across the water

반야용선도, 般若龍船圖, Banya-yong-sun-do means a painting of dragon vessel of wisdom. Prajna in sanskrit or Banya means wisdom of enlightenment, yong dragon, sun vessel and do painting. So, this painting depicts the scene that a group of enlightened people sail across the suffering world toward the paradise by vessel of wisdom. Dragon-shaped vessel means wisdom to free from suffering. Two people on the prow and stern of the vessel symbolizes Bodhisattvas steering it and guiding the passengers that imply enlightened ones.

Sometimes Buddhist temples in Korea or their main halls symbolize Banyayongsun itself. When visitors look around the main gates of Buddhist temples or stylobate of the main halls, dragon, turtle or crab-shaped carving in wood and stone can be seen. The above one shows the Tongdosa version of Banyayongsundo, which was painted in 1896 on the backside of a building in Tondosa. The below one is a stone bridge near one of the main gates of the monastery.

temple & village

This marker is designed for the visitors to the main hall of a traditional Buddhist temple established in 824 during Shilla Kingdom, 석남사 Seoknamsa well known for a monastery for Bikkhuni in sanskrit, Buddhist nuns.

Seoknamsa is one of the branch temples of Tongdosa. The mountain range with Mt. Gaji in the background contains a connected series of mountain peaks including Mt. Unmun on which Unmunsa, a major historical Buddhist monastery for Bikkhuni is located somewhere.

Summer views of traditional village near Hwawon in the eastern Daegu.

modern history of Daegu

Daegu fortress which was constructed in 1736 and demolished in 1907, used to be in the middle of Daegu valley. At first, it was built of soil in 1590 and destroyed by Japanese invaders two years later. Historically, it was aimed to protect local people from Japanese invaders. But it was ironically destroyed by pro-Japanese district governor named 박중양, Pak Joong Yang who spoke Japanese very well. Before Japan captured Joseon in 1910, many Japanese immigrated to Daegu to make money. But they were not able to have any land and wanted to own land for business and living. Pak decided privately to dismantle the fortress to secure land for Japanese without any permission from the government. Pak was later branded as a national traitor and punished after liberation from Japan.

The fortress had the shape of a quadrangle and four big gates. A French traveler who had visited Beijing in China wrote his impression of Daegu fortress "as a miniature of the castle in Beijing, “ describing the panoramic view of picture perfect field of autumn and the nearby river from the fortress. Today the scale of the fortress can be traced through four roads that lied on the same place of the fortress after the destruction, which were named after their position as follows: Dong-sung-ro, Seosungro, Namsungro, and Buksungro. Dong, Seo, Nam, and Buk mean east, west, south, and north respectively. Sung means fortress and Ro road. The roads are together connected, forming a quadrangle with angles. The circuit of the fortress walls was about 2.65km(1.65mile) and the height 5.6m(18.35ft).

With the fortress demolished, the Japanese were permitted to start building shops and residences along both sides of the site of the former fortress. It is still easy to find many Japanese style buildings along Buksungro. Huge amounts of stone from the fortress demolished were recycled in many ways and some are still found in the forms of cornerstones of a nearby church, residences of American missionaries, and gardens. At the sites of four gates in four directions lie small stone markers.

The governor in charge of Gyeongsang district, the southeastern region of the peninsula, during Joseon dynasty resided in the Daegu fortress. 경상감영, Gyeongsang gamyeong, district governor's office and residence (color photos), was located away from the site of western gate named Dalseomun (the above photo) of the fortress. This area later became a park with the same name, well known among the locals.

A stone marker which some Chinese character is carved stands at the exit of the park. The usual transportation used by the upper class during Joseon Dynasty was the horse but some areas were allowed to ride horses only for special personnel. During the time, this park area belonged to the district governor, so the stone marker indicates that anyone below the rank of district governors must dismount from the horse before entering this area.

