| Other San-shin Shrines & Icons found on Bul-am-san |
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| This is the combined Main Hall and San-shin-gak of Ok-cheon-am [Jade Heaven Hermitage], the highest-elevation temple on Bul-am-san. It was made by putting a simple front across an overhang-cave, under huge granite boulders. Mark and a weird sort of pagoda stand in front. Inside, San-shin icons and large tiger paintings share the cramped space with seveal Buddhas and other spirits. |
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| the San-shin-gak of Kyeong-su-sa [Luminescent Water Temple], just above the western foot of Bulam-san, is almost lost in the deep forest. Its signboard labels it as a Chil-seong-gak (which were very popular before the Korean War). However, the main painting inside it is of San-shin (with electric "candles" with names of donors). What the female dongja attendant on the left is holding, I cannot figure out; never seen that before... two of some kind of mushroom or root or stem... |
| At the small & humble Do-am-sa [Tao Rocks Temple], also at the western base of Bulam-san, is a fairly normal San-shin painting (next to Chil-seong and a Buddha) in the Main Hall. But there is also a stunning discovery -- an outdoor San-shin-dan [Mountain-spirit Altar] at a boulder-cliff, unique in all Korea so far as i have found. Written on the rock in Chinese is "Nam-u-san-wang-dae-shin" [I Take Refuge in Mountain-King-Great-Spirit]. That "Nam-u" is a very common and famous Buddhist statement, used for "taking refuge in" Amita-bul [Amibitha Buddha |
| It is actually built in front of a cave thought to have been used for San-shin worship by the great 7th-Cen monk Wonhyo. The signboard is in hangeul reading right-to-left like Chinese; i've never seen that before! Inside is only a statue, electric "candles" with names of donors, and a portrait of Wonhyo. Next to it is a new granite statue of Buddha in an overhang-niche, the sort typically used by shamans for San-shin worship. |
| the San-shin-gak of Cheon-bo-sa [Heavenly Treasure Temple], high up on the western slope of Bulam-san (trail access only) has an amazing location as shown by these photos. |
| of the Western Paradise] or the holy triad of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha. Almost all Buddhists around the world recite such prayers frequently, as a declaration of faith or stimulous to practice. It is amazing to see them appended to the common chant in praise of San-shin! This elevates the San-shin to the status of a Buddha -- implied all over Korea these days, but rarely made so explicit as this. The abbot of Do-am-sa told us that it was his own idea, after a dream / vision he had. |