Temple Architecture and Artwork

[dostoevsky_21_81]

Thank you. I just recently put up another post at the blog about San shin, the Mountain god. Feel free to check it out!

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2011/12/san-shin-mountain-god.html

[dostoevsky_21_81]

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Hope everyone will have a safe and happy holiday season.

So have you ever wondered what those fish-shaped wind chimes might mean? Well wonder no more.

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2011/12/korean-buddhist-temple-fish-shaped-wind.html

[Paul]

Congrats mate.
http://blog.korea.net/?p=6587

[miss_cho]

I'm curious - do you take requests? I've only been to a few Buddhist temples here in Korea but I've noticed clusters of small stacks of rocks near the temples. At one temple I watched a little boy and his mother collect rocks on the ground to create their own. Do you know the significance of this ritual? I'd be really interested to read about it.

[dostoevsky_21_81]

I'm curious - do you take requests? I've only been to a few Buddhist temples here in Korea but I've noticed clusters of small stacks of rocks near the temples. At one temple I watched a little boy and his mother collect rocks on the ground to create their own. Do you know the significance of this ritual? I'd be really interested to read about it.

I'll definitely think about adding a post about this. And thank you Paul. Yes, I'll be one of the contributors for the Korean government blog. So thank you everyone for your continued support.

[Gossy]

I'm very happy to have found your blog! I've been planning to study architecture in my time off from work while in Korea, so its great to have all of this information!

I am going to be living in Bucheon, were would you suggest I try to visit first? should I go to Changdeokgung Palace? Is there a fee to visit?

[dostoevsky_21_81]

Yes, I would definitely recommend that you visit Changdeokgung first. To me, it's perhaps the most beautiful palace in Seoul. And yes, there's a fee to get in. It costs 3,000 Won just for a basic tour, and you can only visit the palace on a tour that you can sign up for at the admission office. I would also recommend paying the 5,000 Won extra. And if you're thinking about visiting all the major palaces in Seoul like Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, etc., I would recommend getting the integrated pass for 10,000 won.

Hope that helps.

[dostoevsky_21_81]

Just in time for the new year, the twelve spirit generals (zodiac signs) are up over at the blog.

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2012/01/twelve-spirit-generals.html

[matthews_world]

Not sure why noone else has said it yet but many foreigners find Korean temples to be the same.

Have you posted about the 3 'Enlightened' temples of the Silla dynasty - Haeinsa near Hapcheon and Hapcheon Dam are on the Nakdong River,  Beomeosa (Dongnae, Busan quite close to Nopo-dong Express Bus Terminal) and Bulguksa (nestled away west of Daegu in Kyoungnam-do)?

You might do a piece on Pal-goong mountain and the large stone Buddha head found at the top.


Haeinsa is certainly my fave with the Tripitaka museum nearby with all of stored scrolls.  Makes a nice summer or Chuseok getaway as there is also water sports and rafting nearby.

[dostoevsky_21_81]

Not sure why no one else has said it yet but many foreigners find Korean temples to be the same.

Have you posted about the 3 'Enlightened' temples of the Silla dynasty - Haeinsa near Hapcheon and Hapcheon Dam are on the Nakdong River,  Beomeosa (Dongnae, Busan quite close to Nopo-dong Express Bus Terminal) and Bulguksa (nestled away west of Daegu in Kyoungnam-do)?

You might do a piece on Pal-goong mountain and the large stone Buddha head found at the top.

Haeinsa is certainly my fave with the Tripitaka museum nearby with all of stored scrolls.  Makes a nice summer or Chuseok getaway as there is also water sports and rafting nearby.

While there are many foreigners that find all the temples to be "the same" there are also those that find them interesting. That's why I'm writing these articles, so as to differentiate the temples, while hopefully helping others to see the various beauty that each temple possesses so that they don't look "the same" to the untrained eye.

And yes, I've written about all three. As for Palgongsan, the "large stone head" found at the top of it is actually a full statued figure called Gatbawi.

[dostoevsky_21_81]

The latest addition to the blog is up. This time, stupas, better known as budo in Korea, are explored. These grave markers for Buddhist monks and nuns are highly symbolic, so check it out!

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2012/01/stupa-budo.html

[dostoevsky_21_81]

The next post is up over at the blog. This time the ever present Korean pagoda is explored in the first of a three part series.

Check it out!

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2012/01/korean-pagoda-part-1.html

[dostoevsky_21_81]

An all new posting is up about the Korean Buddhist temple art. This time, I explored the gorgeous floral latticework that adorns Korean temple halls.  Please check it out!

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2012/02/korean-buddhist-temple-latticework.html


Also, I've posted the final two entries about Korean pagodas. Check this out as well!

[dostoevsky_21_81]

An all new posting of Korean temple architecture is up. This week I have a look at The Hall of 1,000 Buddhas. This is one of the most beautiful halls inside of a Korean Temple.  Check it out!

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2012/02/hall-of-1000-buddhas.html

[MrH]

I enjoyed Haeinsa as it is a working temple, with monks drumming, meditating and carrying artefacts around throughout the time I was there. The complex is also quite large with a number of buildings on site and around it.

Worth a look for even the culture-phobe.

[dostoevsky_21_81]

An all new posting is up at the blog. This time, I explore the Nimbus that surrounds Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Check it out!

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2012/03/nimbus-emanations-of-wisdom-and.html

[namerae]

This is an incredible resource for those of us who want more background on temples. Thanks for going to such measures to make them easy for people to understand (history, directions, paintings, etc). 

[dostoevsky_21_81]

Thank you for the kind reply. I hope you find the information helpful.

I have a new posting up about the house within a house at a Korean Buddhist temple.  Check it out.

http://daleskoreantempleadventures.blogspot.com/2012/03/canopy-datjib.html