Hermitage History

Banyaam Hermitage is located on the Tongdosa Temple grounds in the foothills of Mt. Yeongchuksan (1,081 m) in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do. Of the nearly twenty hermitages at Tongdosa Temple, Banyaam Hermitage is the newest. The hermitage was first established in 1999 by the monk Jian.

As for the name of the hermitage, it’s a transliteration of the word “Prajna” in Sanskrit, which means either “wisdom” or “enlightenment” in English. So the hermitage literally means “Wisdom/Enlightenment Hermitage” in English. Additionally, Banyaam Hermitage is in close proximity to Geukrakam Hermitage and Biroam Hermitage on the Tongdosa Temple grounds.

Hermitage Layout

As you first make your way up to Banyaam Hermitage, you’ll instantly notice the beautiful forest and towering mountains that surround the hermitage. Banyaam Hermitage is tranquil in every sense of the word.

From the hermitage parking lot, and if you look back, you’ll notice a wooden pavilion. It’s from here that you can rest and enjoy the view across the stream and out towards the lush forest. There’s also a suspension bridge that spans the stream. And if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can go for a hike after crossing this bridge. The entire hermitage grounds are beautifully maintained.

In total, there are three larger buildings on the hermitage grounds. To your left and right are the hermitage’s dorms, administrative offices, and the kitchen at Banyaam Hermitage. But of the three, it’s the central building, the main hall, which will draw most of your attention. Making your way up the uneven stone stairs that lead towards the main hall, you’ll make your way past two seokdeung (stone lanterns). And as you near the main hall, you may notice that the signboard above the central entrance reads Banyabo-jeon Hall in hanja characters. Adorning the exterior walls are two different sets of murals. The upper set are the Palsang-do (The Eight Scenes from the Buddha’s Life Murals), while the lower set depicts a mother raising her child from birth to adulthood. Also of interest are the two vibrant dragons on either side of the front signboard.

Stepping inside the Banyabo-jeon Hall, you’ll find a triad on the main altar. Rather interestingly, there’s no canopy above this triad. As for the triad, and seated in the centre, is a statue of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). This central image is joined on either side by Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion) and Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife). To the right of main altar, and hanging on the far right wall, is a modern Shinjung Taneghwa (Guardian Mural). If you look around the main hall, and especially up, you’ll notice a beautiful collection of murals that adorn every surface. Painted on the overhead beams are a pair of blue and yellow dragons, as well as white cranes and ornate phoenixes. Up near the eaves, you’ll find paintings dedicated to the Nahan (The Historical Disciples of the Buddha), as well as Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.) painting his Haein-do painting.

Behind the main hall, and on the ridge above, is the newer-looking pagoda. The entire hermitage grounds are beautifully framed by the neighbouring peaks of Mt. Yeongchuksan.

How To Get There

From Busan, you’ll first need to get to the Nopo subway stop, which is stop #134. From there, go to the intercity bus terminal. From the intercity bus terminal get a bus bound for Tongdosa Temple. The ride should last about 25 minutes. These buses leave every 20 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. From where the bus drops you off at the Tongdosa Temple bus stop, you’ll need to walk an additional 10 minutes to the temple grounds west of the bus stop.

From Tongdosa Temple, you’ll need to continue up the main road for another 700 metres, until you come to a fork in the road. Instead of heading straight, turn right and continue heading in this direction for 1.2 km. There are a cluster of hermitages in this area. Find the sign that reads “Banyaam Hermitage – 반야암” and continue heading to the right in this direction until you arrive at the hermitage. The entire walk is 3.5 km, and it could take you up to an hour to walk from Tongdosa Temple to Banyaam Hermitage.

Overall Rating: 4/10

So much about Banyaam Hermitage is the natural beauty that surrounds the hermitage like the tranquil stream to the east and the towering mountain peaks to the north. In addition to all of this natural beauty, the Banyabo-jeon Hall is beautifully adorned, both inside and out, with vibrant murals like the Palsang-do and the Nahan murals. Banyaam Hermitage is the perfect hermitage at Tongdosa Temple to simply relax and unwind. Also, it’s in close proximity to Geukrakam Hermitage and Biroam Hermitage, which are definitely worth a bit of your time, as well.

