Jeollabuk-do - Jeonju•Iksan•Wanju
1. Jeonju-HanokVillage
4. Iksan-Mireuksa Temple
5. Wanju-Songwangsa Temple 6. Wanju – Daea Arboretum Jeonju-HanokVillage 1. Pungnammun Gate Pungnammun Gate, Where the Journey to the Title Hanok Village Begins
Welcome to Jeonju, the city of traditional beauty and food. Jeonju is probably one of the best places visit if you want to experience various aspects of the traditional culture of Korea. The first thing you'll notice will be arrays of hanok, or traditional houses, in the middle of the city. One place in particular is called the Jeonju Hanok Village, where you can experience the real culture of Korea. Let's go find out the stories behind the village. This is Pungnammun Gate, the south gate of walls that once surrounded the city of Jeonju. The original one was estimated to be built at the end of the 14th century. It had to be rebuilt several times over the centuries, because it was destroyed and burnt several times due to wars and fire. The last time it was restored was in 1981, after three years of work. As you can see, the roof and columns are elaborately designed. The most outstanding feature is the carved dragon head at the top of the column on the first floor. In the Far East, dragon has always been a mysterious creature with many symbolic meanings, one of which is protection. Okay, let's go on a journey on the history of Jeonju. We hope you to have fun experiencing the elegance and exotic atmosphere of the Joenju Hanok Village. 2-1. Choi Myeong Hee Literary Museum
Title Choi Myeong Hee Literary Museum
(Narration) This tour stop is Choi Myeong Hee Literary Museum. The writer from Jeonju, Choi Myeonghee, graduated from Jeonbuk National University, majoring in Korean language and literature. She worked as a Korean teacher at Gijeon Girls' High School in Jeonju and Boseong Girls' High School in Seoul from 1972 to 1981. Choi Myeonghee started her literary career in 1980 when her short novel 'Fallen Light' won the Jungang Daily annual spring literary contest. In the next year, part 1 of 'Honbul' (Fire of the Soul) won the Dong-a Daily novel contest commemorating its 60th year, and this attracted attention from Korean literary figures. The author of many other short novels, such as 'Myebyeol', 'Manjong', 'Jeong-ok-yi' and 'Juso', it was clear that Choi Myeonghee poured all her energy and enthusiasm into writing 'Honbul', as she did not write anything else afterward. The masterpiece of Choi Myeonghee, 'Honbul', is a 12,000-handwritten-page saga. Set in Namwon region of North Jeolla Province in the 1930's, Honbul excellently depicts the hardships faced by daughters-in-law of a ruined noble family and the common spiritual world of human beings. As Honbul especially perfectly recounted seasonal customs, the four family ceremonies (coming of age, wedding, funeral, and ancestral rites), traditional songs and the food of Jeolla Province, the novel has been praised as a 'treasure of Korean language and customs'. Even though the writer, Choi Myeonghee, fell ill with ovarian cancer four months before she finished Honbul, she hid her disease from family and friends and devoted herself only to writing. Honbul was finally fully published in December 1996, and consequently the novel received numerous awards. However, the writer Choi passed away only two years later in December 1998. To honor her life and literature, the Choi Myeong Hee Literary Museum was established nearby the house of her birth. Are you ready to examine the world of her works, passion, and life? Let's go into Choi Myeong Hee Literary Museum. 2-2. Choi Myeong Hee Literary Museum
Title Choi Myeong Hee Literary Museum
(Narration) Before entering 'Dokrakchae', you can read a transcription of a part of Honbul, written on manuscript paper. The transcriptions of the visitors are also used as a display of the museum. You can see the signboard of the exhibition hall, 'Dokrakchae', to the side. The name of the exhibition, 'Dokrak', means 'the joy of reading and writing alone'.
When one thinks of the life of the writer Choi, who was so committed to writing Honbul throughout her life-time, Dokrak seems to be the perfect name for her exhibition, as she could not live without it. Also, the name encourages visitors to look around the small exhibition area leisurely.
3. Seunggwangjae
Title Seunggwangjae
(Narration) Seunggwangjae means 'the house succeeded to light'. The 'light' refers to the name of an era of the Korean Empire, 'Gwangmu' (Gwang meaning light in Korean).
Upon entering the house, the tinkling of a wind-chime under the eaves offers a warm welcome. There are a few framed pictures and writings under the eaves. One of them is an autographed letter from King Gojong at Gyeongwun Palace, dated 1905, asking the French President to help expose Japan's aggressive denouncement of Korea's autonomy and the independence of the Joseon Dynasty. Another framed picture is of Euiwang, the fifth son of King Gojong, in his youth. Do you wonder why these things are exhibited here?
