There is one temple, hidden away, here in Kwanak-gu (Nakseongdae — Naksongdae Subway Station), called Gil-sang Sa (길상사) that is a fair, modern representative of how Buddhist temples are changing with the times in terms of building materials as well as reflecting a more modern sense of aesthetics in Buddhist artwork. The temple interior and the journey therein is a sort of experience that is different from the usual progression, from the gate guardians, to the various buildings found in a temple complex. Instead, one encounters images and a subtle combination of materials that are deliberately chosen so as to enhance meditation and the interior visualization that accompanies one on their inward journey.
Gil-sang Sa is a modern, working temple that houses a handful of female monks who perform various services for adherents as well as provide a social gathering place (art space) called 문화공간 지대방 (Ji-dae-bang) for people of all faiths and nationalities that wish to discuss art, philosophy or would just like to hang out after having hiked down Kwanak-san, where one trail ends right behind the temple. Their art space is a quiet place, designed for art showings and performances as well as serving various teas and coffee.
As a part of their performance series, the artspace recently featured the renowned classical Indian sitarist Ustad Usman Khan and Prakash Kandasamy on tablas. The Ji-dae-bang also features concerts of Korean music, as well as Jazz. Their artspace also periodically hosts artists, in a variety of media, and includes some very nice embroidery by the monks.
The temple also uses part of their artspace for tea or coffee, thus there is always something to enjoy when stopping by. For more directions to Gil-sang Sa, you can call 02-883-7354.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Better not to advertise it too much. The protestants will burn it. Idol worship and all that.
“Pohang”, you had better not post too much. Trolls and all that.
lol. Am I still a troll if it’s true?
http://freetruth.50webs.org/D4d.htm
It’s not actually true, though — what’s on that page is quite distorted / exaggerated — such things happen but quite rarely, not “regularly” as it says. When was the last time you actually heard about Christian convert burning down the Buddhist temple used to attend…? Me, never.
That page refers to the research of my old buddy Frank Tedesco, widely linked-to but well-more than a decade old, quite out-of-date for talking about Korea’s contemporary religious-social situation. There are really very few such incidents for an intensely religious country of almost 50,000,000 people. Multi-religious tolerance is actually very successful here, far more than in most nations. In the list of South Korea’s problems, this one doesn’t make the top hundred…
“Sanshinseon” is very much correct.
All people are welcome to visit the artspace for tea and coffee. The monks are very nice folks, indeed and the temple is worth a visit if one is interested in contemporary Buddhist temple art.
Sanshinseon:
Yes, that is an old link, you’re right. But I think this sort of behavior has continued, and I’d be interested in finding out whether it has increased or abated. I do remember hearing about a case of arson at a major temple as recently as last month, though, and I’m going to see if I can find the link.
I agree that Korea is relatively tolerant, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say this country is ‘intensely religious,’ given that a little less than 50% of the population identifies with either major religion(22% Buddist and 29% Christian), and that only a small portion of those would characterize themselves as having strong beliefs.
+++++++++++++++++++
R. Elgin: Great minds think alike, no?
And, having said this, you now assert that Sanshinseon is “very much correct” in his claim of tolerance, and label me a troll. Nice double-talk, if one is interested in contemporary examples of such.
Protestant intolerance is a problem, but it rarely manifests in violence — “rarely” for a population this size (of fairly high religiousity, compared to other OECD nations or to other NE Asian nations).
Temple buildings often burn because they’re made of wood and believers burn candles in them — always been a problem since Shilla — cases of Christian arson are quite infrequent, unless cover-up is far worse than i imagine. The Jogye Order has recently shown that they are most willing to make a political mtn out of any simple law-enforcement molehill — wouldn’t ya think they’d be raisin’ Karmic-Hell about it, if their Halls were being burned by the Jebusists?
Without sidetracking this thread any further, you are guilty of misdirection, “pohang”. While I did say such, it should be interpreted as meaning that, though many cases of arson, in temples, could be attributed to these sorts of mis-guided people, this does not mean — nor do I intend to imply — that there is a large amount of arson of Buddhist temples in Korea. Upon talking to various people who are connected to the care taking of temples, they have said that there is much more burglary of temples than arson and I don’t think anyone is getting their Jesus on by stealing from temples. This is also why many temples have put CCTV on-site.
Regarding religious tolerance here, despite the few examples of idiocy that crop up here or there, I have personally seen Buddhist monks and Catholic nuns spending time together, chatting in the friendliest manner possible, as good friends would. This is something that I’ve never seen anywhere else but here in Korea.
Yes, i’ve witnessed the Catholics and Buddhists getting along well also, particularly the nuns of both. Over cups of green tea, they find more that unites them that separates them. Protestants are different in that, unfortunately.
ANYway, thanks for the good temple-visiting tip, R. Elgin — i’ve never been to this Gilsang-sa (what a popular temple-name that is becoming!), will check it out some fine day.
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