20170831
close shot of a drum
After looking at the main building of Donghaksa, I looked around the temple once more. It was my 5 or 6th visiting of Donghaksa.
It was my college freshman years when I visited Donghaksa at first. I met some friends in college, we visited one of my friends' home. His home town was DaeJeon. We were welcomed by his parents. Eventhough more than 30 years have passed, I stil vividly remember his mom and dad. Alas, I heard they passed away some years ago.
It was winter vacation when we had visited Daejeon.
At that time we were 18 years old. His daddy recommended to visit the Donghaksa Temple. He was a fervent Buddhist.
I remember it took a long time to get to the Donghaksa Temple from his home due to the inconvenience of traffic, even though Donghaksa Temple was not far from DaeJeon.
Any way we got up early in the morning, we looked around the temple and climbed the Mt. Gyeryong in a day. There was nobody on the road when we returned from summit to the temple . At that time I heard the soft sound of the Bell and the Drum from far away.
The sound came from a Buddhist Bell Tower. At the Bell Tower, 5-6 Buddhist nuns were hitting the Bell and the Drum in the sunset. That sound permeated into my heart. It was one of the most beautiful moment I ever have experienced in my life.
Every thing is changing. The Bell Tower seemed to be changed also. What made me disappointed was the convenient store of the first story of the Bell Tower.
Fortunately, the Bell and the Drum have not been changed so much.
Donghaksa temple bell tower is very special, because this bell tower has more instruments than other temple. Normaly common temple has a bell only. Even Ghilsangsa temple whrere I had posted already has one bell too.
I don't know exactly what these instruments mean. But Donghaksa bell tower is unique in composition of the instruements.
Drawings on the Drum was so impressive.
Wooden Fish was also impressive.
In Buddhist temple, the sound of the bell and drum mean a teaching of Buddha. By hitting the Bell and the Drum, they could spread Buddha's teaching to everything in the world, so every creatures weather plants or animals could get chance to study Buddha's teaching.
May be the wooden fish was made for the fishes to attain 'Dao'
One of characteristics of the bell tower is the carved drangon. It was first time I had seen dragon sculptures in the bell tower. 4 Dragon sculptures were carved under the roof at the top of the main poles. The Dragon means the vehicle animal for Kannon Bodhisattva (Goddess of Mercy) in Buddhism.
Thank you for reading.
@slowwalker
You post such beautiful works of art and history for us on Steemit.
It is easy to see how you are ranked and rated a top Steemit poster.
I would like to be able to do as well as you do.
But, I will never give up. With Steemit members such as you helping me.
I have to be have some success eventually.
Thank you for your support and beautiful works that you add to Steemit.
You are helping Steemit to be the best.
Francis
Thank you for reading.
I wish your success in Steemit
awesome post, very well written, beautiful pictures and interesting story, highly appreciated man. upvoted
please visit my new post if possible thanks :)
https://steemit.com/life/@applesspatrick/shaken-by-earthquake-buried-by-landslide-and-swept-by-the-flood-a-ghost-town-in-the-border
Why not ?
I read your posting.
BE STRONG
a lovely post for a today, @slowwalker.
From afar, you heard the distant sound of the bell and drum and it spoke to your heart.
It was a sacred moment, my friend, and it stirred in you the natural religiosity of youth, and the feeling has never left you.
As usual in your art there is the tension of opposites--in this case, your sacred memory of the bell tower and the tawdry convenience store now housed in the lower floor.
Your photos of the Buddhist art and sculpture were beautiful, @slowwalker, and very reverent.
Day after day you post dispassionately about the life you observe around you, but today you were touched with melancholy at recalling a a golden moment of youth, now tarnished by crass commercialism.
But whether or not the bell tower survives, that bell and drum will forever sound inside you, my friend, and no evil fate can ever take that away from you.
A good post, @slowwalker
Thank you for your comment
Your interpretation is much better than my posting.
You comment that I couldn't express
I'm an English writer, @slowwalker -You do very well. I couldn't say much more than thank you in Korean. 고맙습니다 :)
thx for sharing
Certainly an unforgettable experience
i like very much Buddhist temple !!! thanks
Thank you
There is nothing more beautiful in this world than when we are close to God. Nice @slowwalker :)
You are right
I really like the dragon photos you share, so interesting. I also like your principle that is different from others ie make the date of posting at the beginning of your writing.