Seunggwangjae is a themed living center managed by the Royal Family Support Group. Jeonju City purchased four private houses in 2004 and built this small traditional house for the last imperial grandson of Joseon, Yi Seok. The owner of Seunggwangjae, Yi Seok, is the 11th son of Euiwang. (M) 'House of Dove' by Yi Seok The popular melody, 'House of Dove', is sung by Yi Seok. He was once a famous pop singer in Korea. Seunggwangjae is used not only as the living space of Yi Seok, but also a traditional Hanok house experience facility.
4. Jeonju Traditional Wine Museum
Title Jeonju Traditional Wine Museum
(Narration) If you pass through the small gate inside Seunggwangjae and walk to the right for just a few minutes, you will come to the Jeonju Traditional Wine Museum.
You will notice stones lying in the yard of the museum in the shape of a curved stream. In the past, Korean ancestors often built stone, curved water canals and floated their drinking glasses on the running water. When the glass bobbed along the stream and came to rest in front of a person, the person recited a poem. This traditional game was called 'Yusanggok-suyeon'. The curved stream displayed here was designed for the game, and illustrates the idyllic pastimes of the ancestors, enjoying drinking and the arts. At the end of the stream, you can see a picture of Minsik Choi, who starred in the famous Korean film 'Chwihwaseon' as Seung-up Jang.
The genius painter of the late Joseon Dynasty, Seung-up Jang, loved to drink. When King Gojong arranged a room for him in the palace and let him paint a ten-fold folding screen, Seung-up Jang couldn't stop thinking of a drink and repeatedly escaped and was confined again several times. Unfortunately, the folding screen was not be finished in the end. 5. Jeonju Sori Cultural Center
Title eonju Sori Cultural Center
(Narration) Jeonju is most famous for Pansori. This time, we will visit Jeonju Sori Cultural Center. From one original Pansori style, the art form evolved into different kinds of Pansori, each transmitted with different characteristics. These are called 'Je' in the world of Pansori, and there are three Jes currently recognised Dongpyeonje, Seopyeonje, and Junggoje.
Pansori is a kind of musical play, in which one 'sorrikkun' (singer in Korean) with a hand-fan tells stories, accompanied by one 'gosu' (a drummer playing a barrel drum, known as a 'buk' in Korean). The stories are based on tales that have been passed down over generations and the music itself is rooted in the folk songs and dance of South Jeolla Province. Only five full stories survive today. Those five are Chunhyangga, Simcheongga, Heungboga, Sugungga and Jeokbyeokga. Acknowledged for its artistic and cultural value, the Pansori tradition was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003.
When you walk into the entrance of Sori Cultural Center, the memorial hall of Jeongsuk Oh is seen to the right. Jeongsuk Oh is a national artisan of Chunhyangga, the Important Intangible Cultural Asset Number 5.
Inside the exhibition room, old Korean traditional music vinyls are displayed with detailed explanations about Pansori. There are old genuine scores of Pansori that have yellowed with age. Visitors can appreciate all these while listening to the sounds of pansori in the exhibition room. 7. Hanok Living Experience Center
Title Hanok Living Experience Center
(Narration) The Hanok Living Experience Center located next to Sori Cultural Center is a Korean traditional house that resembles the houses of the noble families of the Joseon Dynasty. The Hanok Living Experience Centre is equipped with a main building, detached house, servants' quarters and courtyard. Visitors can experience the traditional style houses by staying overnight. Passing through the gate under the signboard 'Sehwamun', you will face the main building and L-shaped detached house.
Let us introduce the characteristics of the Hanok and the Maru, Korean-style floor, while you look around the houses. Unlike neat lawns in front of western houses, there is no grass growing in the front yards of Korean traditional houses. The bare earth helps to keep the space cool in summer time. A simple but effective scientific principle is hidden in the design: Hanok traditional houses have a real garden in the back yard, but the front yard is only earth. This design allows the hot air in the front yard to rise and the cooled air from the back yard flows in to fill the empty space. The cool air from the back yard then circulates throughout the house all day, and blows a cool breeze over the maru.
With the aforementioned design, Hanok traditional houses must be cool in summer, but then cold in winter? Fortunately not! Hanoks were originally designed to be cool in summer and warm in winter. Korean houses employ a traditional heating system named 'Ondol', to keep them warm in the winter. Ondol is under-floor heating which uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke from a stove to the underside of a thick floor. The raised floor has underlying horizontal smoke tubes, and a vertical chimney on the opposite exterior distributes the smoke. Once the floor is heated by this method, it retains warmth for a long time and Koreans could stay warm at home in freezing winter. As we have seen, the wisdom of Korean ancestors is evident in the design of Hanok traditional houses. 8. Handicraft shop 'Jidam'
Title Handicraft shop 'Jidam'
(Narration) We introduce you this time to the handicraft shop 'Jidam'. Traditional Korean paper, hanji cultural products are developed. It was opened by the Hanji Culture Institute of Yewon Arts University and it aims to be a true hanji cultural space.
