Lotus blossoms and elephant statues greet you at Seoul University of Buddhism. This is no ordinary university. It is one of the world’s few Buddhist-affiliated universities.
Dongguk University began as Myeongjin School in 1906. Buddhist pioneers sought to provide Buddhist education. The Association of Buddhism Research founded it. It gained full university status in 1953 and adopted its current name. The university’s symbol is an elephant. This stems from Queen Māyā of Sakya’s dream. She dreamt of a white elephant before Buddha’s birth. The lotus blossom symbolizes Buddhist truth.
Dongguk University’s Seoul campus has many schools. There are undergraduate and graduate programs. In 2017, it enrolled over 13,000 undergraduates and almost 2,000 graduate students. The university granted many degrees. These included bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Its academic program offers many majors and graduate programs.
The university has other campuses. These are in Gyeongju, and Los Angeles. It operates hospitals of Western medicine. It also has hospitals of Oriental medicine. Oriental medicine includes traditional Korean medicine.
The Japanese Occupation Government closed the school. This was because of its connection to the Samil Undong uprising. Buddhist temples across Korea donated money. They established the Central Administrative Headquarters of the Joseon Buddhism Foundation in 1924.
After World War II, the school reopened. It expanded into Dongguk College in 1946. During the Korean War, the college withdrew from Seoul. Lectures were held in Busan. The college returned to Seoul in 1953.
Dongguk University Broadcasting System began in 1959. Students participated in democratic uprisings. They protested against the government in 1960. They opposed the treaty with Japan in 1964.
In 2008, the university sued Yale University. This was because of a scandal. The scandal involved an assistant professor. Dongguk claimed Yale confirmed her degree. Yale later said the degree was a forgery. Yale sent an apology. Dongguk sued Yale for damages. The lawsuit concluded with Yale’s innocence.
In 2014, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands visited. They attended a seminar. It was held at Jeonggakwon. Jeonggakwon is a Korean Buddhist temple on campus.
Dongguk University has a new motto. It emphasizes wisdom, compassion, and endeavor. The main campus is in Jung District, Seoul. It is north of Namsan. Campus buildings connect to Namsan Park trails.
Alumni have found success in various fields. These include police, film, and sports. The university newspaper began in 1950. The English newspaper began in 1965.
Dongguk University encourages students. It helps them pursue quality education. It brings together diverse experiences and cultures. Students and professors contribute to theories and training. The university provides health care and medical services. Dongguk helps students discover themselves. It encourages them to serve others. It promotes spiritual enlightenment.