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original Jogye Order, including the use of the original red kasa, though allowing for marriage.
In B.E. 2513 (1970) a new order was officially founded that was named for Taego Bou. Of
particular note in the Taego ritual tradition is the Yeongsanjae ritual. This is a reenactment of
Shakyamuni Buddha's teaching of the Lotus Sutra on Vulture Peak. It involves a great deal of
chanting and dancing. The full ritual is quite long, but is sometimes performed in an abbreviated
fashion lasting just a few hours. This ritual is only preserved in the Taego Order and has been
recognized as an intangible cultural asset by UNESCO.
The training for Taego clergy is similar to that of the Jogye Order. Taego novitiates can
study at a gangwon, which is a traditional academic institute similar to the Tibetan shedra.
They can also attend the Central Sangha College run by the Jogye Order. Another option in
both orders is to pursue a modem education, generally in Buddhist Studies.
For novice monastics who study at a gangwon or modem academic institution to fulfill their
basic education requirement, four years of study/training are required. After this, they may be
ordained a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni if they pass an examination and then either work at a temple
in a capacity similar to that of a ‘parish priest’, or continue their training and education. For
students at a gangwon, they would then have the option to study for four years at a yulwon,
which is a Vinaya school. Upon graduation they would be known as Vinaya masters. For this
reason, yulwon students must be celibate. Taego monastics may also study at a yeombulwon,
which is a ritual training school focusing on traditional chanting, ritual, music, and dance after
taking full ordination. These students may request private tutoring for further training in ritual
after graduation from the full four-year program, though some programs offer two and three-
year options as well. Fully ordained monastics may train at a Seonwon in meditation as well.
This consists of two roughly 3-month retreats each year. In between retreats, these monastics
would travel from temple to temple until the next retreat starts. Students in this system do not
study under one master at one temple, but participate in retreats at different temples under
different masters for many years.

For training in Seon, there is no ‘graduation’ after a specific number of years. In rare cases,
a student may receive dharma transmission or inka from a master of Seon after 20 or 30 years
of practice. However, Dharma transmission in the Seon tradition is extremely rare.
Once again I, on behalf of the Taego Order of the Korean Buddhism express my sincere
th
thanks to The WFB HQ and the 29 General Conference Organizing Committee Japan. May
all living beings get enlightenment!

Most Ven. Pyun Baegun

President, Taego Order of the Korean Buddhism
The WFB Regional Centre

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RECORD OF PROCEEDING | THE 29 GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE WFB
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