When you enter Jidam, pretty caf-style decorations might catch your eye. These rooms, decorated with hanji lamps, brighten the area with soft light, creating a cozy atmosphere.
When you walk farther inside, there is a souvenir shop named 'Jigojisun'. The shop displays pictures of Ban Ki-moon, the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, and his guest room in New York decorated with hanji from Jeonju. Hanji artisans and persons involved with Jidam and Yewon Arts University once visited Mr. Ban's New York office and decorated the guest room with Korean traditional hanji crafts. These actions helped to promote the value and beauty of Jeonju hanji internationally.
At the souvenir shop 'Jigojisun', various kinds of hanji products are for sale, such as wallets, scarves and ties. Jidam and walk to Omokdae, you will see the shop on your right. 9. Jeonju Traditional Hanji Shop
Title Jeonju Traditional Hanji Shop
(Narration) Jeonju Traditional Hanji Shop manufactures Korean traditional Hanji, which has a history lasting one thousand years. Here you can see the whole manufacturing process including slicing, patterning, and drying. Unlike other papers, Hanji is made with a special tool called a 'Woebal' and this results in a high quality product, with sheen and brightness. Thus Hanji is renowned as the best quality paper to be found not only in China (where paper was invented), but also in other neighboring countries.
As a reference, do you know how long Hanji lasts? It's almost immeasurable, but it can last at least over a thousand years - how amazing! Maybe you understand now why it is regarded as the best ever quality paper.
Hanji is the paper that is appreciated as an exquisite artwork! It is a part of Korea's precious cultural heritage and demonstrates the artistic skill and tradition of Korean ancestors. 10. Omokdae
Title Omokdae
(Narration) Have you walked up Omokdae? You are now at the sky lounge of the Hanok Village! As you can see, Omokdae offers the best view of Jeonju Hanok Village. From here you can see all the black roof tiles of the traditional houses. The Hanok Village looks very neat and pretty, with lots of open space.
King Taejo of the Joseon Dynasty once stayed at Omokdae with his troops when he was a General of the Goryeo Dynasty. In 1380 when the Japanese invaded Korea through the Geum River, Japanese soldiers retreated to the Namwon region to find a route and then General Seonggye Yi (later King Taejo) defeated them at the Battle of Wunbong. On the way back after winning his great victory, General Yi held a party at Omokdae, celebrating their triumphant return.
On the left side of Omokdae, there is a monument inscribed with the phrase 'Taejo-Gohwangje-Jupilyuji', meaning 'Where King Taejo and his horse briefly sojourned. The phrase on the monument was written by King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty. Omokdae and the monument were both erected in the late Joseon Dynasty and they are valuable cultural assets, enabling us to understand the roots of the history of Joseon Dynasty.
After enjoying the view and breeze at Omokdae, use the wooden steps on the left to climb down, making sure you stop at the photo spot and second observatory on the way. Why don't you take a photo to remind you of your visit? 11. Jeonju Crafts Exhibition Hall
Title Jeonju Crafts Exhibition Hall
(Narration) We have now arrived at Jeonju Crafts Exhibition Hall, where you will be introduced to the thousand-year-old beautiful handicraft traditions of Jeonju. It is a multi-cultural complex and you can buy some of the crafts as well.
The exhibition hall consists of a museum (the past, present and future of Jeonju crafts), specialized gallery, and experience hall where tourists can make their own hanji crafts. Visitors also can make handicrafts using other kinds of materials such as textiles and wood. Next to the crafts room, there is a hanji exhibition room and there you can learn about the different types and uses of hanji.
Whilst the main component of hanji is the bark from the paper mulberry tree, the method of manufacture and mix of materials produces up to 200 different kinds of Hanji. Outside the building, old Korean living wares are displayed in the front yard. Here you can enjoy Korean traditional games, such as Tuho (throwing sticks into a barrel) and Jegi kicking (Korean paper shuttlecock). 12. Jeonju Hanbang Cultural Center
Title Jeonju Hanbang Cultural Center
Jeonju Hanbang Cultural Center is where you can learn about Sasangchejil by experiencing an Oriental medicine diagnostic consultation. Sasangchejil is a theory that suggests there are four different types of persons Tae-yang-yin, Tae-eum-yin, So-yang-yin, and So-eum-yin. The categories were first developed by Yijema in his book 'Dongeui-suse-bowon'. Sasangchejil has recently been recognized as an alternative medicine, and the theory is widely used for disease management and dietary consultation.
At Hanbang Cultural Center, you can discover your own Sasangchejil type, measure degrees of obesity, and receive healthcare advice. Foot spas using oriental medicine specially matched to your body type is also offered, so why don't you refresh your tired feet at this last Hanok Village walking tour stop?