Have you ever considered the idea of working at a Korean company? If yes, then one of the things that you should know is that going overtime is normal in Korea.

That’s just one, but we will be sharing a few more important things to know if you’re planning to work in Korea below. Read on!

Quick Summary

Before we go into the lesson, here’s a preview of what you’ll be learning.

Working in a Korean company means you’d most likely have to arrive early and go home late because punctuality and working overtime are deeply ingrained in Korean work culture.

Hanging out with coworkers after work can help you become closer friends outside of work.

If you want to get along well with others at work, learning and adjusting to cultural cues like nunchi and jeong will be very helpful.

8 important things to know when working in Korea

It is important to know the following things when you work at a Korean company.

#01. Don’t be late and get accustomed to working overtime

You really do not want to be late even one minute for your job, as that will easily get noticed and thus get you in trouble. In fact, you may want to prefer to show up even 10 minutes early. Additionally, you may already be familiar with the concept that Koreans often tend to stay at work for at least one more hour after their work time has officially ended for the day. So, be prepared to do that!

However, before you get all stressed out, not every company adheres to this unspoken rule. Especially modern, newer companies with younger top personnel don’t consider this a requirement. This doesn’t mean you actually have so much work to do you can’t get out on time.

Instead, you may find yourself taking online courses, planning vacations, reading news, and whatnot while on the clock, just to make the time pass until it’s OK to leave.

Do pay notice, though, that even when it is not required, many Korean employees tend to stay overtime, that’s how deeply ingrained this is in Korean work culture. This overtime notion often comes from the fact that workers feel obligated to stay until their supervisors have also left the office for the day.

Don’t forget to anticipate unpaid overtime and the expectations that come with your first job, as these are common in South Korean work environments. In a few years, you’ll probably get used to the unique aspects of South Korean culture and thrive in your career.

2. Get ready to spend time with your co-workers after work

Besides staying late in the office, it is also incredibly common for co-workers to go out together for food, drinks, and karaoke after work hours. They are often regarded as mandatory to attend for at least one round, although less so at modern companies with younger leaders.

How these after-work dinners are conducted depends entirely on the company and possibly even the team and department within a company. Some teams may go out for these dinners once a week, while for others, it’s more of a special occasion that is held once a month.

Also, with the emergence of newer companies with more modern ways of thinking, some teams may opt to enjoy lunch together instead of dinner and drinks.

3. Personal relationships between co-workers are encouraged

Something that perhaps becomes clear from the previous point already is that in every Korean office, having close interpersonal relationships with your colleagues is a treasured concept.

Within Korean companies, it is believed that trust between employees is one of the most important things, contributing to a strong team player dynamic.

In other words, it may not be possible to keep your work and personal life as separated in Korea as you might be able to do in another country. Building friendships with your colleagues is also one way in which you are showing your commitment to the company and fostering a healthy work-life balance.

However, while these relationships are encouraged, you must still remember to take into account each colleague’s office rank, especially in South Korea. If they rank higher than you, you’ll need to keep in mind the additional layer of respect that comes with it.

4. Cultural concepts stand strong within Korean companies

We’ve already learned about Korean concepts before. This means unspoken concepts that drive behavior patterns, like nunchi, gibun, and jeong. They are strongly present in every Korean’s daily life.

Thus, they also act accordingly in the workplace. This essentially means trying to show oneself to others in a particular light, putting harmony with others above all else, having a high level of situational awareness, and so on.

Many of these cultural concepts are similarly present in other Asian cultures, so it is incredibly important to be aware of them before stepping into the office. Of course, just because you want these concepts to guide your behavior in the workplace doesn’t mean you need to give up your identity or personality to them entirely.

5. You will likely get to take part in membership training

Membership training, MT for short, is one of the major differences in the Korean work culture. It is not something that you come across only at work, as many university clubs arrange these as well.