Hermitage

염불암, Yeombulam, a Buddhist hermitage located on the mid-slope of Mt. Palgong surrounding northern Daegu is one of the hermitages affiliated to Donghwasa temple. Yeombul means Buddhist prayer and Am Buddhist hermitage. This hermitage was set up during Shilla Kingdom(BC 57 ∼ AD 935).
On the way to the hermitage, visitors can see two stone pillars which some Chinese characters are carved in low relief. The characters "入此門內 (on the right pillar), 莫存知解" cited from the Buddhist scripture written in Chinese mean "If you want to pass through this gate (on the right), do not give rise to thinking." "O" is also carved at the beginning of the characters, which means emptiness(공, 空). These letters can be usually found at the gates of Buddhist temples in Korea. A large rock stands in the backyard and two Buddhist images are carved on the western and southern side.

land, sea & sky

병곡 Byeonggog on the eastern coast of the peninsula, a small harbor where very few fishing boats were anchored, used to be a simple village, but now it is known for its beach (8 km or 4.97 mile) and seashore among tourists during summer season. The above photo shows the area where the stream near Byeonggog enters the sea, and the other one the typical coastal village along the road.

mountains in the sky

지리산, Jirisan, Mt. Jiri, the biggest mountain range in South Korea and one of the favorite national parks among mountaineers is located in the mid-south region of the Korean peninsula. Many magnificent mountains, valleys and buddhist temples scatter across the park and have been historically, religiously and spiritually loved since ancient times.

On the way to 천왕봉 Cheonwang Bong, the highest peak of the mountain range, hikers can drop in 법계사 Beopgyesa, a buddhist temple which is located on the highest place in South Korea. Since the temple was first built in 544 during 신라 Silla Dynasty(BC 57∼AD 935), it had been burnt and destroyed three times by Japanese and once during the Korean war. So all of the temple and residence have been newly built except a small three story stupa, believed to be built during 고려 Goryo Dynasty (918∼1392), on the top of a rock overlooking the panoramic view of the mountain range with the temple area. The stupa has been revered by buddhists for a long time because relic of the Buddha is held in the stupa.

Lunch is offered free every saturday and sunday at the restaurant attached to the temple. 비빔밥, Bibimbab, mixed rice with vegetables as a fixed meal is served.

Yangdong village

It is getting more and more difficult to find the typical traditional villages in Korea as the nation become increasingly industrialized. 양동 Yangdong located about 16 km northeast of Gyeongju is a unique village where two clan families have lived together from  Joseon dynasty(1392-1910). Over 150 traditional houses mostly made of wood, straw, mud, and stone sit on a long valley and surrounding hill, offering a peaceful view of the field.

Joseon was a class society greatly influenced by Confucian ideals. Yangdong village used to be a typical settlement for the aristocratic class called 양반 Yangban, and two distinguished Confucian scholars came from here. The village has been designated by the government as Important Folk Material and three residences in the village also as national treasures.

Banyawol station

Japanese colonialists ruling Korea started construction of the railway linking 대구 Daegu and 영천Yeongchun in February 1916 and opened a station along the railway around 반야월 Banyawol to the east of Daegu in December 1917, which is the second stop from Daegu station. Dongchon station that was also opened in 1917 is located between Daegu and Banyawol station.

Banyawol means half moon, which was derived from the historical event that took place around Banyawol in 927. At that time, Korean peninsular was in social and political upheaval and got involved in the war, and Mt. Palgong and its vicinity became one of the major battlefields. A general called 왕건 Wanggeon had a narrow escape from death after being decisively defeated in the battle near 팔공산 Mt. Palgong and went past this area at dawn while he ran away. Then, half moon in the sky helped him find the way to escape, and he fled to Mt. Ap, Apsan in southern Daegu and found a place to hide. Later he succeeded in rising again and finally unified the peninsula. And he named this area Banyawol which had helped him run away in the moonlight.

When Banyawol and Dongchon station were closed in December 2005, it has been 92 years since the opening in 1917. The railway line along Banyawol and Dongchon was moved to the southern area due to the urban development project. But the two stations were designated as culture properties to be conserved well by concerned government authority.

two puppies

When I passed by a cottage on the mountain last sunday and found two dogs, one of them was rushing toward me with wagging his tail and the other one barking at me. The white one was very friendly with people and jumped on me with muddy paws. But the other one looked scared and was still barking.

Then, their owner came out and saw the scene, and we exchanged greetings. He worked nearby and smiled, told me the white dog is friendly to people, even strangers. The dog looked less than one year old.

Seon Master

Songchol Sunim 성철스님(1912-1993)  is one of great Seon Masters of the 20th century in Korea. It was well known in Korea that he had been a living Buddha because he had lived an extremely ascetic lifestyle and practiced meditation very strictly. He has been estimated to show the true character of the spiritual seeker as a Buddhist monk.

