This is it! The FINAL episode of my free course! This course includes 20 full, natural Korean conversations together with explanations of everything – grammar, vocabulary, and expressions. There’s also a book version of this course if you’re looking for 5 more conversations.
What course would you like to see next? I’m planning on making a new course sometime later (perhaps next year?) and am interested in what you’d like to learn.
Jeondeungsa Temple, which means “Transmitting (Dharma) Light Temple” in English, is thought to be the oldest extant Buddhist temple in Korea. It’s located in Ganghwa-do Island in Incheon. It was first built in 381 A.D. by the monk Ado-hwasang. The monk Ado-hwasang arrived on Ganghwa-do Island from Jin Dynasty (266–420 A.D.) to spread Buddhism to the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). While Ado-hwasang was staying on Ganghwa-do Island, he built a temple on the future Jeondeungsa Temple site. This temple was originally known as Jinjongsa Temple.
However, very little is known about the history of the temple until the mid-Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). It’s not until 1259 that the temple reappears in historical records. In 1259, King Gojong of Goryeo (r. 1213–1259) built a palace inside Samnangseong Fortress, which is also where the temple is located. Earlier, and in 1232, the royal Goryeo family designated Ganghwa-do Island as a temporary capital after the Mongol invasions that took place from 1231-1270. The Ganghwa-do Island Goryeo capital lasted from 1232-1270. According to the “Goryeosa,” King Wonjong of Goryeo (r. 1260-1269, 1269-1274) conducted Buddhist ceremonies to help defeat all kinds of disasters throughout the nation through the power of the Buddha. This only helps to support the idea that the temple was highly revered at this time.
It’s from this that the second set of Tripitaka Koreana, which is now housed at Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, was created. After the first set was destroyed by Mongol invaders in 1232, King Gojong of Goryeo ordered the re-creation of the Tripitaka Koreana in 1237. This second set was completed on Ganghwa-do Island twelve years later. It was only in 1398 that the large set was moved to Haeinsa Temple.
In 1282, the name of the temple changed from Jinjongsa Temple to Jeondeungsa Temple. Jeondeungsa Temple was then destroyed by two large fires. The first fire in 1605 destroyed half of the temple buildings. Then in 1614, another fire destroyed the other half of the buildings. The reconstruction of the temple took place in April of the following year, and the temple was restored to its previous form in 1621.
From 1719 until 1910, Jeondeungsa Temple was in charge of protecting the ancestral records of the Joseon Dynasty royal family. As a result, senior monks from Jeondeungsa Temple were highly regarded during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In 1912, Jeondeungsa Temple was made one of the regional headquarters during Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-45). The temple oversaw 34 temples located in six counties.
During the summer months, Jeondeungsa Temple is open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. And during the winter months, the temple is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There are a couple of wonderful legends that surround Jeondeungsa Temple. The first relates to the eaves of the Daeung-jeon Hall. If you look closely at each of the four pillars that support the eaves of the Daeung-jeon Hall, you’ll find four naked female figures.
According to this first legend, there was a hostess at an inn who stole the money and property of the carpenter that was responsible for the construction of the Daeung-jeon Hall at Jeondeungsa Temple. After the Daeung-jeon Hall was destroyed by fire in the early 17th century, the temple hired the leading carpenter of the area.
According to this legend, whenever the carpenter was at the inn, and blinded by love, he would hand over his money to the hostess at the inn for safekeeping. She would say such things as “Hurry up and finish your work so we can start living. Let’s build a picturesque house together.”
The carpenter was finishing his work on the Daeung-jeon Hall at Jeondeungsa Temple, and looking forward to the day that he would live with the inn’s hostess, when she suddenly ran away with all the carpenter’s money and property. Before she ran away, she left a message with the inn’s neighbour, stating, “I ran away at night a few days ago. Don’t try to find me.”
