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Published: November 25th 2009
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BongEnSa - Buddha of the Future
BongEnSa is across the street from new shining glass/steel/concrete offices. Amazing contrast, especially considering that BongEnSa is over 1200 years old. That is over a millenium! The Buddha of the Future is a more recent addition though, 1996. BTW Buddha of the Future is when Buddha returns to save Mankind and most of you recognize Him as the Laughing Buddha. Arrived in Korea last Thursday night not knowing what to expect. I have been hearing stories of people not speaking English and some may not be so kind to foreigners (compared to certain countries). So when I got off the airport bus 9+pm at some major intersection and I didn't see any English signs or maps, I thought I'd be sleeping at some street corner. Thanks to the convenience store clerk, the first person I approached, she understood what I said and pointed me to the right direction, which was opposite of where I headed. AND she had a very nice attitude.
I stayed at a hostel called Kim's Guesthouse, a 2 storied house close to a two-lined subway station. The single room was very clean and the floors were heated! I read about that in the guidebook but didn't give a second thought until I walked around barefoot. There were two bathrooms shared. The rest of the place was also clean and neat; it could be because they're renovating and expanding. Free coffee and toasts with jam and butter for breakfast. Bought my own cheese and juice to complete the meal.
The next day I visited a temple
BongEnSa - Accoustics
Look at the beautifully painted large accoutical instruments. No I have no idea how this Dragonfish make sound. The other side is a giant bell and metal plate for banging. founded in 794AD called BongEnSa under the unified Shilla dynasty. It faces across the street to a new hotel-casino-conference center and other high rise shining office buildings. I got there early so they were performing morning prayers. I was very fortunate to sit through a full prayer in the Jijangjeon hall, a more recently build temple hall. Jijang Bodhisattva was a former prince of Shilla, just in case some of you Korean readers didn't know. Toward the back of the temple grounds was a 23 meter high statue of Mireukdaebul, built in 1996, the largest statue of Buddha in Korea (see pic). Many of you know him as the chubby Laughing Buddha. This statue is perched on an elevated hill and looking down from here I could see the ancient temple roof tops and towering behind were the glass-steel-concrete buildings... wonderful contrast.
BTW people told me that I would be bored spending too much time in Seoul. So SC suggested that I check out some temples. So, if reading about my visit to temples sounds boring to you... don't worry I will try not to bore you too much. Anyways, it does give me a good itinerary to follow.
Seoul: Jogyesa - Main Hall
I snuck this picture while everyone was praying inside. Look at my photo skills, I even captured the Pagoda behind me. I should get paid for this. BTW - I later found out that all the middle-age to old ladies praying inside are on a 100 praying mission for their children to kick butt on their exams. Amazing parental dedication! So right after BongEnSa I went to a more recent temple, built in 1938, called Jogyesa. This is the headquarters of Korea's Jogye sect, which emphasizes on Zen/Chan meditation. As I entered the biggest temple building, the hall was already filled wall to wall with old ladies (and couple old men) chanting and prostrating. I squeezed myself in a corner and settled to absorb and pray. The monks leading the prayers signaled and the diciples followed with unison. Then I observed that many women had a sheet of paper next to them. It had a 2x2 picture of a young person on an upper corner; infact the paper looked like an application form. I was like why are there so many with picture of youngsters with them. I didn't know what to think. After prayer I went to their information office and chatted up with a couple of Korean old lady volunteers, who were happy to practice their English. Apparently most of the people in the large temple hall were praying for their children to score well on their exams.
By this time I was starving. Initially I thought this trip would be a good opportunity to lose a few pounds, but in Seoul street vendors and convenience stores were everywhere. So I stuffed myself with many different kinds rice cakes, sweets, and store prepacked food. In the afternoon I checked out the bus and train stations. I also went another small temple which was within city subway system (plus 10+ min walk) and in a residential area. It's painted gold all over on the outside, except for the roof... Inside everything was gold colored except for the ceiling. The ceiling was filled with colorful hanging lanterns contrasting with the gold all around. In fact it was covered in 100% pure gold, per subway map blurb. Otherwise I don't have much info on this cause the temple does not have any literature in any foreign languages. The subway map advertisement was the only place I found any info.
My first day in Seoul trumped my worries. People were friendly and very helpful, even those with very bad English. For the following day, Saturday, I decided to go to Daegu...
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dukjin
Steven Chang
seoul
I meant you might be bored if you're on your own in Seoul, but still should've gone around Seoul. you didn't do anything else but go to temples in Seoul?