Unram Temple

  
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Andong 2014
In and Around Andong 2014

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© 2013 John Holstein

jfholstein@yahoo.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
From the website Korean Dreamer: "About 1300 years ago, Priest Euisang established it for King Shinmun of the Shilla Empire. The temple was named Unramsa Temple because it resembled a half moon rising above Mt. Cheondeung in the clouds. The existing service hall called the Bogwangjeon is a 1,300-year-old building." The building on the left is the main or Buddha hall; the building above and in the middle is the Three Saints Pavilion, and the building on the right is the abbot's (and maybe one other monk's) quarters.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This and the next two shots were taken inside the main (Buddha) hall.
 
 
 
 
 
The main altar
 
 
 
 
 
The main hall's Guardian painting, featuring Skanda, son of Shiva, who is guardian of the Dharma. The gentleman in white whiskers, to Skanda's left, is the Dargon King. The one with the topknot, to Skanda's right, is the Mountain God; the fan that he is holding is the Taoist symbol of his power of levitation.
 
 
 
 
 
Inside the temple master's quarters
 
 
 
 
 
Sanshin the Mountain God and the next two paintings are in the Three Saints Pavilion. (Initially I translated Sanshin as Mountain Spirit, but Brian reminded me that spirit in Korean is shinryeong.)
 
 
 
 
 
Chilseong, the Big Dipper. The Buddha of Effulgence is in the center. The seven stars of the Big Dipper are represented here twice: the seven boddhisatvas and the seven males in human form; the one with the long head is North Star, not one of the Big Dipper. The two boddhisatvas at the feet of the Buddha are attendant boddhisatvas.
 
 
 
 
 
Dokseong the Hermit
 
 
 
 
Condiment jars. Ken reminds me that "they stand on the extremely photogenic site where the haeuso used to stand."
 
 
 
 
 
These are u-ju-mok (Cosmos Tree? Cosmos Wood?) from the Dolgans of central Asia, from where the first Koreans are thought to have migrated, long before Buddhism or Taoism or Christianity ever heard of Korea. This is quite commonly seen in Korea, usually used for artistic effect. (If you know anything about this symbol, please share it with me!)
 
 
 
 
 
 
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