From Whales to Buddhist Temples
Name of building: Seongnamsa Temple
Architect/Designer: Monk Doui
Date/year: Founded in 824 CE during the Silla period; destroyed during the Japanese invasions (1592–1598) and rebuilt in 1674
Materials: Stone, wood, roof tiles, and traditional Korean decorative painting
Location: 557 Seongnam-ro, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, South Korea.
The murals on the walls and every detail of the building almost made me want to convert to Buddhism. The temple itself made me feel as though I could reach Nirvana. Even the pagoda’s cold stone felt mysterious and magical because of the atmosphere surrounding it.
I came to Ulsan to visit the Jangsaengpo Whale Museum when I was ten. When I was younger, I would become fascinated with something new every year, and whales were one of those interests. However, my dad hadn’t checked the museum’s schedule, and we arrived on the day it was closed. Instead of heading back, we decided to visit a temple to pray for a good school year. The door decorated with intimidating guardian figures was so cool that I stood at the entrance for a while before going inside. I have always loved East Asian artwork that gives me a strong Buddhist vibe.
The weather was devastatingly cold, but as I entered the temple grounds, the sunlight was so intense it almost blinded me, making it hard to take in the building's full details. My mom called me inside to pray for our family. Once inside, I smelled the candles, and it was really dark; unlike outside, the calm mood and meditation made the temple feel even more fascinating. I was truly amazed by the murals surrounding me, with a statue of Buddha at the center. I became so absorbed in observing the paintings that I even forgot I had come to pray. The temple’s exterior was just as interesting, especially its intricate roof patterns. I wasn’t sure whether combining so many bold colors would look good, but the vivid green, blue, yellow, and red made the building look beautiful and distinctly Korean. These colors were so different from the palettes I usually used in elementary school, yet together, they created a rich sense of cultural identity.
Behind the temple’s main grounds stood Daeungjeon, or the “Great Hero Hall.” The hall features paintings depicting the Eight Scenes of the Historical Buddha’s Life. I found these depictions incredibly intriguing because they transformed the walls into more than just decorative surfaces; they told stories about Buddha’s life and teachings. The paintings made me want to look more closely at every detail, as though each image held a meaning waiting to be discovered.
The Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598) destroyed Seongnamsa Temple, and it was rebuilt in 1674, during the fifteenth year of King Hyeonjong’s reign. Since then, it has been rebuilt several times. Knowing that the temple had endured destruction and reconstruction made me appreciate its architecture even more. The building was not simply beautiful; it also carried traces of Korea’s history and cultural heritage.
Even on the way home, I couldn’t shake the lingering impression the temple had left on me. I was so fascinated by its architecture that I bought books about the features and designs of traditional buildings, including temples I hadn’t been able to visit. What began as a failed trip to a whale museum turned into an unexpected encounter with Korean Buddhist art and architecture, one that left me wanting to discover more.
References
Comments