Tongdosa

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Tongdosa
Hangul:	통도사
Hanja:	通度寺
Revised Romanization:	Tongdosa
McCune-Reischauer:	T'ongdosa

Tongdosa is a major Buddhist temple, and is one of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea. It represents the Buddha, and is located on Yeonchuk-san in Yangsan City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It was founded in 646 CE by the monk Jajang, during the reign of Queen Seondeok of Silla. It thrived throughout the Unified Silla and Goryeo periods, when Buddhism was the state religion, and remained strong even in the Joseon Dynasty. Only one building, the daeungjeon hall, survived the Seven Year War in the late 16th century; the other buildings were rebuilt after that time.

Tongdosa is often called "The temple without a Buddha" because it contains no outdoor statues of the Buddha, rather it is arranged around several stupas which contain Jajang's precious gifts, and reputedly, relics of the historical Buddha, including his robe, begging bowl, and a bone from his skull.