Good job @slowwalker 😊
Have a nice day.^^
Thank you so much
You are welcome.^^
I hope I can visit there someday!
What a lovely post you did.
It looks like a magical gate or portal to different universe in the middle of the woods. Haha. Yeah, but honestly.
Regards,
Mike
if you have time, check my latest post. thanks! Im new on Steemit. Cheers!
Thank you
It is sad that the first floor of the tower is now a store. I am happy that you have the memories of what it was like before this drastic change. Now that you have shared those memories with all of us and they are on the blockchain, they will never be forgotten.
Looks like we are on the same schedule again. I just posted as well.
I had the same exact thoughts on this as well. Great shots, that artwork is just incredible too.
Thank you
Lol
the timing was same. Let ' do it again
so beautiful it is ! it deserves a respectful visit... :)
You are right
:)
Not all change is for the better, but still a beautiful place!
Incredible shots, I just love how ornate the temples are.
Such a beautiful temple! Watching the paintings, their colors and the subjects make me feel good! The wooden Fish is very impressive, it's a wonderful piece of art.
Yes wooden fish is special
Thank you for reading
Beautiful art my friend @slowwalker.
I really interisting about korea culture.
😘😘😘😘
You will like korean culture
Of course my friend.!!!
WOW Nice memory the temple is cute and the story reminds me of my first day at school you it was a great day to you then Nice post and photos.
Thank you so much
An interesting story, thank you for sharing your life experience with us. I like every post you always talk about the history and uniqueness of your country.. @slowwalker
Beautiful work of art in the temple.
Great temple is korea .very nice location.thanks for the posting.100% like and resteem
cool photos
This is creepy and amazing at the same time!
Up and resteemed!
Thank you so much for
Great to see your content again
very nice photography is korean temple. looking post.
Nice post loved to hear you went back after so many years, the temple is beautiful even with that dumb convenience store there
Im impressed at how you continuously visit historic places in your country.
impressive dragons in this korean temple, i thought this kind of dragons are chinese but seems its more asian style :)
Nice shots and introduction!
very nice place
Very beautiful and clear pictures. I love the roof of the tower and all the amazing trees. Great post :)
All the pics are nicely taken.
I love the huge bell...
Very interesting post and beautiful pictures. I had always wondered the significance of the dragon. Thanks for sharing your culture with us.
Very very mice story about culture.., i am always follow your post..always interesting post.., nice beel in the temple
I love paintings on walls and whole building :) Never understood : why dragons ? East culture always use them in paintings and architecture..... Nice post ;p, i liked it very much ;3 If you guys don't mind ill put my article here, maybe you got interested and check it ;). My article is here! Come join me, im glad to see new faces :) Thank you again for post :3 I'll resteem it ;)
From your interpretation i can say that Dongkasa is one of spiritual place which has unique history. Carved object revealed that all about the temple is so special and carved by the carve expert.
@Hi slowwalker! If found your post very interesting again. I love the dragon on that drum. That design and artwork on those houses are really awesome! I'm looking forward to visit such places soon :)
Really want to visit this place!!!👍
The painting is very remarkable @slowwal
Such good photography and depiction, thank you very much for a great post! @slowwalker
Incredibly beautiful! The dragon looks extraordinary. Always been your admirere @slowwalker. Steemit has been a great platform to get connected with everyone! Thanks for taking us to your beautiful country. It feels great to see your journey Always 😊
I love the colors of the painting. The feeling I had gotten when I had visited there is significantly different from the feeling I got from your photos, since I've never visited Dong Hak Sa temple during the day time.
That tower is gorgeous and full of beautiful memories. I'm glad you shared them with us
great ariticles . My parents live in gongju. Someday I wannt to go donghaksa..
Ah followed..
That is beautiful decorative painting, @slowwalker
I love the dragon. Thanks for sharing nice photos. :)
Wow 30 years before you visited this place! Really impressive!
It's sad to see that they made a store on the first storey, but as you said many things have changed and i'm sure many will change with more time!
The carvings are simply outstanding my friend!
Thanks again for such a nice tour.
@progressivechef
These decorations and paintings are very special. The fruit of an artistic wisdom that is being handed down over time ... Very interesting
beautiful architecture !
nice photos my friend !!
Fascinating, and very nice images. The people that built that really liked bright colors, didn't they? It looks like that bell tower gets a lot of visitors, too. Any idea how long it took them to build it? Very nice article!