The most beautiful religious buildings South Korea

This temple, located on Geumjeongsan Mountain, was built under Silla by the monk Uisang during the 18th year of King Munmu's reign. As the Japanese pirates threatened the coasts once again, the king had a dream that told him to go to the monk Uisang and pray with him for 7 days and 7 nights on this mountain where there was a gold spring (Geumjeong) in which a fish came down from the sky (beomeo) was swimming. The king did so and, after the 7 days of prayer, warriors came down from heaven and defeated the invaders. The monk then founded in this place the temple which took the name of Beom-eosa. It became a centre of the Hwaeom sect ("Flower Garland") that the monk had introduced from China. The greatest of the masters studied and practiced there. The Geumjeong spring can still be seen on the mountain of the same name, behind the temple; it is located at the top of a rock more than 5 m high in a hollow of 4 m in circumference. The temple flourished until Japanese invaders burned it during the Imjin War (1592-1598). It was rebuilt again in 1614, and the main hall and Iljulmun gate would date from that time.

It is a beautiful temple that is now an active center of Zen meditation (seon). We enter via Iljulmun, one of the temple's treasures. In the courtyard stands a 3-storey stupa from Silla (National Treasury). Upstairs stands the main hall, Daeungjeon, dedicated to the historic Buddha, which dates back to 1614. It houses beautiful paintings dating from the end of Joseon. The woodwork inside is splendid, especially the canopy decorated with dragons. The building, also a National Treasure, is simple, but its old unpainted wood gives it an august look. On the left of the main hall is an original tripartite structure built in 1905, housing an altar to the 16 disciples of the Buddha (Nahanjeon) and another containing the 8 paintings of his life (Palsangjeon). In the temple, many other buildings are used by monks as places of residence, meditation or study and cannot be visited. Nevertheless, this temple is one of the most popular for its temple stay program, during which one lives for a day, like a Buddhist monk. It is a rich and intense cultural experience. On the program, silence, meditation, refreshment and history of the place (on request there is the possibility to have the visit in English). From the temple, hiking trails meander through the mountains.

This beautiful temple is a little difficult to access, but it really deserves the detour because it possesses unique treasures. It was founded in 676 by the monk Uisang of Silla who brought to China the teaching of the Secte sect, «of the flower of flowers». This sect was dominant in Korea for about 5 centuries before being replaced by that of Jogye. Buseoksa, the "floating rock temple" is always the centre of this sect. His name comes from the legend attached to him. To protect it from demons, a rock came float over the main hall when it was built. This calligraphy rock is on the left side of this hall. We climb the temple through a beautiful path lined with trees and apple fields. On the right there were 2 stone mounts that were used to set up a huge pole where flags were flying; this custom that disappeared was practised under Silla. We arrive in a courtyard where 2 pagodas go back to the temple foundation. On the left is a newly built hall of construction where the oldest Buddhist wood paintings in the country are exposed. They represent 2 bodhisattvas and 4 celestial guards, and they date from Goryeo. They were once in the main lobby. There are more old planks of xylogravure, also dating from Goryeo, engraved by the Avatamsaka Avatamsaka ("the flower of flowers") which gave his name to the sect. The higher is another courtyard with residential buildings and a staircase passes under the beautiful flag of the bell to arrive at the superior courtyard. From this place the view on the valley is magnificent. Most of the buildings of this temple miraculously escaped the Japanese destruction. Its main hall Muryangsujeon is thus the oldest wooden structure in the country (some say that it would actually be the small hall Geungnakjeon of the temple Bongjeongsa near Andong, but it is far from being so imposing). He was a golfer in the middle of the th century. It is well preserved and fairly large, but its architecture is rather simple. This hall is not only precious in itself by its ancienneté, but also houses a magnificent golden clay Buddha. Strangely placed against the left wall, he has a magnificent flammes of flames in his back. This Buddha is the only one in this material. Opposite the lobby is a great lantern of Joseon's Stone. The higher on the right is a path to Josadang, the second oldest building in the complex dating back to 1372. He is dedicated to Uisang. Nearby, the Nahanjeon Hall contains 2 Statues stone statues dating from the th century. There is at the entrance of the temple some yeogwans and minbaks, as well as restaurants in a pleasant site. Alternatively, you can sleep in the village of Buseok 4 km lower. There is a clean motel with ondol rooms or 30 000-won bed and restaurants on the main street.

It is said that under Silla, geomancy advised to build many Buddhist monuments in this part of the peninsula to restore the imbalance that the mountains made. Among these "counterweight" temples, Unjusa (founded in 827) was said to have had 1,000 Buddhas and 1,000 stupas up to Joseon. There are only 70 statues and bas-reliefs and 18 stupas left but they are original. Especially the two famous lying Buddhas, 12 m long. They are unique in Korea in their horizontal position, and in the unexplainable fact that one of the Buddhas is said to be female.

For Zen meditation, you can go from 4 a. m. to 19 p. m. in this temple, which organizes every Sunday at 13 p. m. lectures on Dharma initiation and meditation sessions in English. Possibility of retirement in the winter and summer over long periods or for short sessions (3-4 days). Look in the press in English. It is located in Seoul, but away from the hustle and bustle of the centre, with beautiful walks in the Bukhansan mountain.

This temple is located behind the Hyundai gallery, near the Artsonje gallery. There are Buddhist services in English on Sunday at 18 p. m. There is also a small library. The centre organizes all kinds of activities for foreigners, such as meditation and singing sessions, making paper lanterns for the Buddha's birthday, etc. They currently build on the island of Ganghwado a Retreat for foreigners. A weekly meeting is held on Thursday at 19 a. m.

This sanctuary is dedicated to the general of Goryeo Gang Gam-chan (948-1031), who spent his life defending his country against the invaders. A 3-storey pagoda was built on the site of its birth at the same time as an altar. The name comes from a legend that a star fell from heaven on the day of birth. The pagoda was moved and the shrine restored in 1973. There is not much to see but it is a nice district in Seoul near the mountains.

It may not be the most imposing hermitage in the country, but it has the merit of being really very original. And that's what attracted us. At low tide, it is connected to the shore by a natural path, which disappears little by little at high tide, thus placing the hermitage as if on an island. In a way it is a bit like the Mont Saint-Michel. This hermitage, founded by the monk Muhak, during the reign of Taejo (1335-1408), is quite fascinating as well as very charming at sunset, when it is elegantly reflected on the water.

Although not the largest or most beautiful, Borisa's temple remains pleasant. The main hall has interesting wooden bas-reliefs. You can take a path on the right (beware it slips) that climbs to a stone bas-relief representing the Buddha of the future surrounded by flames dating from the 8th century. A path on the left leads us a little higher to a large rock carved on its 4 sides with several Buddhist bas-reliefs from Silla. We will also notice the engraved pagodas, unique in their kind.