Basically, you will head over to the mountains or the countryside to stay in a pension (a type of guesthouse) over the weekend. Once there, you’ll do some sports or play games, likely eat barbecued food, and drinking is absolutely a big part of it all.

In other words, there’s not a whole lot of actual training involved; it’s more so a weekend for bonding and experiencing the unique office environment.

6. Remember to use the correct titles in the office

Even if someone is your close friend or has a romantic interest outside of the office, you will not want to use those terms at work.

Instead, always use the correct titles to refer to them, whether that’s -씨 or -님 or something more specific to their position. In general, it is good Korean business etiquette to use these titles to avoid making many mistakes.

7. You shouldn’t question your superior

This may be a conflicting matter to understand and also doesn’t necessarily take place in every company. However, typically in team meetings, your superior will introduce you to a strategy, idea, or concept, and regardless of what you think of it, you shouldn’t disagree with it.

Unlike in Western countries, where challenging a superior’s idea may be a productive and efficient way of working, it is not so in South Korea. This again goes back to concepts such as harmony, which are deeply ingrained in Korean society and work culture.

Besides the team leader, you will also want to be careful about challenging a colleague in the company who has seniority over you. One of the reasons for this is the strong hierarchy within the company, which is a big thing in Korean work culture.

Another one is that your superior likely has another person to report to, from whom they already got approval for this particular strategy.

Thus, it is also the strategy that needs to be presented in the end, whether it worked or not, aligning with the established working environments.

#08. The more Korean you speak, the better

If you are teaching English in Korea, you may be discouraged from communicating in Korean, especially around the students. However, in any other Korean environment, it’s absolutely an advantage to be able to communicate in Korean.

It is a sign of respect towards your colleagues and the country, but you may also have some co-workers who can’t speak English or some other language that you are more comfortable with than Korean.

Knowing and using Korean will make it easier to bond with those around you and navigate the intricacies of Korean culture and the Korean language in the workplace. However, if you have language skills besides Korean, they may also prove to be useful in the long run.

For example, you may be given tasks revolving around that language, which other employees cannot do. This can open up opportunities for learning Korean and improving your working hours and overall experience in the Korean work environment.

Wrap Up

So, that’s the scoop on working for a company in South Korea! Remember, fitting in means understanding how things work. And don’t forget about those cultural customs – they’re a big deal, especially in South Korean culture!

Whether you’re dreaming of joining a K-Pop giant or a big-name company like Samsung, knowing the ropes of Korean corporate culture will help you shine. So, dive in, stay true to yourself, and enjoy the adventure!

With these tips, you’ll be sure to get started on your journey of working in South Korea! Do you think the Korean company life is for you? Next, you may want to learn how to actually get a job in Korea, brush up on business Korean, or study the vocabulary for jobs in Korean.

The post Working at a Korean company – Your Guide to Success appeared first on 90 Day Korean.

Temple History

Daeseungsa Temple is located on Mt. Sabulsan in northern Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Daeseungsa Temple means “Great Vehicle Temple” in English. The temple was first established in 587 A.D., and it was the first Buddhist temple ever built in Mungyeong.

Daeseungsa Temple has one of the more interesting origin legends. According to the Samguk Yusa, or “Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms” in English: “To the east of Juknyeong (Bamboo Pass) about one hundred li [500 meters] away, soaring high into the sky, there stands a mountain. In the ninth year of King Jinpyeong of Silla [r. 579-632 A.D.], the year of the monkey (587 A.D.), this mountain shook with a thundering sound, and from its peak in the heavens a great rock fell. It was ten feet square, carved with Buddhist images on all sides, and wrapped in a red silk cloth.

“Hearing of this marvelous event, the King journeyed to this place. There he prostrated himself before the wonderful rock and ordered a temple built nearby, calling it Daeseungsa Temple [Great Vehicle Temple, or Mahayana Temple]. A monk who had recited the Lotus Sutra all his life was put in charge of the temple and told to burn incense before the four Buddhas day and night without stopping once. The mountain was called Mt. Sabulsan [Four Buddhas Mountain]. When the monk died and was buried, a lotus flower bloomed on his grave.”

