| Taego Order | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 태고종 |
| Hanja | 太古宗 |
| Revised Romanization | Taegojong |
| McCune–Reischauer | T'aegojong |
Taego Order or Taego-jong is the second largest order in Korean Buddhism and is a Seon order. Seonamsa is one of the head monasteries of the Taego Order and over 8,000 monks and 3,100 temples belong to this order. What sets Taego apart from some of the other Korean sects like Jogye (also written Chogye), among other factors, is that the order allows ordained priests to marry, though nuns must remain celibate. This custom of married priests is a remnant of the Japanese occupation of Korea (though some native Korean Buddhist monks had also called for an end to celibacy prior to the Japanese occupation). However, not all Taego priests are married. This order also includes traditional bhikṣu, currently comprising about 40% of Taego monks. Bhikṣu in the Taego order tend to remain more separate from society and live in mountain temples, whereas the married clerics act more like parish priests.
Before 1945 all Korean Buddhist Sanghas were descended from Master Taego Bowoo, especially the Jogye order, which was founded at the end of the Koryeo Dynasty.
This unified order continued until 1954, when President Lee Seoung Man and a number of Bhikshus ordered a separation of the Jogye order into two orders, one composed of celibate monks and the other of those who had families (which would be known later as the Taego Order).
The celibate majority group changed the color of the kasa to brown, despite the fact that the traditional color of a Korean kasa was red. This was done to create a visual distinction between the orders.
After the separation of the orders, the Bhikkhu Sangha as well as the government suppressed the Taego Order, in part by forcing married clergy out of the temples, so these disestablished monks had to establish a new order that would carry the characteristics of the original Jogye Order, including the use of the original red Kasa, though allowing for marriage.
In 1970 a new order was officially founded, named after Master Taego Bowoo. The Korean Buddhist Taego Order does not promote a separation between the clergy and the laity, but instead, a Buddhism that fits the mundane world.
The training for Taego clergy is similar to that of the Jogye order, except that prior to ordination, all Taego clergy must complete a two-year program of study at the Taego order's university in South Korea, Dong Bang University. After the initial ordination, Taego (and Jogye) monks and nuns can study at a gangwon which is a traditional academic institute similar to a Tibetan shedra. Another option in both orders is to train in a seonwon. This consists of two roughly three-month retreats per year. Generally a monk or nun would travel and train at more than one seonwon under more than one master. A modern education, generally in Buddhist Studies, is also an option in both orders. However, in the Taego order, training at a yeombulwon is also an option. This consists of training in traditional arts, most notably ritual dance and music, a tradition not kept alive in the larger Jogye order. In fact, when such ritual specialists are needed, the Jogye order will generally invite Taego ritual specialists to perform, though the Taego monks will wear the brown kasa of the Jogye order out of respect to their Jogye hosts.
For novice monks and nuns (sramanera and sramaneri) who study at a gangwon, yeombulwon, seonwon or modern academic institution to fulfill their basic education requirement, four years of study/training are required. After this, they may be ordained a Bhikshu or Bhikshuni and 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 or yeombulwon, the full training would take an additional five years, similar to if one were working toward a Ph.D. at a modern academic institution. For training in Seon (Zen), there is no "graduation" after a specific number of years. In rare cases, one may receive "Inka" (Dharma transmission) from a master of Seon after many years of practice.
Of particular note in the Taego ritual tradition is the yongsanjae 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.
As for foreign clergy, there are a growing number of Taego Order clergy in the U.S., Canada and Europe, as well as one monk in the Philippines. According to the Taego Order website (listed below), international clergy (that is, those who are not Korean) can study for ordination from home in a two-year program through the Institute for Buddhist Studies. This is a two year program leading to ordination as a sramanera (though not necessarily with vows of celibacy) or sramaneri. The ordinations are carried out in South Korea. Dharma teachers can also be ordained after completing this program. These ordinations appear to be conducted in the West. The website does not clarify the difference between regular clergy and Dharma teachers, however the primary difference is that Dharma Teachers have fewer obligations and cannot be abbotts of temples. Dharma Teachers also do not perform ordinations, memorial chanting, the "eye-opening ceremony" (consecrating religious images), nor do they perform the Dharma transmission rite (Inka). In both the Taego and Jogye orders, only monastics are eligible to receive Inka. However, in the Kwan Um School of Zen (an offshoot of the Jogye Order founded by Seung Sahn Seunim in the U.S.) lay people are eligible to be recognized as teachers of Seon.
The website currently lists more than 30 clergy in the Overseas Parish (everything outside of South Korea), though a few are Koreans posted overseas.
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