Lastly, we would like to introduce you to the many western restaurants and cafes on Eunhaeng-ro Street, nearby Hanbang Cultural Center. Eunhaeng-ro is one of the main streets in Jeonju Hanok Village and the waterway along the street is well-managed and looks very pretty.
Jeonju Hanok Village walking tour with lots of stories! We hope you will leave with great memories of this place. Thank you! Iksan-Mireuksa Temple 1. The Biggest Temple in the Baekje Period
Title The Biggest Temple in the Baekje Period
Welcome to Mireuksa Temple!
This is an ancient site of a temple built in the 7th century. At the time, Korea was divided into three kingdoms, each with their own unique culture. The three kingdoms were Gogurye, Baekje, and Silla. This temple in particular is an architectural work of Baekje, and it was the largest in Asia when it was built. Two of the notable architectural characteristics of this temple are three large pagodas and three main buildings. In terms of politics and religion, Baejae embarked on the project with the ambitious goal of building a more powerful nation based on Buddhist teachings.
We'll now take a tour of the Mireuksa Temple Site, starting from the Mireuksa Exhibition Museum. Throughout the tour, you'll hear about the purport and significance of the temple. You can be a little disappointed if you came here expecting to see the actual, 1,400-year-old temple, particularly since it was regarded as the best temple of Baekje. Unfortunately, the temple is no longer there. All you'll see are some damaged pagodas and stone pillars in the largely vacant site. The site in itself should be enough to tell you how big and splendid it once had been. It's currently under restoration, and the one being restored right now is the West Pagoda. So you'll get a glimpse of how the work is done. More importantly, you'll see the ancient treasures of Baekje at the museum, and appreciate the architectural techniques and delicate handicraft art of the ancient Baekje people. Some of the relics were recently discovered and unearthed while dismantling the West Pagoda. Let's now move on to the museum, and see what were discovered while restoring this temple. 2. Mireuksa Exhibition Museum
Title The Restored East Pagoda
The original East Tower was completely destroyed in the past, and the site is all that remains today. The East Tower you see right now is a restored version of the original. It was restored in 1992. At first, experts believed that it was a wooden pagoda. It's because the Japanese who surveyed the Mireuksa Temple Site reported that there was a wooden pagoda in the same size as the West Pagoda used to stand here. But an archaeological excavation in 1975 revealed some traces of a stone pagoda, so the archaeologists concluded that it was a stone pagoda, and not a wooden one.
Let's take a look at the details, shall we? Look at the bottom center of the structure, and you'll see staircases on all the four sides. And each side has a door in the middle. You can go through the door if you want to take a look at the inside of the pagoda. This is a rare opportunity to go inside a temple pagoda, because temples normally don't allow people to go inside their pagodas. 3. Lotus Pond of Mireuksa I
The Foundation Legend of Mireuksa & Maitreya Title Belief
If you look up to the Mireuksa Temple from the pond, you'll see Mireuksan Mountain right behind the temple site. There is a foundation legend about this temple. The story begins with the King and Queen of Baekje.
One day, the King and his Queen were walking towards a temple in this mountain, and they happened to pass by a pond at the foot of the mountain. But just as they were passing by, Maitreya suddenly emerged from the pond. The queen thought that it was an auspicious sign, and asked the King to build a temple around the pond. The King said yes. But the problem was that they had no idea how to fill up the pond.
So the King and his Queen went to the temple in the mountain, and relayed the story to the Buddhist priest in detail. After hearing this, the Buddhist priest tore down a portion of the mountain and used the dirt and rocks to completely fill up the pond. And he did this in just one day. So the King and his Queen had a great temple built there, and prayed for the safety of their kingdom. And this is how Mireuksa Temple was built. I'll now tell you a little bit about the Maitreya Belief of the Baekje people. Maitreya is the name of a bodhisattva who believed to bring peace to the world as a savior. So thousands of Baekje people prayed here in this temple to save their souls. 4. West Pagoda Restoration Site
A Stone Pagoda with the Characteristics of a Title Wooden Pagoda
This is where the West Pagoda of Mireuksa Temple is being restored. Today, all you'll see are some stones from the pagoda laid out on the ground where the pagoda once stood.
The site should be enough to tell you how big the pagoda was. The ancient Baekje people used granite rocks to build the pagoda, because granite rocks are common around here. The interesting thing is that most of the pagodas at that time were made of wood. They started building stone pagodas largely because wooden ones were inflammable and didn't last long. And the ones in the Mireuksa Temple Site were some of the very first stone pagodas built in this country. That's why they were built like wooden pagodas, with small parts assembled together.
This is the reliquary found from an empty hole in the bottom center of the pagoda while the stone structure was being dismantled for restoration. Those in charge of the restoration work say that it will take at least 10 years to complete the restoration. The main reason being is that they must look into every detail of the original construction methods, instead of just putting back the pieces together. So for those of you who're interested in archaeology, it would be a wonderful chance to see how an ancient artifact is restored. 5. Geumdang Site The Hall of Buddha Statues as the Main Building of Title the Temple
Right behind the West Pagoda is a building dedicated to Buddha statues.
