(i) The First Bhikkuni of Shilla

The first recorded bhikkuni was Sa-ssi, the sister of Morye who was a Shilla lay Buddhist. It appears that she was ordained before the official acceptance of Buddhism in Shilla žwhich makes the record all the more interesting. (From Samguk-yusa, Legends of the Three Kingdoms, 3rd volume.) The record says:

"Morye's sister, Sa-ssi, was ordained by Master Ado who was being hidden in her house because he wished to spread Buddhism. She lived in a temple which she had built called Yonghung-sa at Samch'ong-gi. Later, when King Mich'u passed away (284), people tried to kill Ado and so he returned to Morye's house and, eventually, died there. Buddhism could not be taught in Shilla any more."

Apart from this record, it is not known whether or not Master Ado ordained any other women. The record refers to the period before the official introduction of Buddhism to Shilla,,after Master Ado's death, there were no other recorded ordinations until Buddhism had been formally introduced.