Naewonam Hermitage – 내원암 (Ulju-gun, Ulsan)
Hermitage History
Naewonam Hermitage is located in Ulju-gun, Ulsan in the eastern foothills of Mt. Daeunsan (742.6 m). Additionally, Naewonam Hermitage is located up the very scenic Naewonam-gol Valley, which is especially popular during the summer months. As for Naewonam Hermitage, it’s believed to date back to the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). The hermitage is believed to have first been founded by the monk Gobong. Very little is known about the hermitage after its founding.
Later, and according to the “Chilseonggakjeongjeok” (七星閣創建記), which was written in 1919, some 160 people helped construct the Chilseong-gak Hall at Naewonam Hermitage. However, in 1925, a large fire broke out at the hermitage and destroyed all the buildings at Naewonam Hermitage. In 1993, the monk Songam rebuilt the Daeung-jeon Hall at the hermitage. In 2003, a three-story pagoda was erected on the hermitage grounds. And in 2004, the monks’ dorms, the Yosachae, were built.
Alongside Seoknamsa Temple, Munsusa Temple, and Sinheungsa Temple, Naewonam Hermitage is considered one of the four major meditation sites in the Ulsan area. In addition, the hermitage is home to a 500 year old pine tree.
Hermitage Layout
You first make your way up a long valley road, until you come to the hermitage parking lot. Not far from the hermitage parking lot, you’ll find the stout Iljumun Gate. Beyond this, and you’ll enter into the lower courtyard that houses the administrative office and a residence. Between these two buildings is a modern three-story pagoda with reliefs of the Eight Legions (팔부신장) around its base and four reliefs of various Buddhas on the first story of the structure.
To the right rear of this pagoda, you’ll find an uneven set of stone stairs that will bring you to the courtyard that houses the Daeung-jeon Hall. To the right of the Daeung-jeon Hall are the monks’ dorms. And in front of the stairs leading up to the Daeung-jeon Hall are a pair of book-ending stone lanterns. The exterior walls to the Daeung-jeon Hall are adorned with two sets of murals. The upper murals are a set of fading Palsang-do (The Eight Scenes from the Buddha’s Life Murals). And the lower murals, which are also fading, are adorned in Shimu-do (Ox-Herding Murals). You’ll also find a smattering of paintings dedicated to the Sibiji-shin (The Twelve Spirit Generals).
Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, you’ll find a main altar occupied by a triad of statues centred by Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). Flanking this central image are statues of Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife) and Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). Backing this triad is a beautiful relief, which is all housed under a large red datjib (canopy). You’ll also find a relief of a Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural) inside the main hall, as well as a painting dedicated to Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise).
To the right rear of the Daeung-jeon Hall, and up a side-winding set of stone stairs, you’ll find the hermitage’s Samseong-gak Hall. The exterior walls are adorned in scenic landscape paintings, white cranes, deer, and Sinseon (Taoist Immortals). Stepping inside the Samseong-gak Hall, you’ll find a main altar triad of paintings. All three paintings, which includes one dedicated to Chilseong (The Seven Stars), Dokseong (The Lonely Saint), and Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit), were created by the same artist. And in the painting dedicated to Dokseong, he seems to be a bit annoyed. Also, in front of the painting dedicated to Sanshin, there’s a statue dedicated to the Mountain Spirit. What’s interesting about this statue is that Sanshin has a rather large and elongated head, which is reminiscent of Bukseong (The North Star).
How To Get There
There’s no practical way to get to Naewonam Hermitage using public transportation. Instead, the only way to get to Naewonam Hermitage (outside of owning your own mode of transportation) is to catch a taxi from the Ulsan Intercity Bus Terminal. However, it won’t be cheap. From the bus terminal, the taxi ride will take about 30 minutes, or 22 km, and it’ll cost you around 20,000 won (one way).
Overall Rating: 5/10
The main highlight to Naewonam Hermitage is the natural beauty that surrounds it like the towering Mt. Daeunsan in the background and the Naewonam-gol Valley leading up to the hermitage grounds. In addition to all of this natural beauty, you can also enjoy the reliefs inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, as well as the paintings housed inside the Samseong-gak Hall, especially the statue dedicated to Sanshin and the downtrodden painting dedicated to Dokseong. While not as well known, Naewonam Hermitage is a beautiful little getaway found between eastern Busan and central Ulsan.
