20 years later

As autumn arrived, a padyatri visited Jeokcheonsa 적천사 磧川寺, an ancient Buddhist temple located 4 km south of Cheongdo 청도, for the first time in 20 years. It is said that this temple was founded around 1,600 years ago during the Silla period by a Buddhist layman 거사, and over time, it grew in scale. Around the year 1100, during the Goryeo 고려 dynasty, approximately 500 monks practiced here, and many renowned Zen masters emerged from this place.

At the entrance of the temple stand two famous ginkgo trees that greet visitors. They are estimated to be around 800 years old, and in late autumn, they turn a brilliant yellow, transforming into a spectacular sight. These trees have been designated and preserved as national monuments. According to legend, they grew from the staff that a monk named Jinul 지눌 planted while rebuilding and repairing the old structures of Jeokcheonsa in 1175 during the Goryeo dynasty. He was a venerable monk of the Goryeo period who played a decisive role in establishing Korean Seon Buddhism. It was the end of October, but autumn had come late to this mountain. On the day a padyatri went, the ginkgo leaves still had a greenish hue rather than the typical golden yellow of autumn.       

  

Jeokcheonsa is located halfway up the mountain, so you can either drive there or park in the village at the foot of the mountain and walk up. A padyatri walked up, and it seemed that many more houses had been built throughout the valley compared to the past.

Buddhist temple

Jeogchun Sa 적천사, a Buddhist temple, located in the south of Gyeongsan 경산 was established in 664 AD and has been renovated several times. Many Buddhist monks had lived and meditated here under the great Seon masters since its foundation.

When Japanese invaded Joseon in 1664 and marched north, they burnt and destroyed this temple totally. Later this temple was rebuilt at the same site.

There are usually four statues of fierce looking guards at the gate of Korean Buddhist temple, which derive from Buddhist tradition. Buddhists believe that these mystic guards prevent devils from entering temples from four directions and protect Buddhists from devils. The picture above is about 400 year old statues at the gate of Jeogchun Sa.

You can see some small statues trampled under guards' feet. They are described as Japanese pirates. Japanese pirates had brutally plundered the towns along the southern coast of Korea for a long time, so they were regarded as another form of devils.