The above photo shows a small temple attached to 파계사 Pagyesa temple on the foot of Mt. Palgong outside of northern Daegu, in which he had stayed from 1956 to 1963 for practicing meditation without leaving there. Gomusin( rubber shoes) is one of his only mementos including socks, wood staff, rugged clothes which he had worn for 40 years and glasses. All these photos were taken outside of the temple or in the legacy pavilion built near his birthplace in Sancheong-gun(county) in Gyeongsangnam-do(province).

spring scenes

Green barley field and mountains around Hyeonpung 현풍, a county subdivision of Dalseong District. Spring has come to 비슬산, Bisulsan, Mt. Bisul in the middle of the mountain range, too. The ruins of 대견사, Dagyeonsa, a Buddhist temple built during Shilla Kingdom(57 BC∼AD 935)are located somewhere on the ridge of Mt. Bisul . Also somewhere nearby is an old stupa on the top of rock. Two peaks of Mt. Ap just outside of southern Daegu and Mt. Bisul are connected by a long ridge. It usually takes about 8 hours on foot.

There is a large Rhododendron colony on the ridge of Mt. Bisul. Rhododendrons in full bloom in spring season attract hikers from across the nation.

After spring rains, a little tiny violet flower is in blossom on the front garden of the company where lawn grass is maintained regularly. Little green buds are coming out on withered grasses, too. Little sprouts and the bare branches of a persimmon tree also can be seen.

front floor & clay jar

The view of the front floor of Buddhist monk's residence in the temple. Two pairs(white and black) of rubber shoes, a broom and dustpan can be seen. Someone put his shoes face down to dry in the sun.

Many Buddhist monks in Korea usually prefer to wear 고무신, Gomusin, rubber shoes. Gomu means rubber and Sin shoes. Gomusin as simple and cheap rubber shoes had been the most popular shoes among Koreans in the past but now it is not easy to see anyone wearing Gomusin. White and black were the most common colors.

Traditional fermented foods like Kimchi, soybean paste, pepper paste are well stored in jars made of clay for long periods. There used to be jar stands in front or behind garden in almost every Korean houses. Their locations varied depending on where the sunniest spot is in the house. The designs of jars vary in color and size as much as those who make them.

In urban districts, it is getting harder to see clay jars as well as jar stands because of  changes in resident environment.

clan village

In the age of agriculture, Korean clans used to live together. Even if clan villages are not usual in Korea any more, some old clan villages still remain and have been conserved well.

A descendent of 남평 문 Nampyeong Mun clan set up a village in 인흥 Inhung, south of 화원 Hwawon in the mid western Daegu in the 19th century. The clan villages belonging to Nampyeong Mun scatters across the nation and the village in Hwawon is just one of them. Nampyeong means the ancient place name of 나주 Naju, 전라남도 Jeollanamdo province, while Mun is family name. The history of Mun clan begins in 1098 under the reign of Goryo Dynasty(918 to 1392) .

As a clan member of Nampyeong Mun, 문익점 Mun Ikjeom is well known for his contribution to bring cotton seeds secretly from China in 1363. Clothes made of cotton affected and improved the quality of daily life a lot. 문경호 Mun Gyeongho who first built the residence of the clan in Hwawon is a 18th-generation descendent of Mun Ikjeom .

Before the village was laid out, there used to be a devastated Buddhist temple in the area. Visitors can still see a small stupa in front of it. The village is square in shape, so alleys and mud walls are straight with no bends. Traditional houses and earth walls reinforced by stone are worth watching. Apricot orchards in front of the village are in full bloom around early spring.

wooden ducks in the wind

솟대 Sotdae is newly set up on the peak of 성암산 Sungamsan, Mt. Sungam located to the west of 경산 Gyeongsan.

Sotdae has been the religious figure for village residents since ancient times, which consists of the wood pole and wooden bird on the top. Villagers stood Sotdae at the village entrance for the welfare and good harvest of the village on the day of the full moon of the first month of the lunar year. The wooden birds on the top chiefly depict ducks briefly.

Most ducks are aquatic birds, so the ancients thought the aquatic characteristic of ducks can protect them from the fire. Ducks are also fertile and lay many eggs, usually larger than chicken eggs. Besides, ducks are migratory birds and were thought to freely enter and exit this side of the grave and the other world as well as the realm of god and human.

