One gorgeous Saturday the Tighes took us to The Three Sages Palace, also known as Samseonggung. It was amazingly beautiful, rendering lots of pictures.
Along the way we pulled into a little lot to check directions. I started to walk the dogs around the corner of a building until this lady came running out, waving her arms and telling me "onyo, onyo!" (no) My first reaction was an eye roll; these darn people who are scared of dogs. But this lady led us around the corner. Her doggy had puppies and she didn't want my dogs to hurt them. The puppies were precious and so was the lady!
After some puppy snuggles we got back on track and made it to The Three Sages Palace. The area is called the Azure Crane Village, hence the big blue bird at the base.
It's called the Three Sages because it pays homage to the three mythical founders of Korea:
•Hwanin - portrayed as the Emperor of Heaven himself
•Hwanung - Hwanin's son who came to earth to bring civilized government and benefit humanity
•Dangun - the son of Hwanung and the woman who transformed from a bear; Dangun founded the first Korean kingdom
Remember that story? Samseonggung shrine was created in 1983 by a Taoist priest whose family has lived in the region for hundreds of years, so it's not that old. It is still undergoing additional construction and updating.
There are lots of stone and wood Jangseung totem poles and Bansadap Guardian Mounds of rocks also called doltap. These are conical stone pyramids. There are several wooden totem poles and around 1500 stone pyramids. It is said that these Jangseungs and doltaps were erected to ward off evil spirits.
I felt like I was entering the secret garden.
Check out this hunka burnin love.
Aren't all those stones precisely placed pretty cool looking? Standing below and taking in the ambiance is Zeke, Susie, Daisy, Eli and Samson.
At the bottom are lots of stone carvings. I'm guessing they have to do with the father/son/bear story.
So many tiny rocks inside the small rocks in-between the large rocks.
The waterfalls were a beautiful addition to the manmade art.
This was a little island with a big rock standing in the middle. I thought it looked like the great state of Texas.
It looks accessible since there is a bridge but we couldn't figure out how to get there.
Zekers found a way across!
Marveling the inside of a huge wooden tipi.
Hanging with a couple of my favorites.
Daisy, Susie, Samson, Eli, Frito and Zeke
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Lijee was adding a stone to one of those bowl type things in the wall.
The Three Sages Palace is one off my favorite places to visit here in southern South Korea. There is something eye catching around every turn.
[October 9]
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