In any Buddhist temple, the building with Buddha statues is the most important building of all. Originally, pagodas played a pivotal part of Buddhism largely because they symbolize Buddha. But then they started making statues of Buddha as the most important symbol, and the building especially built to house Buddha statues naturally became the most important building for Buddhist monks and believers.
As the one with Buddha statues became the main hall of a temple, they started having two pagodas on either side of the entrance and some temples don't even have a pagoda. In the case of Mireuksa Temple, they built giant pagodas along with the main hall. This is largely due to one important characteristic of Korean Buddhism. For many centuries, Korean Buddhists prayed for their well-being, good fortune, and most importantly, redemption. This is the main reason why they built a pagoda containing sarira, so they can pray in front of it. To Buddhists, the sarira of Buddha is one of the holiest relics.
Okay, your next stop will be the Wooden Pagoda Site in the middle of Mireuksa Temple. 6. Wooden Pagoda Site Why the Wooden Pagoda was Restored to Have Title Nine Stories
The 'Wooden Pagoda Site' is a little bigger than the 'Stone Pagoda Sites' on either side of the temple site. This is one of the main reasons why the archaeologists believe that the wooden pagoda was bigger than the stone pagodas. More precisely, they came to the conclusion that it used to be a nine-story pagoda.
The conclusion was drawn based on a number of other facts as well: The West Pagoda had at least six stories remaining when first discovered, and the East Pagoda was unearthed along with a roof tile-shaped stone that looks like a piece of the seventh or ninth story. So they came to the natural conclusion that the wooden pagoda had nine stories. But the most telling piece of archaeological evidence is the 'Nine-Story Wooden Pagoda of Hwangnyongsa Temple', which was built during the Silla Dynasty.
The Hwangnyongsa Temple site is located in the City of Gyeongju, about a three-hour drive from here in Iksan. And just like the Mireuksa Temple Site, the actual temple is no longer there, except for some relics such as a nine-story wooden pagoda. Records show that it was built by the same person who built the wooden pagoda for Mireuksa Temple. The wooden pagoda in the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site was the largest and most splendid pagoda of all the pagodas built during the Silla Dynasty. And it's designed after Baekje's most common style of pagoda. Archaeologists think that the wooden pagoda in the Mireuksa Temple Site was destroyed after the Three Kingdoms Period. It's because they found signs of a lightning strike around the wooden pagoda, which was the tallest structure in the temple compound and therefore the one most likely to be hit by a lightning. 7. East Pagoda
Title The Restored East Pagoda
From the presumed site of the east pagoda, only the stones of the pagoda were found. The pagoda you see here was restored in the early 1990s.
Let's take a look at the structure of the restored pagoda. Notice the center of the lowest portion. Stairs that go up the pagoda are installed on all four sides. Another unique feature is that all four sides have doors in the center of 1st floor. Try and enter through the door.
When you see the walls from the inside, you'll see some parts with different colors. That's because the original stones discovered from this site were also used in the restoration process. This structure that enables people to enter inside nearly disappeared in Korea, making this one a unique style.
Come out now and pay attention to the sounds. Can you hear the wind bell? You're right. It's the duplicate version of the wind bell you saw in the exhibition museum. Wanju-Songgwangsa Temple 1. Iljumun Gate
Title The Origin of Songgwangsa Temple
Welcome to Songgwangsa Temple! Unlike most other historical temples in Korea, this temple is not located deep in the mountains. Built on a flat terrain, you'll get a more down-to-earth feeling as you take a tour of this quiet temple. Along with the tunnel of cherry blossom trees just outside the entrance, the temple is also famous for lotus flowers. Lotus flowers are a symbol of Buddhism, largely because they teach an important lesson to people: Just as the flowers grow in the muddy waters and yet remain pure and clean, so should people. The message is clear: We may be living in a corrupt world, but we should try to be pure at heart and live up to the teachings of Buddha. This is one of the main philosophical doctrines of Buddhism. A story has it that in 867, a Buddhist priest came to this region looking for a site to build a temple, and saw water coming out of the ground. He was impressed by the sight, and built a temple here. But all the buildings you see today are built in the middle of the 17th century. At the time, this country was under the reign of King Injo of the Joseon Dynasty, and the queen consort often came to this temple to pray. That's why the temple has a number of historical relics from the king's time. 2. The Four Heavenly Kings
Title The Artistic Beauty of the Four Heavenly Kings
The 'Four Heavenly Kings' are the guardian deities who protect the Buddhist world and ward off evil forces. Most Buddhist temples in Korea have statues or paintings of these deities at their entrance, since they're believed to enforce Buddhist doctrines and protect the temple. But the ones in this temple are regarded as the best works among all the other statues of the Four Heavenly Kings made in the Joseon period. Overall, the bodies are well-proportioned, and the sleeves look like they're blowing in the wind. As for details, the wrinkles on their face and the patterns on their clothes are very exquisite. Besides of the artistic quality, the discovery of the exact year of the work has further added to the value of this artwork. The statues were covered in dust when an art school student found and wrote a thesis on them in 1994. It drew the attention of the academia, and they carried out a repair work on them. During the repair work, they found some words inscribed on one of the statues. Take a look at the statue holding a pagoda on your left. A sentence on the head of the statue shows that it was built in 1649. At the time, King Injo had Songgwangsa Temple completely restored for the sake of the impoverished nation soon after a war against China. He also hoped Buddha would help his kingdom. They're designed to look powerful and combative, partly to evoke a sense of patriotism among people. 3. Bell Pavilion
Title A Cross Bell Pavilion and Temple Bell
The first thing you'll see in the temple yard is a beautiful pavilion. It's the bell pavilion of Songgwangsa Temple. It's where they keep the temple bell. Every Buddhist temple in Korea has a bell pavilion, but the one in this temple is unique in its shape. It's a cross-shaped, two story pavilion.
