Seoul and Busan Trip 2013-Day2-Haedong Yonggung Temple Part 2

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple was first built in 1376 by the great Buddhist teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty. The temple is situated along the shoreline.

While he was practicing asceticism at Bunhwang temple in Gyeongju, the nation was hard hit by a draught that made the crops burn to death and people suffer from famine, so people were disturbed badly resenting the god for not giving them rain. One day, a sea god appeared in Naong' dream and said that if they built a temple at the edge of Bongrae mountain and prayed there, all these hardship would go away leaving people back in happiness. After that dream, Naong visited the area where the Haedong Yonggung temple is located now, and saw that there was a mountain in the front and the sea at the back, which means if they say prayers in the morning they get answered in the evening. He built a temple later called Bomun temple by him and named the mountain Bongrae. The word “Bongrae” means something mysterious and pure to which hermits with great understanding descended. The word “Bomun” means the absolute and limitless power of the Great Goddess Buddha of mercy, called Gwanseumbosal in Korean. Unfortunately the temple was destroyed by fire when the Japanese invaded Korea and the monk Ungang of Tongdo temple rebuilt the temple in the early 1930's. Since then many head monks managed the temple until the monk Jungam prayed that the temple recovered as the Great Goddess Buddha's seminary. Amidst his 100-day pray session he witnessed the Great Goddess Buddha in white robe on the back of a dragon emanating five-color beam and after the dream he renamed the temple Haedong Yonggung temple. They believe that at least on of their wishes will be answered if they pray here and because of that belief many people visit this temple.

Story source from official website of Yongkungsa.

Haesu Gwaneum Daebul (Seawater Great Goddess Buddha)

Drinking water from the stone turtle at the temple for blessing.

Two cute golden pigs

Next up climb some irregular stairs to visit the Goddess of Mercy. Need to be careful when climbing the stairs.

Nice view from the top where the Goddess of Mercy Statue is located, very winding and chilly too when I was there.

Some cute buddha figurines behind the Goddess of Mercy.

You might want to avoid going there during New Year's Day or Buddha's Day cause the temple will be packed with a lot of worshippers and tourists and there will be problem with transportation. The bus will be packed and taxis will be scare.

Next post some videos of Haedong Yonggung Temple and its surroundings.