South Korea – a beautiful country in the Eastern part of Asia. Just like its neighboring countries, it too has its own colorful historical and political past. Luckily, for both locals and tourists, some traces of the old world still exist today, one of which is that Changdeokgung Palace.

Historical Significance:
The Changdeokgung Palace or the “Palace of Prospering Value” is one of the original five grand palaces that were built during the Joseon Dynasty. Since its construction, it has played home to several rulers and has undergone several extensions and renovations through time.

One major event that affected the Changdeokgung is the Japanese invasion in 1592. This palace along with the five others was torched by the Japanese soldiers in an attempt to gain control of South Korea. Being the center of politics and commerce in Seoul, Changdeokgung was promptly rebuilt by King Seonjo and King Gwanghaegun. But that attack was just the first. It survived one more arson and revolt during that political era.

Despite several renovations and reconstructions, the Changdeokgung Palace remained true to its original design. To honor the architecture and the history behind the place, it has been proclaimed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites last 1997.

Tours:
Because of the size of the area, the arranged tours can last from one to one and half hours. You can get a guided tour from April to November at any day except for Mondays and Thursdays. If you do not speak the local language, you do not have to worry because an English guided tour can also be arranged.

Places to see:
1. Donhwamun Gate – the largest of all the palace gates that was built in 1412.
2. Injeongjeon Hall – the palace’s throne ball where major state affairs were held.
3. Huijeongdang Hall – originally, this was meant to be the king’s bedchamber, but later on converted to be his workplace where he conducted state affairs. The room now has a very modern, interior that is influenced by western countries.
4. Huwon Garden – a 78-acre garden that was originally made for the use of the royal family alone. This huge piece of land now houses over 26,000 or so specimens of flora and fauna. Some of the landscaped trees are even said to be approximately 3 centuries old.

Front View of Haeinsa Temple

Photo by: Caspian blue, Creative Commons

The Haeinsa Temple or “Temple of Reflection on a Smooth Sea” also belongs to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is one of the more important temples in Korea as it houses the historical Tripitaka Koreana – Buddhist scriptures that are carved into approximately 81,258 printing blocks. Those blocks have stayed in the Haeinsa Temple since 1398.

The construction of this temple has 2 legends. The first one mentions that Haeinsa was built in gratitude of Buddha’s mercy after two monks have successfully cured King Aejang’s wife.

The second legend by Choe Chi – Won accounts that the same monks have won the support of a wealthy dowager who converted her religion to Buddhism.

Just like other important structures in Korea, this temple has survived several political revolts and arsons. In fact, the structure that we see now is a result of no less than eight major reconstructions and renovations. This temple is located on the Gaya Mountain, south of the Gyeongsang Province.

Places to See:

1. Janggyeong Panjeon (also known as National Treasure Number 52)

This is the oldest part of the temple that holds one of Korea’s national treasures – the Tripitaka Koreana. Given the fact that this structure is mostly made of wood, it has miraculously survived fires and bombings during the Japanese and Korean Wars.

This storage facility is also one of the reasons why UNESCO included the temple in the list of World Heritage Sites. Its architects have found natural and ingenious ways to preserve the wooden blocks.

2. Daejeokkwangjeon (also known as the Hall of Great Silence)

This hall is special because it is mainly dedicated to Vairocana – the Buddha that is the embodiment of Dharmakaya who is one of the forming parts of the Trikaya doctrine.

Hourly tours are given to locals and foreigners who are interested to see the place. These can be arranged by contacting travel agencies that are locally based. Some of the guests are also given the option to stay overnight and appreciate the tranquility of the place at a meager rate. The stay is best recommended for people who wish to meditate and stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city even for just one night.

The Kyongbok Palace or the Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the Five Grand Palaces that were built during the Joseon Dynasty. In English, its name translates to “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.” This structure has been famous worldwide because of its sheer size and unique architecture.

Unfortunately, it is one of the historical sites that acquired much damage during the Japanese occupation. Up to this date, efforts are being done to somehow restore the palace’s old grandeur. Despite the ongoing reconstruction, this place remained to be one of the most visited places in South Korea.

