Tuesday, April 01, 2014

[Seoul, Korea] Spring Series: Temple Tour @ Bongeunsa


Bongeunsa is one of the largest urban Buddhist temple located in the southern part of the Han River.  The temple was founded in 794 during the Shilla period.  To-date, this temple has more than 1,200 years of history.

The signature statue is one that can be found in many tourist guidebooks.  Standing at 23m tall, the Maitreya Buddha statue is the tallest Buddha statue in Korea.



Pretty spring flowers, pink and white, fills the temple compound.  The Lotus Lantern Festival is an annual event held on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month (in Korea), in honour of the Buddha's birth.  Buddhist temples are decorated with colourful lotus-shaped paper lanterns for a few weeks.



Daewoongjeon is the main Buddha hall in Buddhist temples, enshrining the Shakyamuni Buddha.  Daewoong means the great hero, who had brought the teachings to us in this lifetime.







Bodhisattva of compassion, or Gwaneum is located on a standalone stone platform connect by a short bridge.



A cosy café cum souvenir shop is located near the main entrance of the temple.  You can also get sutra text just like the one I got!




Getting there:

Take Exit 6 from Samseong station.  Walk along the super mega COEX Mall for about 13 minutes.  Cross the junction at Bongeunsa-ro and at the opposite side of the junction, turn left and you will arrive shortly.



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