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Poroe – The Dragon that Adorns the Top of the Temple Bell: 포뢰
Introduction One of the most common things that you’ll see at a Korean Buddhist temple outside a pagoda or temple shrine hall is the Brahma Bell, which is a large, decorative bronze bell. The Brahma Bell, which is known as a “Beomjong – 범종” in Korean, is well-crafted and is usually several hundred years old. Typically, the exterior walls of the bell are adorned with various Buddhist figures like Bicheon (Flying Heavenly Deities), Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. Joining these bell reliefs is a decorative metal hook that holds the bell to the rafter’s of the bell pavilion. The decorative metal hook that crowns the top of the bell is designed like…
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Yong – Dragons: 용
Introduction One of the most common things you’ll find at a Korean Buddhist temple is a dragon. You can find them in paintings, statues, adornments, latticework around shrine halls and even under bridges. So why do you find so many dragons at a Korean Buddhist temple? History of the Korean Dragon As Buddhism started to migrate eastward from India, it started to take on local influences and forms. One great example of this can be seen when Buddhism started to spread throughout China during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.). When Buddhism entered into China, the dragon first came as a Naga. Naga, as in Hinduism, takes the…
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Video: Yongwang: The Dragon King – 용왕
Hello Again Everyone!! Of the four major shaman deities that you can find at a Korean Buddhist temple, which includes Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit), Chilseong (The Seven Stars), and Dokseong (The Lonely Saint), it’s probably Yongwang, the Dragon King, that’s least understood. Perhaps because he’s not as well represented as the other three, but Yongwang still has incredible significance both in Korean Buddhism and Korean shamanism. So enjoy the video and learn about the shaman deity that lives under the sea and provides security to the Korean peninsula. Enjoy!
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Video: Poroe: The Bell Dragon – 포뢰
Hello Again Everyone!! Continuing with our all-new temple artwork videos, today, we’ll be talking bout The Bell Dragon: Poroe. If you look at the crown of a temple bell, or a Brahma Bell, that takes up residence inside a temple’s bell pavilion, you’ll find a metallic image of a dragon. This dragon has a unique phobia, Cetaphobia, which helps make the bell sound louder. So watch this video and find out what exactly this fearsome dragon is afraid of. Enjoy!
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Video: The Dragon Ship of Wisdom – 반야용선도
Hello Again Everyone!! In this all-new type of videos, we’ll be exploring the temple artwork that adorns Korean Buddhist temples. Specifically, we’ll be looking at masonry, paintings, architecture, bells, drums, and so much more! And the topic of this video, which can be seen from time to time around a temple or hermitage is called “The Dragon Ship of Wisdom,” in English, or the “반야용선도,” in Korean. This painting is highly symbolic in the Buddhist understanding of the after life. So sit back and enjoy the video, as I explain The Dragon Ship of Wisdom!