Here is a list of some information about the Kyongbok Palace that you need to know.
• The main structure was constructed in 1934 by King Taejo – the founder of the famous Joseon Dynasty. Unfortunately, during the late 1500’s, a huge part of the palace was burnt down by the invading Japanese.
• After the Japanese invasion, Daewongun spearheaded the repair, reconstruction and expansion in 1867. At its completion, 330 buildings and 5,792 rooms made up the palace.
• Before the assassination of Empress Myeongseong, this palace was the home of the royalties of Korea. The trauma left by the assassination pushed the royal family to move into one of the other imperial palaces.
• The palace and the buildings are open to the public today. Visitors frequently visit it because it houses the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Korea until the displays were moved to Yongsan–gu last 2005.
• Apart from the museum, here are the other parts of the palace that you may want to visit.

Gangnyeongjeon Hall – The king’s main living and sleeping quarters, which used to have bedchambers that were laid out following a checkerboard pattern. While the king stayed in the middle chamber, he housed his attendants and bodyguards on each side for his convenience and added protection.
Geunjeongjeon Hall – This is the throne room where the king grants audience to his officials and advisers.
Gyeonghoeru Pavilion – This pavilion has been the venue for important state dinners and other significant gatherings. This structure is constructed in the middle of a rectangular man–made lake and it is currently depicted in the 10,000 won Korean banknote.

Mt. Sorak is the tallest mountain in the Taebaek Mountain range. It approximately takes a 15–minute drive from Seokcho City to reach the main entrance of the National Park. After the short drive, be ready to stretch your legs as they will become your main means of getting inside the facility.

Places to See
1. Yukdam and Biryeong Waterfalls located on the left side of the valley, these are two of the many breath taking sights that can be reached by walking approximately 40 minutes from the car park.

2. If you are up to more challenge, the view to look for next is the rock formation called “Ulsanbawi.” To see this, you have to climb 888 manmade steps up the mountain. The trek may feel like hell to your feet, but it may all be worth it. This is because on the way there, you will be able to pass interesting by two small temples and one more rock formation that the locals call Heundeulbawi. The Heundeulbawi is a 16–foot spherical rock that is mounted on another boulder.

3. Had enough? If you have not, there are two more things that you need to see: the Biseondae (a rock platform in a stream) and the Valley of a Thousand Buddhas. To reach both, you would have to walk a difficult trail towards the end of the Sorak Valley.

Best Time to Visit
According to locals, the best time to visit the place is during the autumn season. The view of the falling leaves and the colors that it brings with it is just absolutely stunning. The lack of rain during this season also guarantees a safer hike on the way to destinations.

What to Wear and Bring
Since you will be doing a lot of hiking and in turn sweating, it will be best for you to wear jogging pants, a light shirt and a jacket to serve as your protection from the sun, cold and insects. In terms of things to bring, you can put a change of shirt in your backpack, some energy bars and enough water supplies for hydration.

Built by the monk Uisin in the year 653, the structure was said to be dedicated to the Maitreya Buddhism a worship of a future Buddha who is awaited in the modern wall. During the Goryeo Dynasty, it played home to some 3,000 Buddhist monks. Its decline started in the Joseon dynasty when the rulers withdrew support from the religion.

Important sites to see:
1. Palsangjeon a wooden pagoda that was torched during the Imjin Invasion. To those who may not be familiar with it, Imjin is the collective term the locals use to refer to the Japanese invasion that lasted from 1592 to 1598.
Here is another cool trivia. Did you know that Bruce Lee originally chose the pagoda to be the location set of the movie “Game of Death”? He chose this because he wanted to use the five floors of the pagoda to represent the five types of martial arts. Unfortunately, he died before the film was even completed. Since the screenplay was changed after Bruce Lee’s death, the scene in the pagoda was edited out.

2. Another structure to visit is the Golden Maitreya statue that is approximately 33 meters tall. This is a recent addition as it was only completed last 1990. It was meant to replace an old and unsteady concrete structure.
The tall statue is originally made of bronze, but this was later on covered with gold leaf and powder.

