The way The "goal" Background Chinese texts Classical Post-classical Contemporary Zen in Japan Seon in Korea Thiền in Vietnam Western Zen Songgwangsa (Korean: 송광사; Hanja: 松廣寺; translation: Spreading Pine Temple;[1] alternates: Songgwang-sa, or Songgwang Sa, or Songkwangsa;[2] also known as: Piney Expanse Monastery; originally: Gilsangsa), one of the three jewels of Seon Buddhism,[3] is located in South Jeolla Province[4] on Mount Jogye on the Korean Peninsula.

[5] Jinul's meditation teachings evolved from this monastery and contributed significantly to the Seon practice that prevails to this day in Korea.

Though smaller in size, it is considered as the greatest among the trio of Three Jewels Temples representing “the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha".

[1] Koryo Sa, the first foreign branch of Songgwangsa, was established in Koreatown, Los Angeles, California, US in 1980 by Kusan Sunim.

Seonamsa, a quieter hermitage dating to 529, lies on the eastern side of Janggunbong Mountain at 884 metres (2,900 ft), also within the Jogyesan Provincial Park.

[11] The road that accesses Songgwangsa is flanked with giant pine trees and crosses a valley with a round pavilion bridge called Cheongnyanggak, designed as a place to rest.

The main shrine of the central temple is about 25 feet (7.6 m) high on a wooden altar but has space surrounding it so that visiting pilgrims can circumambulate around it.

[18] The entry hall contains the statues of the four heavenly kings (sach'onwang) which act as Dharma protectors to ward off evil spirits.

[18] To the side of the main building is the Jijangjeon, which contains a Buddha statue and the Seungbojeo, which explains its affiliation and importance to the Seon.

[8] Just below the main temple complex, which is crafted in wood, is a group of stone stelae, all measuring roughly 8 feet (2.4 m) in height, that display the history of the monastery.

[1] Also near the Spiritual Leader's residence is a small house with a conventional chimney that dates to the 15th century, said to belong to his deputy, and believed to be “one of the oldest living quarters in Korea.

[8] Sanghyangsu takes the form of two very large Chinese juniper trees (Juniperus chinensis) and Neunggyeonnansa is an intricately designed plate.

[8] Buddha's Birthday (Bucheonim oshin nal) festival is a gala annual festival that is celebrated in all Buddhist monasteries in Korea on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month (usually corresponds Gregorian calendar month of early May) which corresponds to two weeks prior to the start of the summer retreat.

On this occasion, paper lanterns or lamps with candles are lit which are strung around all the shrines within the monastery and in series of rows in the central courtyard.

According to a learned monk of the Songgwangsa monastery, the practice of lantern lighting is related to the Jataka tales which depicts the Buddha's past lives.

The largest lamps inside the main shrine hall have been dedicated in the past by the late President Park Chung-hee and his wife.

The offering of lamps is considered a meritorious deed as it is said, "If someone, wanting to make merit, respectfully offers a bright lamp or even a small candle before the Buddha images enshrined inside a stupa or shrine …, that merit can not be comprehended by any of the śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas; only the Buddhas, Tathagatas can comprehend it.