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Haedong Yonggung Temple

Haedong Yonggung Temple is a Buddhist temple in Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea.

The temple was built in 1376 by the teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty, and was originally known as Bomun Temple.

It was destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98) but was rebuilt in the 1930s, and was renamed Haedong Yonggung Temple in 1974.

The temple complex is a large one and one of few in Korea to be set on the seaside. As such, combined with its proximity to Haeundae Beach and the east side of Busan, the temple is popular with sightseers, particularly during Buddha's Birthday celebrations when the complex is decorated with paper lanterns.

It honors Haesu Gwaneum Daebul, the Sea Goddess Buddha of Mercy, who is an aspect of Guanyin.

Haedong Yonggung Temple map.
The temple complex is a large one and one of few in Korea to be set on the seaside.


Guardian lion.
Chinese guardian lions, or imperial guardian lions, are a traditional Chinese architectural ornament, but the origins lie deep in much older Indian Buddhist traditions.

  • Typically made of stone, they are also known as stone lions or shishi. They are known in colloquial English as lion dogs or foo dogs / fu dogs.
  • The concept, which originated and became popular in Chinese Buddhism, features a pair of highly stylized lions—often one male with a ball which represents the material elements and one female with a cub—which represents the element of spirit, were thought to protect the building from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people that might be a threat.
  • Used in imperial Chinese palaces and tombs, the lions subsequently spread to other parts of Asia including Japan, Korea, Philippines, Tibet, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia.

Zodiac park.
There are 12 animals in the Korean Zodiac. These are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

  • The year of an animal repeats every twelve years, and it follows the order of the animals listed above.
  • The Chinese zodiac is a traditional classification scheme based on the Chinese calendar that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle. Originating from China, the zodiac and its variations remain popular in many East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand.
  • See more at Chinese zodiac - Wikipedia.

Dragon-headed Bixi with a stele.
Bixi, or Bi Xi (Wade–Giles: Pi-hsi), is a figure from Chinese mythology. One of the 9 sons of the Dragon King, he is depicted as a dragon with the shell of a turtle. Stone sculptures of Bixi have been used in Chinese culture for centuries as a decorative plinth for commemorative steles and tablets.

  • Sculptures of Bixi are traditionally rubbed for good luck, which can cause conservation issues.
  • They can be found throughout East Asia and the Russian Far East.
  • See more at Bixi - Wikipedia.

Bodhidharma statue.
Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch.

  • He is known as Damo in China, as Dalma in Korea and as Daruma in Japan. His name means "dharma of awakening (bodhi)" in Sanskrit.
  • Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as an ill-tempered, large-nosed, profusely-bearded, wide-eyed non-Chinese person. He is referred to as "The Blue-Eyed Barbarian" in Chan texts.
  • Bodhidharma's teachings and practice centered on meditation and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra.
  • See more at Bodhidharma - Wikipedia.

Guanyin relief.
Guanyin is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara and has been adopted by other Eastern religions. In Korean, Guanyin is called Gwan-eum or Gwanse-eum.

  • She was first given the appellation "Goddess of Mercy" or "Mercy Goddess" by Jesuit missionaries in China.
  • Guanyin's abode and in India is recorded as being on Mount Potalaka. With the localization of the belief in Guanyin, each area adopted their own Potalaka. In Chinese Buddhism, Mount Putuo is considered the abode of Guanyin. Naksansa is considered to be the Potalaka of Guanyin in Korea. Japan's Potalaka is located at Fudarakusan-ji. Tibet's Potalaka is the Potala Palace.
  • There are several pilgrimage centers for Guanyin in East Asia. Putuoshan is the main pilgrimage site in China. There is a 33 temple Guanyin pilgrimage in Korea which includes Naksansa.
  • See more at Guanyin - Wikipedia.

Traffic safety prayer pagoda.
At the base of this pagoda is a car wheel sculpture with a sign saying “Traffic Safety Prayer Pagoda”.

  • This is a place for people to stop and pray for safety while driving and to avoid any automobile accidents.

Dol hareubang.
Dol hareubangs, also called tol harubangs, hareubangs, or harubangs, are large rock statues found on Jeju Island off the southern tip of South Korea. They are considered to be gods offering both protection and fertility and were placed outside of gates for protection against demons travelling between realities.

  • Dol hareubangs are carved from porous basalt (volcanic rock) and can be up to three metres high.
  • The statues' faces feature grinning expressions, bulging eyes without pupils, a long, broad nose, and slight smile, and their hands rest on their bellies, one slightly above the other.
  • The hat is commonly described as phallic or mushroom-like.
  • See more at Dol hareubang - Wikipedia.

Gate with two guardian dragons.
The sign at the gate reads: «The Dragon of East Sea Temple».

  • Ao Guang is the Dragon King of the East Sea in Chinese folklore.
  • In the tale of The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, the Queen Mother of the West extends an invitation to the Eight Immortals to attend the Conference of the Magical Peach. As they cross the ocean, they encounter a confrontation with the Dragon King of the East Sea, which escalates into a fierce dispute between the two sides. Eventually, the Eight Immortals and their companions employ the power of their talismans, emerging victorious and successfully completing their journey across the sea.
  • See more at Ao Guang - Wikipedia.