The bell pavilion was built in 1857, while the main building of the temple was being restored and remodeled. It's very rare to see a cross-shaped structure at a Buddhist temple. The foundation of the roof is elaborately designed. Take a few steps back, and you'll also see that the roof has beautiful curves.
On all corners of the cross-shaped floor, there are various Buddhist artifacts as well as the temple bell.
The copper bell with an intricate design was made about 140 years before the structure was built. The suspension loop at the top looks like a dragon with a pearl, and the top portion has flower patterns. In the middle, there is a standing Bodhisattva with a halo around the head.
The bell is no longer in use, but you can imagine how the sound of the bell must have echoed in the heavy silence of the early morning and evening. 4. Daeungjeon I
The Buddha Triad with Many Untold Stories and the Title Wooden Triad Tablet
When you enter the Daeungjeon, or the main building of the temple, you won't fail to notice the overwhelming presence of the Buddha Triad. Over five meters tall, they're the biggest Buddha Triad in Korea.
A written record of the three Buddha statues was found inside one of them. It turned out to be a historical record of the Joseon Dynasty. At the time, China demanded Korea to become its tributary states and pay regular tribute to the emperor of China. Injo, the king of the Joseon Dynasty at the time, saw no way out but to send his two sons to China as hostages. The two princes were held in captivity in China for eight years. The Buddha statues you see in front you were built to pray for their safe return home.
A legend has it that sweat rolled down the Buddha statues whenever something terrible happened in the country, because they were made when the dynasty was in one of the worst situations possible. If you take a closer look at the Buddha statues, you'll see traces of their "sweat†
Between the Buddha statues, you'll see three elaborately designed tablets. They're called the 'Wooden Triad Tablet'. Buddhist priests often place a tablet inscribed with the names of the Buddha and bodhisattva on the Buddhist altar. However, these three tablets are inscribed with something different. Standing over two meters tall, the tablets are inscribed with a prayer of longevity for King Injo, his Queen Consort, and two princes.
In short, the Buddha Triad and Triad Tablet are a testament to the history of Songgwangsa Temple, and both the glorious and shameful times of the Joseon Dynasty. 5. Daeungjeon II
Title Murals on the Ceiling
There is a very special painting in Daeungjeon, or the main building of Songgwangsa Temple. Look up to the ceiling. You'll see mural paintings - eleven in all of people playing musical instruments and dancing to the tune. They're the residents of the Heavens, playing music, dancing, and offering flowers for Buddha.
They look as though they're flying in the air, but it's because of their sleeves. The sleeves are long and wide, so they appear to be fluttering in the wind whenever the heavenly people move. Follow the flowing lines, and you'll get the sensation of flying in the air. So the mural paintings are an expression of freedom. Or more precisely, the ultimate freedom of the Buddhist Heavens.
Those who are playing stringed instruments and drums, as well as the Buddhist and sword dancers are actually the Eastern version of flying fairies. The mural paintings offer a panoramic view of fairies engaged in different activities. The musical instruments, dance moves, and the garments look very realistic, partly because they were painted with a thin wire.
There is a copy of the mural paintings on the outer wall of this main building. So you can go take a closer look at them if you want. 6. The Monument
The Monument of the History of Songgwangsa Title Temple
This monument was erected to celebrate the expansion of the temple. Take a look at the monument, and you'll see that the foundation stone is in the shape of a turtle, whereas the top portion is engraved with dragons.
In Korea, monument is used to record an incident or project based on facts. In the case of this monument, it's inscribed with a detailed description of why and how the temple was built. That's what makes it an important historical record.
