Hall of Patriarchs (Josa-jeon)

조사전

This hall is dedicated to eminent monks who played an important role in the establishment or revival of a temple or Buddhist order. A patriarch can be a great monk who established an order, a lineage holder (one who transmits the dharma), or simply a moral and upstanding monk.

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​In Seon (Zen) temples, when eminent monks pass away, a memorial stupa is established, and their portraits are enshrined in the Hall of Patriarchs. In temples where National Masters were produced, a Hall of National Masters (Guksa-jeon) is found instead of a Hall of Patriarchs.

- excerpt from Buddhist English (Elementary 1) published in 2014 by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism​​​