Budai statue.
Budai (Chinese: Budai; Korean: Podae; Japanese: Hotei; Vietnamese: Bo Dai) was a Chinese monk who is often identified with and venerated as Maitreya Buddha in Chan Buddhism. With the spread of Chan Buddhism, he also came to be venerated in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.

  • He is said to have lived around the 10th century CE in the Wuyue kingdom.
  • His name literally means "cloth sack", and refers to the bag that he is conventionally depicted as carrying as he wanders aimlessly.
  • His jolly nature, humorous personality, and eccentric lifestyle distinguish him from most Buddhist masters or figures. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the "Laughing Buddha".
  • As he is traditionally depicted as overweight and many stories surrounding Budai involve his love of food and drink, he is also referred to as the "Fat Buddha", especially in the Western world.
  • See more at Budai - Wikipedia.

Descending towards the temple.
To get to the Dragon of East Sea Temple we have to go through the Dragon Cave.

  • The "belly of the whale" represents the final separation from the hero's known world and self. By entering this stage, the person shows a willingness to undergo a metamorphosis.
  • The road of trials is a series of tests that the hero must undergo to begin the transformation.
  • See more at Hero's journey - Wikipedia.

    • Statue of Buddha for Academic Achievement.

    Continuing down towards the temple.
    Down the lantern lined 108 steps that represent the 108 agonies of earthly desire of Buddhism, visitors come to a bridge that leads to the main temple complex.

    • Zen priests wear juzu (a ring of prayer beads) around their wrists, which consists of 108 beads.
    • In Japan, at the end of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations (Kleshas) a person must overcome to achieve nirvana.
    • Kleshas in Buddhism, are mental states that cloud the mind and manifest in unwholesome actions. Kleshas include states of mind such as anxiety, fear, anger, jealousy, desire, depression, etc. Contemporary translators use a variety of English words to translate the term kleshas, such as: afflictions, defilements, destructive emotions, disturbing emotions, negative emotions, mind poisons, and neuroses.
    • All Buddhist schools teach that through Tranquility (Samatha) meditation the kilesas are pacified, though not eradicated, and through Insight (Vipassana) the true nature of the kilesas and the mind itself is understood. When the empty nature of the Self and the Mind is fully understood, there is no longer a root for the disturbing emotions to be attached to, and the disturbing emotions lose their power to distract the mind.
    • See more at Kleshas (Buddhism) - Wikipedia.

    Buddha calling the Earth goddess to witness.
    Buddha holds his right hand downward in the earth-touching gesture (bhumisparsha mudra) with which he calls the Earth goddess to affirm that he is entitled to attain enlightenment following his triumph over Mara, the destroyer.

    • The sign reads: «Buddha of the Two Perfumes». On the left and right side of this statue are a male juniper tree and a female juniper tree.
    • The bhūmisparśa or "earth witness" mudra of Gautama Buddha is one of the most common iconic images of Buddhism. Other names include "Buddha calling the earth to witness", and "earth-touching". It depicts the story from Buddhist legend of the moment when Buddha attained complete enlightenment, with Buddha sitting in meditation with his left hand, palm upright, in his lap, and his right hand touching the earth. In the legend, Buddha was challenged by the evil one, Mara, who argue for a witness to attest his right to achieve it. In response to Mara, Buddha touched the ground, and Phra Mae Thorani, the earth goddess, appeared to be the witnesses for the Buddha's enlightenment.
    • See more at Bhūmisparśa Mudrā - Wikipedia.

    Temple footbridge.
    The crossing over the bridge symbolizes the journey between the mortal world into the afterlife, and the cleansing of one’s worldly burdens that follow. Through this journey, the individual experiences a symbolic sense of purity, inner peace and a unity with nature.

    • With the rising influence of Zen, crossing the bridge was also interpreted in a broader spiritual sense that placed more emphasis upon the journey between the world of man and the world of nature.

    Ksitigarbha statue.
    Ksitigarbha (Chinese: Dizang; Japanese: Jizo; Korean: Jijang; Vietnamese: Dia Tang, Tibetan: sa yi snying po) is a bodhisattva primarily revered in East Asian Buddhism and usually depicted as a Buddhist monk.

    • Ksitigarbha is known for his vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six worlds between the death of Gautama Buddha and the rise of Maitreya, as well as his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied.
    • He is therefore often regarded as the bodhisattva of hell-beings, as well as the guardian of children and patron deity of deceased children and aborted fetuses in Japanese culture.
    • Usually depicted as a monk with a halo around his shaved head, he carries a staff to force open the gates of hell and a wish-fulfilling jewel to light up the darkness.
    • See more at Kṣitigarbha - Wikipedia.

    And we continued to descend further.

    On the riverbed.
    On the right side of the bridge, you’ll see a few stone ponds along with quite a few different statues.

    • These stone ponds are a popular spot for people to toss coins into the water and make a wish. They say that if your coin makes it into one of the stone mugs, your wish will come true.

    Statue of Nio at the entrance to the temple.
    Nio are two wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in East Asian Buddhism in the form of frightening wrestler-like statues.