The temple would later be destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592-98). It was later rebuilt from 1604 to 1701. At this time, over a dozen shrine halls and gates were rebuilt. And since it was rebuilt, the temple suffered additional fires including those in 1862 and 1956. The only shrine halls to survive the 1862 fire were the Myeongbu-jeon Hall and the Eungjin-jeon Hall. The Daeung-jeon Hall and a few other shrine halls were rebuilt in 1966.

In total, there are three hermitages that are directly associated with Daeseungsa Temple. They are Myojeogam Hermitage, Yunpilam Hermitage, and Sangjeogam Hermitage.

In total, Daeseungsa Temple is home to a National Treasure and three additional Korean Treasures. The National Treasure is the “Wooden Amitabha Buddha Altarpiece at Daeseungsa Temple,” which is National Treasure #321. As for the Korean Treasures, they are the “Wooden Amitabha Buddha Altarpiece and Related Documents of Daeseungsa Temple,” which is Korean Treasure #575; the “Gilt-bronze Seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva of Daeseungsa Temple,” which is Korean Treasure #991 ; and the “Gilt-bronze Seated Amitabha Buddha and Excavated Relics of Daeseungsa Temple,” which is Korean Treasure #1634.

Temple Layout

You first make your way towards the Daeseungsa Temple grounds up a long mountain road. Along the way, you’ll pass by the rather slender Iljumun Gate, until you eventually arrive at the temple parking lot. From the temple parking lot, you’ll need to hang a right and head towards the Baekryeon-dang Hall. This natural wood gate also acts as dorms for visitors. Beyond the Baekryeona-dang Hall, you’ll find the imposing Manse-ru Pavilion. But before passing under the Manse-ru Pavilion, have a look to your left. There you’ll find the Beomjong-gak Pavilion. Housed inside this bell pavilion is a large, golden Brahma Bell. This bronze bell is joined by the three other traditional Buddhist percussion instruments.

Back at the Manse-ru Pavilion, you’ll pass under the first story of the structure and the wooden posts that support the weight of the second story. Having passed under the Manse-ru Pavilion, and looking back, you’ll notice that the Manse-ru Pavilion’s second story acts as a hall for larger dharma talks.

Looking straight ahead, you’ll see the Daeung-jeon Hall. The exterior walls to the Daeung-jeon Hall are adorned with fading Shimu-do (Ox-Herding Murals), as well as a stunning collection of floral latticework. Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, you’ll find yourself in the presence of the National Treasure at Daeseungsa Temple, the “Wooden Amitabha Buddha Altarpiece at Daeseungsa Temple.” This main hall altarpiece was first produced in 1675. This altarpiece portrays the Western Paradise of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise). In total, it contains 24 images of Bodhisattvas, Nahan, and the Four Heavenly Kings. And in the centre of the symmetrically positioned images is Amita-bul. Of the extant wood altarpieces, this is the oldest. Additionally, it’s the largest of the six historic wood altarpieces still in existence. What distinguishes this altarpiece from the other five is the portrayal and style of the Bodhisattvas. Unfortunately right now, there’s only a reproduction picture of the historic altarpiece hanging on the main altar inside the Daeung-jeon Hall. It’s unclear where the original might be or when it might return to Daeseungsa Temple.

Joining this stunning wood altarpiece inside the Daeung-jeon Hall are a set of Palsang-do (The Eight Scenes from the Buddha’s Life) adorning most of the interior surfaces of the main hall. Additionally, you’ll find a modern, red Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural) hanging on the far left wall.

To the left and right of the main hall are the monks’ dorms and meditation centre at Daeseungsa Temple. It’s to the right rear of the main hall that you’ll find five additional shrine halls. The first of these shrine halls is the Samseong-gak Hall. The interior and exterior walls to this shaman shrine hall are adorned with Sinseon (Taoist Immortal) paintings. As for the interior, there are three golden reliefs, similar to the main altarpiece inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, of the three most popular shaman deities in Korea. They are of Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit), Dokseong (The Lonely Saint), and Chilseong (The Seven Stars).

