Nun who helped popularize Korean Buddhism dies

Our take: Following her death, 86-year-old Myogongdang Daehaeng was recognized for helping to popularize and modernize Korean Buddhism throughout the world. After spending 10 years in penance, Daehaeng helped bring branches of Korean Buddhist temples to the U.S. In 2002, she was awarded the Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award by the United Nations for her roles as a teacher, facilitator and servant in her religion.

The Ven. Myogongdang Daehaeng, who greatly contributed to the modernization and popularization of Korean Buddhism, died Tuesday at Hanmaum Seonwon in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. She was 86.

Spending 63 years as a Buddhist nun, she was born in 1927 in Seoul's Itaewon district and entered Sangwon Temple in Gangwon Province as a monastic in 1950 under the guidance of the Ven. Hanam. She went on to perform penance for more than 10 years on mountains in Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces. In 1961, she became a Buddhist nun and had Sangwon Temple rebuilt in 1963.

Read more at The Dong-a Ilbo.