    • They are dharmapala manifestations of the bodhisattva Vajrapani, the oldest and most powerful of the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon.
    • See more at Nio - Wikipedia.

    Dragon King of the East Sea.
    Ao Guang is the Dragon King of the East Sea in Chinese folklore.

    • He featured prominently in different works including Fengshen Yanyi and Journey to the West.
    • See more at Ao Guang - Wikipedia.

    Receiving explanations.
    Eric Bouteloup explains the importance of Haedong Yonggung Temple.


    Main hall.

    Inside the main hall.
    In the interior of the main hall, you’ll find a triad of statues under a large red canopy (datjib). In the centre sits Sakyamuni (the Historical Buddha). This statue is joined on either side by Bhaisajyaguru (the Medicine Buddha) and Amitabha (the Buddha of the Western Paradise).

    • Sakyamuni is one of the most common epithets of Gautama Buddha, especially in the Mahayana traditions, where the name Sakyamuni is used to distinguish the historical buddha from the myriad other buddhas who appear in the Sutras.
    • Bhaisajyaguru is the Buddha of healing and medicine in Mahayana Buddhism. Commonly referred to as the "Medicine Buddha", he is described as a doctor who cures suffering using the medicine of his teachings.
    • Amitabha is the buddha of comprehensive love. He lives in the West (represented as a meditating Buddha) and works for the enlightenment of all beings (represented as a blessing Buddha). His most important enlightenment technique is the visualization of the surrounding world as a paradise. Those who see his world as a paradise awaken his enlightenment energy. The world can be seen as a paradise by a corresponding positive thought (enlightenment thought) or by sending light to all beings (wish all beings to be happy).
    • These three Buddhas are depicted in traditional Chinese temple halls: Gautama Buddha (Shakyamuni), Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and Amitabha Buddha.

    Golden Budai statue.
    Budai (Chinese: Budai; Korean: Podae; Japanese: Hotei; Vietnamese: Bo Dai) was a Chinese monk who is often identified with and venerated as Maitreya Buddha in Chan Buddhism. With the spread of Chan Buddhism, he also came to be venerated in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.

    • Budai was one of several "uncommitted saints" that became incorporated into the Chan pantheon.
    • Similar "eccentric" figures from the lamp histories were never officially inducted or appropriated into the Chan patriarchal line.
    • Instead, these obscure figures represented the "special transmission" that occurred during the early to mid 12th century.
    • This transmission did not rely on patriarchal lineage legitimacy but instead used the peculiar personalities and qualities of various folkloric figures to illustrate the Chan tradition's new commitment to the idea of "awakening" and the propagation of Chan to a larger congregation.
    • See more at Budai - Wikipedia.

    Dragon King shrine.

    Towards Guanyin.
    Entrance to the stairs that give access to the great statue of Guanyin that is found on the side of the hill.

    • The serenely smiling Bodhisattva is situated up a set of uneven stairs.
    • This towering statue is known as the Haesu Gwaneeum Daebo, which means “Sea Water Bodhisattva of Compassion Statue,” in English.
    • On all sides, the Bodhisattva is surrounded by shrubbery and slender monk statues.
    • It’s also from these heights that you get a breath-taking view of both the temple and the sea. So take your time and enjoy the view, you’ve earned it!

    Worshiping the Buddha under the Bodhi tree.
    The Bodhi Tree ("tree of awakening"), also called the Mahabodhi Tree, Bo Tree, is a large sacred fig tree located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who became known as the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment or buddhahood circa 500 BCE under this tree.

    • In religious iconography, the Bodhi Tree is recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed.
    • According to Buddhist texts, the Buddha meditated without moving from his seat for seven weeks (49 days) under this tree.
    • See more at Bodhi Tree - Wikipedia.

    Reclining Buddha.
    A reclining Buddha is an image that represents Buddha lying down and is a major iconographic theme in Buddhist art. It represents the historical Buddha during his last illness, about to enter the parinirvana. He is lying on his right side, his head resting on a cushion or relying on his right elbow, supporting his head with his hand.

    • This pattern seems to have emerged at the same time as other representations of the Buddha in the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.
    • See more at Reclining Buddha - Wikipedia.

    Small shrine.
    Small shrine flanked by two lanterns.


    Three-story stone pagoda.
    Three-story stone pagoda with four lions at its base.

    • These four lions are mean to symbolize the four basic human emotions: love, sorrow, anger, and joy.

    Cave hall.
    The cave hall in front of the Daxiong Hall is called the Maitreya Hall. It enshrines the Maitreya seated stone Buddha that has existed since the temple was founded.

    • Maitreya or Metteyya, also Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha, is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology.
    • In all branches of Buddhism, he is viewed as the direct successor of Gautama Buddha.
    • Despite many religious figures and spiritual leaders claiming to be Maitreya throughout history, all Buddhists firmly agree that these were false claims, indicating that Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, is yet to appear.
    • See more at Maitreya - Wikipedia.

    Leaving Haedong Yonggung Temple.

    See also

    Source

    Location

    Location: 86 Yonggung-gil, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea