SSANGGYESA TEMPLE

Located in the south, this temple is one of the most popular in Jirisan. In autumn, on the road leading to it, you can't fail to marvel at the splendor of the cherry blossoms.

The temple was founded by the monk Jingam, who went to China to study in 804. He taught Zen at the Jangbaeksa temple, which he had discovered during his trip. He founded Okcheonsa in 840, which later took the name of Ssanggyesa. The temple was destroyed during the Japanese invasion of the ^16th century, but rebuilt in the early ^17th century. We pass through 3 beautiful ancient gates, including the elegant single-pillared Iljumun (one on each side, in fact), then past a recent 9-storey pagoda. Behind is the Pal-yeongnu pavilion, originally built in 840, then rebuilt in 1641 and restored in 1978. Jingam founded Korean Buddhist music by writing the 8-rhythm eosan piece (hence the hall's name, pal meaning 8). He was inspired by the fish in the nearby river, which gave the piece its name(eo means fish). In Buddhism, the fish is the symbol of enlightenment, as it never sleeps. The main Daeungjeon hall, founded in 846, was rebuilt in 1641, 1695 and 1735. It contains statues of the historical Buddha, Amithaba and Bhaisajyaguru (Yaksa yeorae, Medicine Buddha, to the left of the historical Buddha). There's also the Nahanjeon hall, dedicated to the Buddha's 16 Arhats (disciples) and dating from 1641. The Myeongbojeon hall is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha (Jijang), who saves souls lost in the lower world, surrounded by the 10 kings or judges of "hell". Opposite, you can see an engraved Goryeo Buddha and a stele erected in Jingam's honor by King Jeonggang (886-887) and calligraphed by the famous Silla scholar Choe Ji-won. This temple is one of the many jewels hidden in this green setting. When you come here, you experience complete fulfillment.

2 km from the temple is the beautiful Bul-il waterfall, 60 m high. From here, you can continue on to the village of Cheonghakdong. From the village, you can take a path up to the Seseok hut, and from there head for Mount Cheonwangbong and the ridge road. A shorter route to Seseok can be taken directly to Daeseongni village. You'll have to come back to route 1023, which you used to get to the temple, and continue straight on (a local bus takes you there). There's a campsite (Daeseonggyo), and from here you can turn right up towards Seseok