪敎兩宗), meaning "Two Schools of Seon and Doctrinal Buddhism".[5]
Cheontae re-emerged in the modern period under Park Sangwol (朴上月), also known asSangwol Wongak Daejo, who established the contemporary Korean Buddhist Cheontae Order. The sect considersZhiyi,Uicheon, and Park Sangwol as its spiritual forebears.
The order's headquarters are located atGuinsa Temple inChungcheongbuk-do, nearDanyang, and it also operatesGeumgang University, a Buddhist university.
As of 2015, the sect's Supreme Patriarch (Jongjeong 宗正) is Venerable Daesongsa Kim Do-yong. The Korean Buddhist Cheontae Order estimates its membership at approximately 1.67 to 2 million adherents.[6]
TheGuinsa Temple (救仁寺) of the Korean Buddhist Tendai sect is in Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, and is built using a different concrete structure, which is different from the usual Buddhist temples.
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Total: 152 temples (as of 2017)
Total: 3 temples (as of 2019)
TheFoundation Corporation of the Korean Buddhist Cheontae Order (대한불교천태종,Daehan Bulgyo Cheontaejong) promotes the ideals of patriotic Buddhism, engaged Buddhism, and popular Buddhism. It aims to spread the teachings of the Buddha by realizing the path ofsanggu bodhi—the aspiration to attain enlightenment through both mind and body[7]—and to guide all sentient beings, a practice referred to asdescending sentient beings or the embodiment of the Great Bodhisattva Mind.[8]
The corporation was officially established on 16 April 1991 under the jurisdiction of theMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea. Its mission is to promote personal spiritual development and the realization of a Buddhist nation by encouraging all Koreans to practice the Dharma and cultivate a noble and healthy national spirit.
The administrative office is located at 132–1, Baekjari, Yeongchun-myeon, Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea.
Global - Tendai sect in Goryeo was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).Global - Tendai Buddhism in Korea was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page). | ThisKorean history-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
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