The carpenter, who was angry that his money and possessions had been stolen by the hostess of the inn, decided to carve a figure of a naked woman on the four corners of the structure up in the eaves of the shrine hall. He purportedly did this as a warning to the hostess to answer for her indiscretions.
If you look closely at the four figures, you’ll notice that each of the four wooden female figures places one of their hands under three of the corners. The other hand appears to be resting on its lap. Only one of the four images is using both of its hands to support the weight of the roof. It’s believed that the carpenter was indirectly implying that the woman was still only partially truthful and honest in dealing with her punishment.
If you look closely up at the eaves of the Daeung-jeon Hall in the top right corner, you’ll see one of the four wooden images of the woman from the temple legend. The picture was taken in 1923. (Picture courtesy of the National Museum of Korea).
The second legend pertaining to Jeondeungsa Temple is related to the two large ginkgo trees at the temple. Both trees are over 500 years of age. They are sometimes referred to as being a female and male. Typically, ginkgo trees only produce fruit if a female tree faces a male tree. However, even when the flower blooms, it doesn’t produce any fruit. Usually, ginkgo trees produce a yellow fruit during the summer to autumn months. However, the trees at Jeondeungsa Temple don’t produce any fruit, so there’s a legend behind this.
During the reign of King Cheoljong of Joseon (r. 1849-64), the government required that the ginkgo trees at Jeondeungsa Temple produce 20 kilograms of fruit. However, these trees typically only produced 10 kilograms of fruit in a season.
Hearing this, the monks at Jeondeungsa Temple were forced to turn to other temples for help. One of the temples that the monks turned to was Baeknyeonsa Temple. A monk there was known for having great spiritual energy. So a few days after turning to Baeknyeonsa Temple for help, the monk Chusong arrived at Jeondeungsa Temple.
Soon rumours spread throughout Jeondeungsa Temple that there would be a ceremony to help the two ginkgo trees at the temple grow twice as much fruit. People gathered at the temple to watch the three day ceremony being conducted by Chusong. Among them, there were some officials.
After the three days of prayers, the eyes of the officials watching the monk Chusong had their eyes swell up. They looked like they had been beaten. At the end, Chusong said, “Now there will be no more fruit on the two trees.”
Everyone looked around in disbelief. At that exact moment, a dark cloud covered Jeondeungsa Temple and a frightening rain started to fall. People fell to the ground in fright. Afterward, and when people eventually looked up, they found that Chusong was gone. People started to believe that Chusong was in fact a Bodhisattva that was sent to help save Jeondeungsa Temple from the oppressiveness of the Joseon royal court. Since this time, the two ginkgo trees at Jeondeungsa Temple haven’t grown any fruit.
Temple Layout
You first make your way up to the temple grounds from a parking lot to the east. Halfway there, you’ll come across the eastern gate to the Samnangseong Fortress. It’s unclear when this fortress was first built with one theory claiming it was first built by the three sons of the legendary founder of Gojoseon, Dangun.
Having passed through this gate, you’re halfway to Jeondeungsa Temple. But the temple is still a bit of a climb. Eventually, you’ll pass by a gift shop. The first few buildings to greet you at Jeondeungsa Temple are the administrative offices and monks’ dorms. To the right is the Sadaejo-ru Pavilion.
The Sadaejo-ru Pavilion is a two-story structure that separates the northern temple courtyard from the rest of the temple grounds. The first story of the structure acts as an entry gate, while the second story acts as a pavilion for larger dharma talks. To the left of the Sadaejo-run Pavilion is the Jong-ru Pavilion. Housed inside this bell pavilion is the “Iron Bell of Jeondeungsa Temple.” This bell is pretty large at 164 cm in height and 100 cm in diametre. At the top there are two Poroe images that are leaning against each other. Around the upper part of the bell are eight trigrams. The rest of the body of the bell is divided into two. Each part has eight squares around its body. According to an inscription on the bell, the bell originally belonged to Sungmyeongsa Temple on Mt. Baegamsan from Henan, China. It was first cast in 1097.
