Green Bamboo in the Temple, Tongdosa Temple Pusan Korea 2005

통도사의 대나무..
스님들의 무념의 손길이 좋았을까
키우기 까다로운 대나무들이
바랜 잎사귀 하나 없이
조용히 자리하고 있다



Tongdosa is a major Chogye 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 Japanese invasions of Korea 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.