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Start
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Sogongwon
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Seorak Mountain
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Sinhungsa
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Heundeulbawi
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Ulsanbawi
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Sunrise Park
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Naksansa-1
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Naksansa-2
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Naksansa-3
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Baked Fish
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Jungang Market
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Tourist Hotel
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Gaetbae(ferry) Quay
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Abai Village
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Sindasin Restaurant
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Lighthouse Observatory
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ports
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Beach
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Cheongchoho Lake
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Finish
Sinheungsa Temple
After our walk in Sogongwon on a day that even one red leaf on the street makes us appreciate the scent of autumn, we started to walk along Oeseorak trail.
The first thing that welcomed us was Sinheungsa(Temple), the reason for the unexpected admission fee. As we went right past Iljumun Gate(One Pillar Gate), a few buildings along with a big wide square showed up.
A statue of the Buddha that was much taller than the buildings caught my eyes first. Around the poker-faced Buddha statue on lotus, the air was full of fragrance of incense even if it's outside.
This is called Tongildaebul(統一大佛) for it was built to wish for unification of Korea and it also represents Sinheungsa on Mt. Seorak.
Thanks to that, so many Buddhists pray here and it's known that 3 relics of real Buddha, dharani(The Great Compassion Mantra), and clothings like Seven Treasures are buried inside this special Buddha statue here.
I happened to know the reason why Tongildaebul is so special, thanks to the writings on signboard. It was special because Buddhist sanctuary exists in the body of Buddha statue??
We turned around the Buddha statue and saw a small entrance to underground, and we found other statues of Buddha along with Buddhist sanctuary at the exact same location with outer Buddhist statue.
I couldn't get inside as a non-Buddhist considering this is holy religious place. It was never because we had to take off our shoes at the entrance to underground.
After a short visit to Tongildaebul and Buddhist sanctuary underground, this way leads to the center of this temple. We met a small wooden bridge. The water was dried up under the bridge but stagnant water in several spots looked so cold and clean.
And it has a great view, probably best around this area, since you can see the scenery everywhere of Mt. Seorak when you lift your chin up on this bridge.
Ulsanbawi to the north was showing only a part of its body and the pointed rocks on the ridge of the mountain were lining up from the east end to the west end.
As we walked along stonewall walkway of the temple while we were appreciating the views, we finally saw the entrance to the temple, the Four Devas(four heavenly guardians of Buddhism).
The phrases related to Buddhism were written on the pillar that supports Bojeru. These phrases make us find enlightenment to look our past regardless what religion we have.
Right after we pass Bojeru, we saw Geungnakbojeon Hall, the center building of the temple. Sinheungsa known to exist since the period of Three States has something to do with Hyangseongsaji Three Story Stone Tower that used to stand alone at the entrance to parking lot of Sogongwon.
Approximately 1,400 years ago, Jajangyulsa from Silla built a tower with Buddha's relics buried inside and named the first temple as Hyangseongsa but it was burned in an accident, and then Grandmaster Buddhism monk Uisang rebuilt and named it as Seonjeongsa but it was renamed as Sinheungsa in Joseon Dynasty era. As much it has a long history, it also has many stories to tell.
Inside Beomjonggak with half-hipped roof, there's a bell which is a masterpiece of Buddhist temple bells made in Joseon Dynasty era that is a valuable asset to study history of Buddhist temple bells in Korea.
And then a monk was in a hurry to walk out of Samseonggak that signifies Korean Buddhism, which is Buddhism combined with popular belief.
We looked around the temple and relived our thirst with water spurting out of scary stone statue. Water stone building was full of coins that people threw while they make a wish.
You can see fountains with coins inside easily, probably in any famous places in any country, but it makes me happy to see people be happy with just a coin.
If I have to make one wish, I would like to get to Heundeulbawi on someone's back like that kid but if I made a wish like that, I would see myself carrying a child on my back someday right? lol
After we quenched our thirst, we looked at the beautiful scenery among roofs of the temple and started to head to our next destination after we realized there's still long way to go.
Address: 170, Seorak-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
Telephone: 033-636-7393
Admission Fee:
Website: click