Passing under the Sadaejo-ru Pavilion, you’ll enter into the main temple courtyard at Jeondeungsa Temple. Straight ahead of you is one of Korea’s most impressive Daeung-jeon Halls. Currently under restoration, the Daeung-jeon Hall is adorned in fading dancheong colours. The Daeung-jeon Hall was first built in 1621. Up near the eaves of the structure are the four wooden images of the hostess from the temple legend. Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, you’ll be welcomed by the “Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad of Jeondeungsa Temple.” This Korean Treasure is centred by the image of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha) and joined on either side by images of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) and Yaksayeorae-bul (The Medicine Buddha, and the Buddha of the Eastern Paradise). And on either side of the main altar triad are a pair of karma mirrors, which are known as “eopgyeong” in Korean. These karma mirrors were first created in 1627 as a pair. Each consists of a lion-shaped base on top of which stands a mirror. One of these lions is blue, while the other is yellow. The mirrors have lotus-shaped pedestals and a flame-shaped halo surrounding them. These are reproductions of the originals. Karma mirrors are meant to project the wrongs of the dead towards the Siwang (The Ten Kings of the Underworld). Above the main altar triad is a stunning, red datjib (canopy). Protective dragons protrude out from under the canopy, while birds of paradise fly out in front of the main altar. As for the main altar itself, which is known as a “sumidan” in Korean, it dates back to the 17th century. The altar measures 4.8 metres in width, 1.2 metres in height, and 2 metres deep. There are three tiers to the main altar. Each is carved with ornate images that are meant to represent Mt. Meru. There are flowers, trees, birds, floral patterns, and mythical animals adorning it. The bottom level has Gwimyeon (Monster Mask) that are meant to protect the Buddha’s teachings. As for the walls of the Daeung-jeon Hall, they are filled with images of dragons, lotus flowers, and Gareungbinga (Kalavinka). And hanging on the far right wall is the Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural). This painting was first made in the 20th century by the monk Chukyeon. It depicts various guardian deities who protect the dharma. It employs motifs from the late 18th century. It’s an Incheon Metropolitan City Tangible Cultural Property #81. As I said, this main hall is loaded, and it’s one of the finest examples of a main hall in Korea.
To the left of the Daeung-jeon Hall is the Gwaneum-jeon Hall. The exterior walls are adorned in simple dancheong colours. Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, you’ll find a somewhat contemplative image of Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). The statue appears to be bronze, and it’s backed by a main altar mural of an image of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as well.
To the left of the Gwaneum-jeon Hall is the Yaksa-jeon Hall, which is another of the Korean Treasures at Jeondeungsa Temple. Again, and much like the exterior of the Gwaneum-jeon Hall, the exterior of the Yaksa-jeon Hall is understated with its dancheong tones. The exact date of the Yaksa-jeon Hall is unknown, however, it has the same architectural style as the neighbouring Daeung-jeon Hall, which was built in 1621. So the Yaksa-jeon Hall is presumed to have been built around the same time as the main hall. Stepping inside the Yaksa-jeon Hall, you’ll find a solitary image of Yaksayeorae-bul on the main altar. The ceiling of the shrine hall is filled with ornate carvings of flowers and fish, as well as paintings of lotus flowers and vines.
And to the left of the Yaksa-jeon Hall is the Myeongbu-jeon Hall. The exterior walls are adorned in understated dancheong colours, as well as murals of dragons. Stepping inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, you’ll find a main altar occupied by a green haired image of Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife). This central image is joined on either side by the Siwang (The Ten Kings of the Underworld), as well as a pair of Geumgang-yeoksa (Vajra Warriors) at the entry of the shrine hall. The wooden statues inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall were first made in 1636 by the monk Suyeon, who also carved the “Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad of Jeondeungsa Temple.” And like the main altar statues, these statues are Korean Treasures, as well. Officially, they are known as the “Wooden Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Triad and Ten Underworld Kings of Jeondeungsa Temple.” Also taking up residence inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall is a large, modern Gamno-do (Sweet Dew Mural) on the far left wall.
Between the Gwaneum-jeon Hall and the Yaksa-jeon Hall, you’ll find a trail that leads up to the Samseong-gak Hall. Housed inside this shaman shrine hall are three of Korea’s most popular shaman deities: Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit), Chilseong (The Seven Stars), and Dokseong (The Lonely Saint). It’s also from the heights of the Samseong-gak Hall that you get a good look at the Yellow Sea off in the distance.
How To Get There
First, you’ll need to get to Incheon. Once there, and from the Shinchon Subway Station, line #2, use exit #4 and walk 100 metres. From there, take Bus #3100 to the Onsu-ri Terminal, which can be found in front of Artreon Cinema. Get off at Onsu-ri. Walk to the temple from there. It should take about twenty minutes.
Or, and again from Incheon, you can take the Incheon Express City Bus #700. From there, get off at the Onsu-ri Station. Signs should lead you the rest of the way to the temple
Overall Rating: 9/10
What’s not to love about the oldest extant temple in Korea? It has six Korean Treasures, two great legends, and it’s beautifully situated on Ganghwa-do Island. The Daeung-jeon Hall is one of the most impressive main halls that you’ll find in all of Korea. From its main altar, to its statues, to its red canopy, the Daeung-jeon Hall is packed with beautiful Buddhist imagery. Additionally, you can also enjoy the architecture of the Yaksa-jeon Hall or the shaman artwork housed inside the Samseong-gak Hall, which isn’t to forget the “Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad of Jeondeungsa Temple” inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall or the “”Iron Bell of Jeondeungsa Temple.”
Part of the Samnangseong Fortress, where Jeondeungsa Temple is located.
The Sadaejo-ru Pavilion at Jeondeungsa Temple.
The Jong-ru Pavilion that houses the “Iron Bell of Jeondeungsa Temple.”
The Daeung-jeon Hall at Jeondeungsa Temple, which is currently under renovation.
One of the wooden images of the woman from the temple legend.
And another, this time, with just one hand raised.
Inside the amazing Daeung-jeon Hall.
The Gwaneum-jeon Hall.
A look inside the Gwaneum-jeon Hall.
The historic Yaksa-jeon Hall.
A look inside the Yaksa-jeon Hall.
The Myeongbu-jeon Hall (left) and the Yaksa-jeon Hall (right).
One of the Geumgang-yeoksa (Vajra Warriors) that welcomes you at the entry of the Myeongbu-jeon Hall.
The Gamno-do (Sweet Dew Mural) inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall.
And the “Wooden Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Triad and Ten Underworld Kings of Jeondeungsa Temple.”
The Samseong-gak Hall.
With a painting of Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit) inside.
It’s time for a new Hanja episode! This time I explain how to use the character 洋 meaning “ocean.” I also talk about the concept of 형성자, which is how many Chinese characters were created by combining a radical (called 부수 in Korean) that has a meaning, with another radical that has a sound, in order to make a character with a different meaning.
Are there any specific Hanja you want to see me teach?
“Hwaiting” (화이팅) is a fun and popular Korean phrase used to cheer someone on or give them a boost of encouragement. It’s … Hwaiting (화이팅) – Expressing Encouragement the Korean Way The post Hwaiting (화이팅) – Expressing Encouragement the Korean Way… CONTINUE READING
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Cheongnyangsa Temple is located south of the Gimhae International Airport near the Nakdong River in Gangseo-gu, Busan. Purportedly, Cheongnyangsa Temple is located in one of the best locations in Korea for pungsu-jiri (geomancy, feng shui). Originally, the temple was nothing more than a village shrine dedicated to the village guardian, Dangsan (Village Guardian Spirit). Also, Cheongnyangsa Temple is one of the 973 traditional Buddhist temples in Korea.
Floods and landslides in 1864 and 1865 helped form the area where Cheongnyangsa Temple is currently located. More specifically, it’s said that when a natural disaster strikes Myeongji-dong, which is where the temple is located, people can hear the sound of drums announcing the change of the topography. In 1917, villagers helped build a temple named Jangyuam Hermitage. Additionally, there’s a 250 to 300 year old tree where the Dangsan-je ceremony takes place every year, and it’s been held in this location for a long time.
By 1920, and after Jangyuam Hermitage was built, the monk Jang Yuam, a Buddhist monk from Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, enshrined an altar painting at the hermitage. Later, the hermitage changed its name to Yeonhosa Temple because the temple looked like a lotus flower floating on water much like the temple did when the land around it was flooded. Always, the temple would be protected from the flooding of the waters. Then in 1961, the temple changed its name, once more, this time to its current name of Cheongnyangsa Temple.
Cheongnyangsa Temple is located in an industrial part of Gangseo-gu, Busan with farmer’s fields to the west. You first enter through a two-story structure. The first story of this structure acts as the Cheongwangmun Gate, while the second is the Jong-ru Pavilion. Painted on the walls of the Cheonwangmun Gate are four murals dedicated to the Four Heavenly Kings. And adorning the ceiling of the entry gate are a set of swirling Bicheon (Flying Heavenly Deities). Housed inside the Jong-ru Pavilion, on the other hand, are the four traditional Buddhist percussion instruments.
As soon as you enter the main temple courtyard, and pass through the diminutive parking lot, you’ll be greeted by the newer-looking Geukrakbo-jeon Hall. The exterior walls to the newly built main hall are adorned with vibrant Palsang-do (The Eight Scenes from the Buddha’s Life Murals). Stepping inside the Geukrakbo-jeon Hall, you’ll find a smaller sized triad on the main altar. In the centre of the three is the image of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise), who is joined on either side by images of Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion) and Daesaeji-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Power for Amita-bul). Even the canopy overtop the main altar triad is compact in size. To the right of the main altar is a memorial shrine for the dead, while to the left there is a Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural).
Behind the Geukrakbo-jeon Hall, you’ll find a seated stone statue dedicated to Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha). Between the Geukrakbo-jeon Hall and the temple bathroom is the 250 to 300 year old tree at Cheongnyangsa Temple. And just beyond this ancient tree are the monks’ dorms, kitchen, and administrative office.
Perhaps the most unique aspect to the temple is the Minang-gak Hall, which houses the usual shaman deities, as well as another highly original painting. The exterior walls to the Minang-gak Hall are adorned with various murals of the Sinseon (Taoist Immortals), a tiger, and a mural dedicated to Bukseong (The North Star). Stepping inside the shaman shrine hall, you’ll first be welcomed by a mural dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit) on the far left of the main altar. To the right of Sanshin, and in the centre of the three shaman deities, is an older mural dedicated to Chilseong (The Seven Stars). The next painting is a mural dedicated to Yongwang (The Dragon King). Both the Sanshin and Yongwang murals are newer in composition and original in style. The final mural in the set of four, and hanging on the far right wall, is the mural dedicated to Dangsan (Village Guardian Spirit). This highly original mural is dedicated to a female spirit that protects the temple grounds and the surrounding area. It was formerly housed inside a shrine all to its own before Cheongryangsa Temple was first established. With the creation of the temple, Cheongryangsa Temple simply absorbed the shrine dedicated to Dangsan and housed the painting dedicated to this female spirit alongside other shaman deities inside the Minang-gak Hall.
How To Get There
From the Hadan Subway Station, which is stop #102 on the first line, you’ll need to go out exit #3. From there, you’ll need to find the bus stop where you can take Town Bus #3 or #15. These town buses are smaller in size, and you’ll need to take either bus for seven stops. You’ll then need to get off at the “Sachuideung -사취등” stop. From this bus stop, you need to look for the temple signs and walk towards the temple for about three minutes.