There is another factor that adds to the historical value of this monument: The inscription was composed and inscribed by two important people of the history of the Joseon Dynasty. It was composed by a civil minister who served the King fight against the invading Chinese until his death. He was very opposed to the modernization of Korea. And it was inscribed by none other than one of the sons of the 14th King of the Joseon Dynasty. He was also one of the people King Injo trusted the most. In addition to this monument, Songgwangsa Temple has many relics from the mid Joseon period.
This marks the end of your tour of this temple. We hope you have seen all the hidden treasures of the temple. Thank you. Wanju-Daea Arboretum 1. Marking Stone
Title Daea Arboretum, where you can feel the nature
Welcome to Daea Arboretum, the wonderful world of trees! This arboretum is located in the middle of a mountain valley with a reservoir. So it's a perfect place to enjoy the nature. There are perhaps more than 2,500 different species of plants all around you. The exuberance of the nature of this place will capture your eyes! Daea Arboretum has over 140 rare and endangered plants native to Korea, making it a great educational, scientific, and recreational resource. Here, you can not only enjoy the view of trees that change color and shape every season, but also a number of visitor programs such as scientific description of trees, woodcrafts, flower pressing, and ecology forest. Or you can choose to simply take in the natural wonders while taking a slow walk into the forest. Located in the lower reaches of the mountain, you can also enjoy an extensive view of the place from one of many observatories not too far from you.
2. The Gardens of Roses, Dwarf Trees and Sculptures
Title Colorful Roses and Trimmed Dwarf Trees
Walk up the entrance path, and you'll see the Rose Garden on your left and the Gardens of Dwarf Trees and Sculptures on the right. The Rose Garden has more than 7,000 roses of 45 different varieties. Since ancient times, roses have been a symbol of beauty, love, youth, and joy. Among them, red roses symbolize passionate love and they're Aphrodite's favorite flower. White roses are the ultimate symbol of purity, innocence, and divine love, and they represent the Virgin Mary. That's why roses stand for beauty in a classical sense. In the late 18th century, Asians and Europeans began to cross-fertilize roses. As a result, we have much more varieties of roses today. Roses love the sun, so they're in full bloom in the month of June. The roses are in full bloom but for a short time, and that's probably why we cherish the moment of seeing the beautiful flowers. 3. Tropical Botanical Garden
Title Tropical Plant Blossoms
The Tropical Botanical Garden is composed of a number of themed gardens. The first one is more like an orchard, since it has ripe bananas and pineapples along with other tropical fruits. In the next section, you'll see succulent plants that are able to grow and bear beautiful flowers in the desert despite the scorching heat and dry conditions. The cactus spines are modified leaves or stipules, and one of their main functions is to prevent evaporation of water. In other words, cacti have evolved to live in harsh environments. Carnivorous plants are perhaps some of the most interesting plants for both children and adults. Most plants are photosynthetic, but some of them lack photosynthetic pigments, so they derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or insects. Some are commonly called insectivorous or pitcher plants. Sarracenia is one of the most commonly seen carnivorous plants. It looks like a trumpet with a lid, which makes it impossible for insects to climb back out once trapped. Some Westerners call it the Devil's Boot because of its shape. Among the insectivorous plants, try to look for a Venus Flytrap, with its two shell-shaped lobes wide open. It's a very dangerous trap for insects, because the lobes snaps shut when the prey touches it. Botanists say that this one never opens its leaves again until it has fully digested the prey. 4. Forest Ecology Center
Title All the Beauties of a Korean Mountainin One Place!