An anemoscope on the pole on the primary school ground shows the direction that the wind is blowing from the 북동 northeast to the 남서 southwest. During the winter season, the prevailing winds in Korea are usually from the northwest and northeast.

December 31, 2007

People say that today is the last day of the year, and give it some meaning.

Good-bye 2007 !

Happy New Year ! Wishing you the best for 2008 !

(The photo shows a streetlight on the night of Jan 20 2007. )

Confucian Academy

도동서원 Dodong Seowon, a Confucian academy established in the period of  Joseon dynasty(1392 to 1910) is located to the west of 현풍면 Hyeunpung Myeon, county subdivision of 달성군 Dalseong gun, Dalseong county.

Dodong means that Confucian philosophy comes from the east. Visitors can see the wooden name plate of the academy in the main hall, whose letters were written by the King in 1607. This Academy was dedicated to 김굉필 Kim Gwoingpil, one of the great scholars during Joseon dynasty and its architectural and historical value have been estimated by designating it as a national treasure in 1963.

Confucian scholars had a preference for the silent and scenic place as Buddhist monks did. The academy against the mountains is close to 낙동강 Nakdong gang, Nakdong river.

Windy Mountain

Located about halfway between 부산 Busan and 대구 Daegu, 밀양 Miryang city offers a cozy and relaxing atmosphere with cultural and historical attractions. About 1300-year-old 표충사 Pyochungsa is one of the well-known temples in Miryang.

Behind the temple, a scenic mountain named 재약산 Jaeyaksan, Mt. Jaeyak is located on the wide plateau where pampas grasses grow. Several small temples annexed to Pyochungsa are scattered on the mountain. Pampas grass turns yellowish brown in winter, creating a romantic mountain landscape.

The view shows the southern ridge to the summit of Mt. Jaeyak.

Glimpse of Time

At the front edge of the door of the traditional house in the farming village named 한개 Hangae in 성주군 Seongju gun Seongju county to the west of Daegu , two ears of corn are hung up to be used for sowing seeds in spring. The photo below depicts door knob of some other house in the village.

Autumn Excursion

주왕산, Mt. Juwang, Juwangsan National Park is located in the mid-eastern region of the peninsula. From Daegu, it took longer time than expected due to heavy traffic. Nearly all of the trails near the main entrance of the park were crowded with many tourists and hikers who enjoyed the picturesque natural beauty of the mountain decorated in autumn colors. Maple leaves have turned yellow and red and some trees were dropping their leaves already.

We stopped at a rest stop on the pass of mountains to the south of Juwangsan, and had a snack. Popular Korean snack, fish paste cakes threaded on bamboo skewers are boiled in the kettle. Green onion and pumpkin are put in the middle and eggs just outside of the kettle.

Mt. Songni in Autumn

About 20 years have passed since I first visited 속리산, Songnisan, Mt. Songni . The mountain range and Beopjusa temple at the foot of the mountain were the same as before. 속리 Songni means “leaving the worldly life.” The name of this mountain was originated from the story of a Buddhist monk who entered this mountain for practicing meditation about 1200 years ago.

Autumn is coming to Songnisan National Park. As the autumn wears on, the maple leaves turn pale yellow or soft gold and eventually red. 

wheat and grapes

The above photo was taken in front of the main gate room of Benedictine nunnery in western Daegu and the below one shows the statue of St. Benedict and the nunnery building.

autumn's arrival

Cosmos flowers and cricket sounds are the typical symbols of autumn in Korea. Long, hot and sticky summer has completely gone and cool autumn comes. Autumn is the harvest season and offers us the abundant gifts of nature, so an old Korean proverb says that the sky is high and the horses get fat during autumn.

Gyeongan 경산 is located on the east side of Daegu and famous for its sweet grapes and peaches. The above photo shows Gyeongsan grapes in the fall of 2007. As the summer is getting longer, lots of dragonflies can be seen in the sky, and one of the dragonflies in the cloudy sky sits on a reed stem.

Hodie Mihi, Cras Tibi

Hodie Mihi, Cras Tibi is from the latin meaning "Today me, Tomorrow you" and inscribed on both sides of the gate of catholic cemetery in Daegu.

take a sip of water

take a rest to drink water as they pass a small spring