You can take public transportation or simply take a taxi from the Hadan Subway Station. The ride will take about seven minutes and cost you around 6,000 won (one way).
Overall Rating: 6/10
While smaller in size, Cheongnyangsa Temple has one of the more uncommon shaman spirits that you’ll find at a Korean Buddhist temple. The Minang-gak Hall alone makes a trip to Cheongnyangsa Temple worthwhile. Additionally, you can also enjoy the other shaman artwork housed inside this shrine hall, as well as the main altar statues and main altarpiece painting inside the Geukrakbo-jeon Hall. There’s a lot to enjoy at this lesser known west-end temple in Busan.
The two-story Cheonwangmun Gate (first story) and Jong-ru Pavilion (second story).
The swirling Bicheon (Flying Heavenly Deities) inside the Cheonwangmun Gate.
And one of the Four Heavenly Kings painted inside the entry gate.
The Geurakbo-jeon Hall at Cheongnyangsa Temple
The first painting from the Palsang-do (Eight Scenes from the Buddha’s Life Murals) that adorns the exterior of the Geukrakbo-jeon Hall.
The main altar inside the Geukrakbo-jeon Hall.
The outdoor shrine dedicated to Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha) behind the Geurakbo-jeon Hall.
The Minang-gak Hall at the Cheongnyangsa Temple.
A painting of Bukseong (The North Star) that adorns the exterior of the Minang-gak Hall.
The painting of Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit) inside the Minang-gak Hall.
Joined by this mural dedicated to Yongwang (The Dragon King).
And this of Dangsan (Village Guardian Spirit).
A look towards the monks’ dorms from the Minang-gak Hall.
There’s only one more episode left in this course! This conversation is about two people who agree to speak casually (반말), and how that happens naturally.
This is my free (yes, really) video course which covers natural conversations with full explanations for everything, including vocabulary, grammar, and expressions. There are twenty episodes in this free course, and there’s also a (paid) book version available for those who want to support my channel. The book also comes with an extra five conversations (audio files included), but the contents of the first twenty conversations are exactly the same as this free course.
What free video course should I make next? Let me know in the comments here or on my YouTube channel.
(은/ㄴ) 나머지 is an advanced level grammar form that’s used to mean “because,” but it differs from other forms that also mean “because” in how it’s used and also its nuance. 나머지 is used to mean that something negative happens (usually) because of something that’s extreme.
Most of the live streams I do are around the intermediate level, but I do also often do advanced level classes on my channel. Let me know if there’s another topic you’d like to learn!
Curious about how to say “teacher” in Korean? The main word is 선생님 (seonsaengnim). This term is commonly used to show respect … “Teacher” in Korean – Learn the Correct Usage The post “Teacher” in Korean – Learn the Correct Usage… CONTINUE READING
Wolbongsa Temple is located in Dong-gu, Busan to the south of Mt. Gubongsan (404.5 m). Additionally, Wolbongsa Temple is scenically located with the Port of Busan and the Namhang Bridge off in the distance. It’s unclear when Wolbongsa Temple was first constructed.
Temple Layout
You first arrive at Wolbongsa Temple through a network of old Busan houses. When you finally do arrive at the temple, you’ll notice that Wolbongsa Temple is beautifully perched atop a compact temple courtyard that overlooks the Port of Busan. In fact, if you look close enough, you’ll notice the Namhang Bridge off in the distance, as well.
Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, you’ll find a row of seven golden statues on the main altar that are broken up into three separate altars. The central altar has a triad of statues centred by Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). This image is then joined on either side by Munsu-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom) and Bohyeon-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Power). To the left of this main altar triad is a shrine dedicated to a solitary image of Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife). And the right altar has another triad. This triad consists of three different incarnations of Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). The rest of the interior is filled with images of Nahan (The Historical Disciples of the Buddha), as well as a Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural) that hangs on the far left wall.
Wolbongsa Temple in May, 2005.
