HWAEOMSA TEMPLE

This beautiful temple happens to be one of the ten largest in Korea. It has the advantage of being located in a magnificent setting amidst pine, camellia and bamboo forests. Its history is very old since it was founded by the monk Yeongi in the 22nd year of the reign of King Seong of Baekje (544). Later, in 640, the famous monk Uisang enlarged it and named it Hwaeomsa, "the Temple of the Garland of Flowers", after the sutra and sect of the same name. He had indeed brought this new school from China and made Hwaeomsa one of his centres. There he built the huge Jang-yukjeon hall, which had 3 floors and 7 rooms. It was surrounded by the stone Tripitaka engraved under Silla, which was destroyed, like the hall and most of the buildings, during the Japanese invasion of 1597. As early as 1630 the temple was rebuilt, and most of the present buildings date from this period.

The Jang-yukjeon was rebuilt in 1702 and took the name of Gakhwangjeon. It is 2 storeys high and its height is impressive, especially from the inside. It houses three huge Buddhas. This is one of the largest halls in Korea. Opposite it there is the largest stone lantern, 6.4 m high and dating from 870-873. Above Gakhwangjeon on the left is a beautiful 9th century stupa whose 3 floors rest on 4 carved lions. These 3 monuments are national treasures. Further down, in the courtyard, two 5-storey stone stupas date from the 9th century. The Bojeru Pavilion, built under King Injo and rebuilt in 1827, houses an exhibition and sale of works by the monks. Higher up, in the upper courtyard, the main hall dedicated to Vairocana, which is smaller than the Gakhwangjeon, is the oldest building and dates from 1630. The enigmatically expressed statue of Vairocana has behind it beautiful paintings dating from 1757. The calligraphic plate bearing the name of the hall dates from 1636. On the left is the Wontongjeon hall, which houses a beautiful canopy and xylography boards. In front is a sari pudo that rests on 4 lions and is said to date from the 9th century. Most of the buildings of this temple are not repainted, which adds to its charm. He also has many hermitages (7 in all) in the mountains. It is said that in the mountains around the temple there are still a few wild tea plants growing. The temple can be visited all year round with equal pleasure, whether in spring or autumn, when nature offers us its best.