To the right of the Samseong-gak Hall, you’ll find the Eungjin-jeon Hall. The exterior walls are adorned with beautiful paintings dedicated to the Nahan (The Historical Disciples of the Buddha). Stepping inside the Eungjin-jeon Hall, you’ll find wall-to-wall images of the Nahan. And resting on the main altar is a diminutive triad centred by Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). On the far right wall, you’ll find a crowned image dedicated to Dongjin-bosal (The Bodhisattva that Protects the Buddha’s Teachings), which is backed by a painting dedicated to Bohyeon-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Power).

Next to the Eungjin-jeon Hall is the Josa-jeon Hall. And out in front of these two halls is the temple’s Geukrak-jeon Hall. The exterior walls are adorned with murals of guardians, Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise), Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion), and Daesaeji-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Power for Amita-bul). Stepping inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall, you’ll find a triad resting on the main altar. In the centre is the “Gilt-bronze Seated Amitabha Buddha and Excavated Relics of Daeseungsa Temple.” This Korean Treasure is believed to date back to 1301, when an inscription on its head, written in ink, was found during a recent examination of the statue. When the statue was inspected by x-ray, the bead decorations on top of its head was discovered to be made of cast bronze like the rest of the statue. In the late 13th century, through to the 14th century, Buddhist sculptures in the Tibetan style with Yuan influence were popular in the Gaeseong area. Rather interestingly, this statue displays the characteristics of an earlier mid-Goryeo Dynasty tradition. Additionally, there were votive documents found inside this statue. They were comprised of twelve sheets, and they were printed between 1292 to 1301. Also taking up residence inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall, and hanging on the far right wall, is a modern mural dedicated to Chilseong (The Seven Stars).

The final shrine hall that visitors can explore, and one of the oldest at the temple, is the Myeongbu-jeon Hall. The exterior is adorned with fading guardian murals. Stepping inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, you’ll find the main altar occupied by a green haired image of Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife). Rounding out the interior of the Myeongbu-jeon Hall are ten seated wooden images of the Siwang (The Ten Kings of the Underworld), as well as standing wooden guardians at both entries of the shrine hall.

How To Get There

While it’s possible to get to Daeseungsa Temple from Mungyeong, it’s extremely difficult. But if you don’t mind an adventure and spending a lot of time on Korean buses, then here’s how to get to Daeseungsa Temple. From the Mungyeong Bus Terminal, you can take either Bus #11-1, Bus #10-1, Bus #20-1, or Bus #60-2. You’ll then need to get off at the the “Jeomchon Shinae Bus Terminal.” From this stop, you’ll need to take Bus #51-1. With this bus, you’ll need to get off at the “Jeonduguam” bus stop. From where the bus drops you off, you’ll need to walk one hour and ten minutes, or 3.1 km, to get to the temple. And this walk is mostly uphill. In total, this entire trip takes about four hours.

Another way you can get to Daeseungsa Temple is by taxi, but it’ll be expensive. From the Mungyeong Bus Terminal, a taxi to Daeseungsa Temple will take about 50 minutes, or 37 km, and it’ll cost you 50,000 won (one way).

Of course the easiest way to get to get Daeseungsa Temple is owning your own vehicle, but this isn’t always an option for everyone. So whatever way you decided to get to this temple, best of luck!

Overall Rating: 8/10

The main highlight to Daeseungsa Temple are all the treasures with the golden “Wooden Amitabha Buddha Altarpiece at Daeseungsa Temple” being the best of the lot. Beyond what’s located inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, you can also enjoy the golden reliefs inside the Samseong-gak Hall, the 700 year old “Gilt-bronze Seated Amitabha Buddha and Excavated Relics of Daeseungsa Temple” inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall, as well as the interior of the Myeongbu-jeon Hall and the golden Brahma Bell inside the Beomjong-gak Pavilion. There’s a lot to see, enjoy, and appreciate at Daeseungsa Temple so take your time.