To the left of the Daeung-jeon Hall stands the Jong-ru Pavilion. Housed inside the Jong-ru Pavilion is a diminutive bronze bell. And between the Daeung-jeon Hall and the Jong-ru Pavilion, you’ll find a standing stone image dedicated to Gwanseeum-bosal. To the right of the main hall, on the other hand, and through a narrow staircase situated next to the monks’ dorms, is a platform that houses a stone image of Yaksayeorae-bul (The Buddha of Medicine, and the Buddha of the Eastern Paradise). This image serenely looks out over the Port of Busan.
The final shrine hall that visitors can explore at Wolbongsa Temple, and crowning the temple heights, is the Samseong-gak Hall. Stepping inside the shaman shrine hall, you’ll find that the main altar images rest upon a rocky outcropping. A statue of Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit) rests in the centre and is joined nearby by a statue of Yongwang (The Dragon King). To the left of these central images is an all-white statue dedicated to Podae-hwasang (The Hempen Bag), while to the right rests an image of Dokseong (The Lonely Saint). This is a rather peculiar triad inside a Samseong-gak Hall with Chilseong (The Seven Stars) missing and Sanshin being the central image.
How To Get There
To get to Wolbongsa Temple, you’ll first need to make your way to Choryang Subway Station, which is stop #114 on the first line. After arriving at the subway station, you’ll need to go out exit #8. From here, you can catch a taxi to bring you up to Wolbongsa Temple. The taxi ride should take about eight minutes, or 1.5 km, and it’ll cost you around 4,800 won (one way).
You can take a taxi or you can simply walk the twenty minute distance up Mt. Gubongsan to get to Wolbongsa Temple. But the 1.5 kilometre hike is mostly uphill so keep that in mind. Head towards Busan Middle School to help guide you towards the temple. There should be some signs along the way to guide you towards Wolbongsa Temple.
Overall Rating: 6/10
Without a doubt, the main highlight to Wolbongsa Temple are the spectacular views of Busan with the potential for pictures of the Port of Busan and Namhang Bridge from the elevated heights of the temple grounds. Other highlights include the outdoor statues dedicated to Gwanseeum-bosal and Yaksayeorae-bul that are situated on either side of the temple grounds. And in combination with the numerous other temples in the area like Geumsusa Temple, a trip to Wolbongsa Temple can make for a beautiful day trip around Busan Station.
Dong-gu, Busan.
The temple grounds at Wolbongsa Temple.
The Jong-ru Pavilion.
From the side of the Daeung-jeon Hall with a look at the statue of Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion).
The view that Gwanseeum-bosal gets to enjoy.
The main altar inside the Daeung-jeon Hall.
The modern Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural) inside the Daeung-jeon Hall.
The view from the Daeung-jeon Hall past the three-story pagoda.
The view found between the Daeung-jeon Hall and the Jong-ru Pavilion.
The Daeung-jeon Hall and Busan.
A look up at the Samseong-gak Hall.
The view from the Samseong-gak Hall.
The main altar inside the Samseong-gak Hall with Podae-hwasang (left), Sanshin and Yongwang (centre), and Dokseong (right).
The statue of Yaksayeorae-bul (The Medicine Buddha) at Wolbongsa Temple.
And one last spectacular view from Wolbongsa Temple out towards Dong-gu, Busan.
“Hwaiting” (화이팅) is a fun and popular Korean phrase used to cheer someone on or give them a boost of encouragement. It’s … Hwaiting (화이팅) – Expressing Encouragement the Korean Way The post Hwaiting (화이팅) – Expressing Encouragement the Korean Way… 
Learn to read Korean and be having simple conversations, taking taxis and ordering in Korean within a week with our FREE Hangeul Hacks series: 
Curious about how to say “teacher” in Korean? The main word is 선생님 (seonsaengnim). This term is commonly used to show respect … “Teacher” in Korean – Learn the Correct Usage The post “Teacher” in Korean – Learn the Correct Usage… 
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