Borimsa Temple – 보림사 (Gijang-gun, Busan)
Temple History
Borimsa Temple is located in western Gijang-gun, Busan to the east of Mt. Jangnyeonsan (240.2 m). And in front of the temple grounds is where three rivers meet. Purportedly the mountains that surround Borimsa Temple are shaped like lotus flowers, while the mountain where Borimsa Temple is located looks like a turtle looking for water.
In 1986, while monks at Haeinsa Temple were looking for a place to study, they found a site where three streams met and the mountain behind was shaped like a lotus flower. So not long after, they built Borimsa Temple. Thus, Borimsa Temple is a modern temple that belongs to the Jogye-jong Buddhist Order.
Temple Layout
When you first make your way up to Borimsa Temple, you’ll initially be greeted by a stately Iljumun Gate. The pillars of the Iljumun Gate are adorned with beautiful images of dragons and clouds. A little further up the set of stone stairs, and under a canopy of multi-coloured lanterns, you’ll see the main hall at Borimsa Temple.
The exterior of the Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall is adorned with fading Shimu-do (Ox-Herding Murals). Stepping inside the main hall, you’ll be welcomed by a triad of statues on the main altar. In the centre of this triad is a large, seated image of Birojana-bul (The Buddha of Cosmic Energy). This central image is flanked on either side by standing images of a black-haired Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife) and a regal-looking Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). An equally impressive golden relief of the Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural) appears to the right of the main altar.
Out in front of the Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall, and next to the stone lantern lined pathway leading up to the main hall, is a weathered Jong-ru Pavilion with a large bronze bell inside. And to the right are some beautiful gardens filled with flowers like peonies.
In the upper courtyard behind the Daejeokgwang-jeon Hall, you’ll find a couple more temple shrine halls. The first of these shrine halls is the Cheonbul-jeon Hall. The exterior walls to the Cheonbul-jeon Hall are filled with murals of the Palsang-do (The Eight Scenes from the Buddha’s Life Murals). Stepping inside the Cheonbul-jeon Hall, you’ll find a shrine hall filled with one thousand smaller images of the Buddha. On the main altar, you’ll find a triad centred by Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). And all throughout the interior of this shrine hall are some rather impressive Bicheon (Flying Heavenly Deities) paintings.
Next to the Cheonbul-jeon Hall is the Geukrak-jeon Hall. The exterior walls are adorned with paintings of cherry blossoms and the myth about the creation of the moktak (wooden fish drum). Stepping inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall, you’ll find a solitary image of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) on the main altar.
The final shrine hall that visitors can explore at Borimsa Temple is the Samseong-gak Hall that situated behind both the Cheonbul-jeon Hall and the Geukrak-jeon Hall. One of the exterior walls of the shaman shrine hall is adorned with a golden tiger. Stepping inside the Samseong-gak Hall, you’ll find three wonderful, modern paintings dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit), Chilseong (The Seven Stars), and Dokseong (The Lonely Saint).
How To Get There
There are two ways to get to Borimsa Temple. But in both cases, you’ll first need to get to Nopo Subway Station, stop #134, on the first line. At Nopo Subway Station, you’ll need to find the bus station. It’s from this bus station that you’ll need to take the bus named “마을버스 #금정구2-3 – Geumjeong-gu 2-3.” The bus ride will last 13 stops. You’ll need to get off at the “Maji – 마지” stop. This bus ride will take about 40 minutes.
The other easier way to get to Borimsa Temple is to take a taxi from the Nopo Subway Station. The taxi ride should take about 15 minutes over 8.3 km, and it’ll cost you 9,500 won (one way). If you’re traveling in a group, this is probably the better mode of transportation.
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
The temple is a bit of a mixed bag of sorts. While the exterior wall paintings to the temple shrine halls are rather simplistic and fading, the interiors of these temple shrine halls are stunning. Add the stately Iljumun Gate and the flower gardens at the temple, and you get the overall rating you do. Overall, the temple makes for a nice little adventure to a lesser known Korean Buddhist temple in northern Busan.
