When you visit a temple, you usually pass through four temple gates, from secular world to the Daeungjon ( this is the main hall , where the temple's most important Buddha images are enshrined. ) and each gate has a name and a special role and symbolic meaning. But , many temple omit the second one, and some have only the first and last.

The first gate to a temple is Iljoomun,or Single -pillar Gate. This gate marks the boundary to the temple grounds and bears a sign across the top, written in Chinese characters. The Iljoomun is said to mean the concept of One Heart, that needs to become centered,quieting the mind to achieve focus on the here-and -now.

The second gate is called the Gumgangmun or "Diamond Gate" after the Diamond Sutra. Inside this gate stand two big,scary-looking muscle men called "yoksa". They are bodyguards, who protect the temple and the Dharma,or Buddhist doctrine. The one with his mouth open, is Narayon, who plays offence, attacking any evil forces that may attempt to enter. The one with his mouth shut is Milchok,
who plays defence,protecting the Buddha from attacks.

The third gate is the Chonwangmun, the Gate of the Kings of the Heavens. The four giant figures installed here represent the guardian spirits of the four directions The one playing the beepa , a Chinese lute , is Jeeguk, who guards the east. Chungjang protects the south with his swords or spear. In charge of the west is Kwangmok , who carries a dragon and a youiju ( magical bead that gives its possessor the power of having anything just the way he wants it.) Tamun guards the north and carries a pagoda in one hand and a flagstaff in the other. The last gate is called Puri-mon or Gate of Non-Duality. It marks one's entry into the realm of enlightenment, but by its name it also reminds us that there is no real separation between the Enlightened One and the living beings of the world.

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