Jirisan Mountain has some of the most beautiful leaves in the country, and 삼성궁 Samseonggung is one of the most beautiful spots in the country, so what a day!
A couple years ago we visited here and it is one of my favorite spots. The rock displays along the 3 mile course are man-made, and the attention to detail and the amount of work put in is amazing. Add the autumn foliage and it's a sight to see.
Look at all these beautiful fall colors!
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| Trish, Chuey, Ashlee and Laura |
Samseonggung was created by a Taoist priest named 한풀선사 Hanpulseonsa, who claims his family has ancestral ties to this land for the past 400 years. He began this work in 1983. His teacher recommended he create a well from which "the Korean people's spirit comes out like a spring." His aim was to recreate a sacred site from the 고조선 Gojoseon period celebrating the creation of what is known today as Korea.
Samseonggung is a place where the people practiced courtesy and truth. It claims to be called the "number one sacred place in the east" because many talented people studied and lived here. The group practices the arts of Chinese Confucianism.
The cross-legged figure below is 'The Grandson of Heaven.'
'The Three Sages' is an English translation for Samseonggung. The name derives from the legend of the three founders of Korea. 환인 Hwanin is known as the Emperor of Heaven, his son 환웅 Hwanung is said to have descended to earth to bring civilized government to humanity, and 단군황검 Dangunwangeom, the half-human/half-divine grandson, founded the first Korean kingdom called Gojoseon. Dangun is said to have ruled from 2333 BC for 1900 years.
The grounds consist of waterfalls, natural and man-made ponds, stone walls, sculptures, arches, totem poles, stone pyramids, and shrines. It is set up in a large circle, and something different and unique sits behind every turn.
This rock is shaped like Texas.
More than 1500 stone pyramids at Samseonggung called 방사답 bangsadap are thought to repel evil.
This is the ceiling of the penis tunnel (my name, not an official name). I am guessing it has something to do with fertility, but all the pictures of the little men have penises poking out.
I am sure this wooden teepee has some significance, but I haven't found any information explaining it.
장선 Jangseung totem poles are placed on the grounds to ward off evil spirits.
When we visited a couple years ago this pond area was just land being bulldozed. It turned out beautifully.
천궁 Cheongung is the name of the main Shrine Hall of the Three Sages, and the name means Heavenly Celestial Palace. Every year the creator of Samseonggung holds a ritual to commemorate the day when Dangunwangeom founded Gojoseon.
The altars honor the three heavenly founders, with the nearest for Hwanung, the center for Hwanin, and far right for Dangun.
This pond is new. It looks pretty muddy now, but I bet as it ages it becomes a beautiful turquoise like the other one. My guess is that it's supposed to be in the shape of a heart, because Korea loves hearts and love all things related.
This pond is made in the shape of a comma, so it's called Jade Comma Pond. Many people have assumed the meaning behind this odd shape as an embryo, a fetus, and one half of a yin yang symbol. All of those meanings have ancient Korean ties.
There is a little restaurant at the base. Any good restaurant has kimchi pots.
Let it be known that I will actually eat Korean food. I can't say I love it, but I will eat it.
A lovely day with red, orange and yellow leaves amongst lots of cool structures.
[November 5]
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