The Forest Ecology Center is like a miniature version of a Korean mountain. One of its outstanding features is the steep, rocky cliff. Can you see the mountain with its valleys, waterfalls, and ponds? Don't miss the small details like natural rocks, trees, wild grass, and moss either. If you look at the whole thing from above, it may look like an Oriental painting to some. The beauty of Korean mountains lies in their simplicity. It's only a miniature reproduction of Mother Nature, but it has many minute details in a plain sight. Climb up a rock, and it can give you the feeling of being on the top of a mountain. There is a small cave right next to the landscape architecture. The cave is for children to see and examine live insects on plants. There is also a classroom in the opposite side of the center, where people can learn about the forest ecology and participate in a number of programs. In the classroom, you can try plant sampling, woodcraft, and flower pressing for free. However, you're recommended to make a reservation in advance. Who knows? It can be a great opportunity for you to appreciate nature. 5. Aquatic Plant Garden
Title The World of Aquatic Plants
The Aquatic Plant Garden has various water plants and fish. Take a look at the lotus flowers. In the Orient, they are a symbol of dignity and grace. It's not only because their beauty, but also because of the fact that they bloom from a muddy pool of water. In Buddhism in particular, the lotus flower is regarded as something that announced the birth of Buddha. Lotus roots are also used as a food ingredient. Compared to land plants, aquatic plants absorb less solar energy, and those deeper in the water have to survive with less oxygen. That's why they have evolved to float on the water, and petioles on the stem serve as an air passage for the roots submerged in water. Aquatic plants are also an important part of the diet for fish and other aquatic organisms. Some of them, like reeds, even purify water. In a way, the ability to draw energy from both water and air is what makes them so special. 6. The Natural Monuments of Hugyemok Garden
Title Historic Trees
This is the Natural Monument of Hugyemok Garden, which is probably the main reason for the existence of Daeasu Arboretum. Plants of high natural and scientific importance are protected by law, but they often fall prey to harmful insects and lightning. In 2001, someone injected poison into a pine tree, or a Korean Natural Monument No. 355, and nearly killed it. That incident spurred the idea of building the first Hugyemok Garden in Daea Arboretum, with the primary purpose of protecting natural monuments. A hugyemok, or 'succession tree', is planted by using various breeding methods such as cutting and grafting from the original tree. The garden has more than 420 trees grafted from about 24 natural monument trees. They have made some great achievements after the creation of the garden. In 2007, a 400-year old pine tree was struck by lightning. The townspeople felt a great sense of loss, because most of them grew up looking at the tree. But thankfully, they had a succession tree. Although it's still too young, but it looks just like the original one, and it's growing health in the same town. 7. The Garden of Discernment
Title The Joy of Comparing Trees
The Garden of Discernment has trees with a striking resemblance, so it would be a challenge to tell the difference between each other. Haven't you ever wondered what the tree is called when you look at one while walking in the forest or a park? Trees are all around us in places like that, but can you name them? Well, take a closer look at the trees here. Pine trees are very common here in Korea, and there are many different types of them. Unlike native Korean pine trees that have red branches and two needles stuck together, the Pitch Pine has needles in fascicles of three and cones with prickles on the scales. It's found mainly in the United States. Many people confuse Korean white pine with other pine trees. The white pine has fascicles of five and larger cones, which bear edible seeds called pine nuts. There are other types of coniferous trees that look similar to each other. Fir is one of them, lush with pointed needle leaves on its branches. With the branches stretch out horizontally, it looks like a giant-sized cone. Norway spruce is very similar to a fir, except for its drooping branches. With so many similar looking trees, the Garden of Discernment is an excellent place to learn how to distinguish between different types of trees. 8. Bleeding Heart Gardens
Title Bleeding Hearts, a Symbol of Daea Arboretum
Bleeding hearts are the symbol of Daea Arboretum. It's because the arboretum has gardens of naturally growing bleeding hearts. They make up the largest garden in Korea, and they're in full bloom between the middle of April and early May. A bleeding heart has arching stems with 6 to 10 pink buds each. It's characterized not only by its heart shape, but also by having two white and red sepals that are curved at the tip. The symbolic meaning of the flower is "I'll follow you," with modesty and obedience. Doesn't the flower look a little shy as it hangs upside down? Bleeding hearts are very popular for their unique shape. In Oriental medicine, their roots and stems are used to treat boils.
9. Sample Garden
Title A Place to Experience Nature and Relax
The Sample Garden stands out the most in Daea Arboretum, because it has the most number of plants. There are more than 500 different types naturalized and rare plants, which were developed from native trees and flowers by a number of botanists. This is probably the most popular area in the arboretum, because many children and students are drawn to the colorful flowers and trees. The place also has benches, pavilions, and other artwork. It's a great place to relax in the woods. Also check out the squirrel sculpture at the entrance if you want to take a souvenir photo. Stand on the top of the wooden deck over the reservoir, and you'll have a panoramic view of your surroundings. You will find that the ground is soft while you're walking around. It's because most of the paths are covered with loess. So feel free to walk along the stream and take a close look of the flowers. And also see the beautiful pine and maple trees, two of the most common trees in Korea. 10. Forest Exhibition Hall
Title The Forest History at a Glance
The Forest Exhibition Hall is where you can learn the forest history. The first thing you will notice is the pleasant aroma. It's because the entire hall is made of natural wood, and the medicinal herbs give out healthy fragrance. At the lobby entrance, you'll see a large sculpture made of the root of a zelkova tree. Go around it, and you'll see that the root was cut off. It's not from a live tree, but the one knocked over by a typhoon. The root is now a beautiful work of art. On the first floor, you'll see the growth rings of a tree, taxidermied bears and tigers, and healthy medicinal herbs. On the second floor, there are many other taxidermied animals such as squirrels, boars, and birds. The hall also has various mushrooms on display. While mushrooms are one of the cancer fighting foods, there are some you should never eat. Some poisonous mushrooms are particularly dangerous because they look just like some types of edible mushrooms, while some of them are dangerously beautiful. This was a brief introduction of Daea Arboretum and the nature inside. We hope you have enjoyed the visit. Thank you and good bye.