(a) Bhikkuni Myobop, King Pophung's Queen

The 23rd Shilla King Pophung (r. 514-546) protected and encouraged Buddhism. He built Hungryun-sa and became a monk, being given the dharma name of Pop-un (Dharma Cloud) and also the name of Popkong (Empty Dharma) (Samguk-yusa, the 3rd volume). King Pophung's queen also had a deep yearning to become a bhikkuni and so she followed in the footsteps of the first bhikkuni, Sa-ssi, who had built Yonghung-sa. The queen was also ordained and she went to live in Yonghung-sa. Her dharma name was Myobop (Marvelous Dharma).

If we accept the foundation of Yonghung-sa by Sa-ssi, the first bhikkuni, then it seems that the later Yonghung-sa founded by the queen was established in memory of the former and is unlikely to have been the same temple. One thing is clear: from the beginning of Buddhism in Shilla, women participated actively. The fact, that the queen became a bhikkuni and followed Sa-ssi about 252 years later tells us that Sa-ssi must have made a great impression -- maybe through her character and practice -- causing the legend to be passed down so that the queen, on hearing it, followed the example.

The queen could not have been ordained alone and have lived by herself in the temple, Yonghung-sa. There must have been other women from aristocratic families and even other members of the royal family who followed Myobop. All of them would have lived together in the temple and spent time chanting for the welfare of the country and the people. As there is no mention of ordinary women being ordained, maybe it was not permitted and only queens and aristocratic women could become bhikkunis. Possibly, the queen's servants could have been ordained or maybe they just lived in the temple to serve the queen.

Thus the Bhikkuni Sangha was established. Later, during the reign of King Chinhung (r. 540-576), special positions were made within the sangha.

(b) Bhikkuni Popun, King Chinhung's Queen

The queen of King Chinhung, Pak-ssi was a daughter of Minister Youngshil. After the king had taken ordination and become a monk, the queen became a bhikkuni and lived in Yonghung-sa temple. Some records say that her Buddhist name was Popun, but as this is the same name as that of her husband, King Chinhung, it is not sure whether the record is correct. A further record tells that in 614, a statue at Yongch'on-sa fell down by itself and was smashed to pieces. Soon after that, the bhikkuni passed away. (Often when a great person dies, a symbolic event which foretells the death of that person, occurs. The falling of the statue was a preliminary announcement of the death of the bhikkuni who was, after all, the most important member of the Bhikkuni Sangha and so a major influence on the women of that time.)