• Artwork

    Chilseong-gak – The Seven Stars Hall: 칠성각

    Introduction Another popular shaman deity that you can find at a Korean Buddhist temple is Chilseong, or “The Seven Stars,” in English. Chilseong is Taoist in origins. Originally, Chilseong governed human affairs and fortunes. Unlike Sanshin who has maintained its shamanic independence, Chilseong has been thoroughly absorbed into Buddhism as each of the seven stars in the constellation have ascended to Bodhisattva status. Even Bukseong, “The North Star,” in English, the figure with the large elongated head that’s usually situated in the top corner of the Chilseong mural, is a Bodhisattva, as well. Chilseong-gak Design You can find Chilseong in a few locations at a Korean Buddhist temple. Most commonly,…

  • Gyeongju

    Bucheobawi/Okryongam Hermitage – 부처바위/옥룡암 (Gyeongju)

    Shrine and Hermitage History Of the two, Bucheobawi and Okryongam Hermitage, it’s Bucheobawi that you’ve probably traveled all this way to see. Bucheobawi, which means “Buddha Rock,” in English, is located on the northern tip of Mt. Namsan (468m) in Gyeongju. But to get to Bucheobawi, you’ll first need to make your way down a country road, which eventually becomes a trail that runs alongside a stream. About three hundred metres up this trail, you’ll finally come to Okryongam Hermitage. Where the hermitage is presently located was the former site of Sininsa Temple, which was built during Later Silla (668-935 A.D.). Shrine and Hermitage Layout When you first approach Okryongam…

  • Artwork

    Dokseong-gak – The Lonely Saint Hall: 독성각

    Introduction Another shaman deity that you can find at a Buddhist temple in Korea is Dokseong, or “The Lonely Saint,” in English. The reason he’s called this is because he’s away from the Historical Buddha, Seokgamoni-bul. Dokseong is also sometimes referred to as Naban-jonja. It’s believed that Dokseong was a Nahan, one of the original disciples of the Buddha, Seokgamoni-bul. It’s even been suggested that Dokseong was one of Seokgamoni-bul’s original disciples: Pindola. Dokseong will remain on Earth to help those in need of his support as a form of punishment for his careless performance of miracles. As a result, Dokseong will remain on Earth until Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha)…

  • Gyeongju

    Girimsa Temple – 기림사 (Gyeongju)

    Temple History Girimsa Temple, which means “Sacred Forest Temple,” in English, is located in eastern Gyeongju. The name of the temple is a transliteration of one of the two main temples that the Buddha and his disciples were active in during Seokgamoni-bul’s (The Historical Buddha) lifetime: Venuvana and Jetavana. Of the two, it’s Jetavana that Girimsa Temple is named after. The reason that Jetavana was so important is that it’s where the Buddha spent twenty years of his life and taught the majority of his teachings. In fact, of the forty-five vassas (three month retreats), the Buddha stayed at Jetavana for nineteen of them. In Korean, the name for Jetavana…

  • Artwork

    Yongwang-dang –The Dragon King Hall: 용왕당

    Introduction Another shaman deity that you can find inside a Samseong-gak Hall or a Yongwang-dang Hall is Yongwang, or “The Dragon King,” in English. Of the four shaman deities commonly found at a Korean Buddhist temple, Yongwang is usually the least common to find. Yongwang comes from Chinese Taoism with Hindu and shaman influences. Traditionally, Yongwang is the deity of lakes, rivers, ponds, waters, seas, stream, or pretty much anything to do with water. Yongwang-dang Design There’s a belief that there’s a world beneath the sea. And in this world, Yongwang rules in his Dragon Palace called “Yonggung,” in Korean. As a shaman deity at a Korean Buddhist temple, Yongwang…

  • Artwork

    Sanshin-gak – The Mountain Spirit Hall: 산신각

    Introduction At a Korean Buddhist temple, you will often find shaman deities. Usually, you can find these shaman deities housed inside a shaman shrine hall called a Samseong-gak Hall. Housed inside this hall are Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit), Dokseong (The Lonely Saint), Chilseong (The Seven Stars) and/or Yongwang (The Dragon King). These shaman deities are also sometimes housed in their own shaman shrine halls like a Sanshin-gak, a Dokseong-gak, a Chilseong-gak, or a Yongwang-dang. Or there can be a combination with two shaman deities housed in the same shrine hall like inside a Sanshin/Dokseong-gak. Sanshin-gak Design The first of these shaman deities I’ll be talking about is Sanshin, or “The…

  • Jeollabuk-do

    Songgwangsa Temple – 송광사 (Wanju, Jeollabuk-do)

    Temple History Songgwangsa Temple, which is located in Wanju, Jeollabuk-do, is situated south of Mt. Jongnamsan (608.3m). This Songgwangsa Temple, however, shouldn’t be confused with the more famous temple with the same name in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. This Songgwangsa Temple was first founded in 867 A.D. by the monk Doui-guksa. Originally, when the temple was first constructed in 867 A.D., it was known as Baekryongsa Temple. Eventually, the temple would be renamed by the famed monk Jinul (1158-1210) during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). After years of neglect, Jinul asked his disciples to renovate and rebuild the temple. Unfortunately, this wish wasn’t fulfilled by his disciples. The temple was largely destroyed during…

  • Artwork

    Geukrak-jeon – Paradise Hall: 극락전

    Introduction A Geukrak-jeon Hall is dedicated to Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise). Amita-bul is a transliteration of the Sanskrit “Amitabha,” which means “Immeasurable Life,” in English. Amita-bul is the overseer of the Western Pure Land, or “Jeongto,” in Korean. This idea is rooted in the very name of the Geukrak-jeon Hall, which means “Paradise Hall,” in English. The hall also goes by a couple other names like Mita-jeon or Muryangsu-jeon like at the famous Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The name Muryangsu-jeon means “Immeasurable Life Hall,” in English, which again, is another parallel to Amita-bul. Geukrak-jeon Design Amita-bul was born from the meditation of the first Buddha. That’s…