3. The original 2.7 meter pot is another important sight to see. It was said that this same pot was used to cook approximately 80 sacks of rice that were enough to feed the 3,000 monks and some pilgrims.

4. The Daeungjeon Hall, this is known to house one of the largest Buddha Halls in the country. The statues found in this hall depict the three deities namely Vairocana, Sakyamuni, and Rochana.

One of the more important places of worship in Korea is the Pulguksa Temple (Bulguksa). This site is special because it houses seven of the following national treasures of South Korea:

1. Treasures Number 20 and 21
These are Dabotap and Seokgatap respectively. The Dabotap is said to be 10.4 meters tall and it was built during the year 751. This structure is special because the architecture of this stone pagoda is unlike any that is seen in any other Buddhist countries of its time.

Directly across the Dabotap is another pagoda called the Seokgatap. It is a structure that stands approximately 8.2 meters high. Compared to its counterpart, the Seokgatap is simpler and basic that emphasized the combination of three aesthetic elements namely: balance, stability and symmetry.

2. Treasure Number 22
The Yeonhwagyo and Chilbogyo are considered to be South Korea’s national treasure number 22. These two bridges rise into a 45–degree incline and lead to the Anyangmun (Peace Enhancing Gate) and Geuknakjeon (Hall of Pure Land) respectively.

3. Treasure Number 23
Like the previous treasure, number 23 is also a pair of bridges called Cheongungyo and Baegungyo, (Blue and White Cloud Bridge respectively). The steps of the two bridges combined are said to represent the 33 heavens of Buddhism.

4. Treasure Number 26
Number 26 is a seated Buddha statue that depicts Vairocana embodiment of the Buddhist concept of emptiness. This statue is 1.77 meters in height and is made of gilt–bronze material.

5. Treasure Number 27
Like number 26, the 27th national treasure is also another gilt–bronze Buddha, this time a depiction of the Amitabha Buddha.

6. Treasure Number 61
The sarira pagoda is known to be 61st treasure of South Korea. Situated on the front garden of Pulguksa, the sarira is often mistaken to be a stone lantern. This sarira is significant in the country’s history, as it is known to hold the remains of royalty and significant priests as well. Although it cannot be confirmed, rumor has it that the sarira displayed in Pulguksa, contains the remains of 8 queens and or priests.

If you were someone who knows South Korea by heart, then you would know that there are hundreds of Buddhist temples that are scattered all around the country. But despite their huge number, only a few only manage to stand out, one of which is the Bulguksa.

The Bulguksa Temple is special because it houses seven of South Korea’s national treasures, one of which is the 24th treasure called the Sokkuram (sometimes spelled as Seokguram). UNESCO recognized both structures in 1962 by adding them to the List of World Heritage Sites.

Here are more interesting information that you may want to discover about Sokkuram.
• It has been said that the original Sokkuram was commissioned by King Gyeongdeok of the Unified Silla (the conglomeration three main Kingdoms of Korea) in 742. Rumors say that the design was greatly influenced by several religious structures in India.
• This grotto depicts the image of Buddha that is constructed to symbolize the spiritual journey towards the Buddhist heaven called Nirvana.
• The structure is situated at the foot of Mt. Tohamsan, which is a sacred mountain to the Silla. Back then, pilgrims and other monks from all sides of the world frequented it.
• The inside of the grotto is composed of an antechamber and a rotunda that represented earth and heaven respectively. In the middle of the structure is a Buddha sculpture whose identity is still debated.
• Several depictions of Indian gods and goddesses and a few more symbolical figurines surround the Buddha. These figurines were said to represent Buddhist principles and teachings.
• After several failed restorations, political and religious battles, President Park Chung Hee finally ordered the restoration of the historical site during the 1960’s. Today, the structure is again open to be admired and studied by the public. One of the more important additions during the recent restoration is the glass panel that protects the antechamber from the harsh elements of weather.

Given those facts and its significance in Korea’s culture, perhaps it is safe to say that the Sokkuram is indeed one of the most important religious destinations of South Korea.