A. Going Forth


4. Bhikkunis

Since the introduction of Buddhism to Korea, many Korean women have become bhikkunis. Examples include records of queens and women members of the court being ordained in the sixth century. From that time until the present day, Korea is the only country to have a clear, unbroken tradition of women receiving both ordinations. Since 1981, the traditional Chinese system of ordination, known as the Double Platform, requiring ten bhikkus and ten bhikkunis, all of ten years ordination, has been reinstated as well.
Taiwanese bhikkunis also receive the second ordination, which was brought from China at the time of the Cultural Revolution. In other countries, invasions and famines resulted in there being insufficient long-term ordained women members to officiate. Therefore, women could only have the lower ordination in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand until recently. In December 1996, the first group of Sri Lankan women received higher ordination and, although it is seen as highly controversial, the movement is gaining popularity and more and more Theravada women are becoming bhikkunis.

As so little is known and there is much interest in bhikkunis, here is a more in-depth look at the history, life and customs of ordained women in Korea. The first article, The History of Korean Bhikkunis, was written by Sogun Sunim, a bhikkuni at Dongguk University, the second, Lifestyle of Bhikkunis Today, is the result of interviewing a number of ordained Korean women most of whom had been living in Korean temples for over 20 years.