Yongkungsa Part I, Day 2, mid afternoon.
[...Cont'd.] Most of these shots in the second half of my post on Yongkungsa are from inside the main part of the temple proper, not including the above shot taken from on high, of course. Once again, for personal shots of ourselves, have a look on our Facebook pages where you'll find both phots from this visit and a previous visit that my wife made in the two weeks before I was able to arrive in Korea to meet her. I only wish I was able to enjoy the country for as long, this time around.
The original temple, Bomoonsa, survived until 1592. In that year is was burned down during invasion by Japan.
In the 1930s, Venerable monk Wunkang of Tongdo temple undertook its reconstruction and Venerable Monk Jeongam inaugurated it following one hundred days of prayer to the Boddhisattva by many monks.
On the 99th night, the Boddhisattva appeared in a dream, clad in white, and embroidered five colours of brightness to the sky. The temple's name was then changed to Haedong Yongkungsa.
The temple continues to attract worshippers and is known as a sacred place for those who seek to receive visions from the Boddhisattva in their dreams.
Haedong Yongkungsa's motto is, as posted at the temple: "The only thing must be answered by and through your heartful prayer whatsoever."
The meaning of Bongrae, the mountain, is "mystery and purification enough for an immortal willing by come down." and the original Bomoon temple was "to symbolize the vast and infinite energy of the Boddhisattva having great virtues of mercy and compassion."
Having ascended to the plateau over looking the temple from behind, we made our way back down to the staircase, stopping briefly to examine a man-made cave below the centre of the courtyard.
It was alreayd getting later in the day but we hoped to rush back to Taejongdae by sunset.
Labels: Korea Trip 2008
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