Choongbuk Boeun Sokrisan Beopjusa Temple With American Mr. Robert –Tour

1.     1. Date and Time : Oct 26, 2018 10:30~ 12:00 (1 and half an hour without break).

2.     2. Location : Boeun District at Choongbook Province in Korea.

3.   3. Distance and Course : Tour Course on foot is about 5km for one and half an hour which is to start at Beopjusa Temple Parking Lot => Iljumun (Temple Main Gate) => Palsangjeon Hall (Octagonal Hall) => Daeungbojeon (Main Hall) => Back to the Parking Lot through Ieljumun (Temple Main Gate). Please refer to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goVnEpryvlA 

4.     Access :

There is several ways to connect “Seoul Central City Bus Terminal (”connecting at subway lines No. 3, 7 and 9) where you should get on Express bus line bound for Boeun Express  Bus Terminal, non-stop and taking two hours and forty minutes. When you get off at the Boeun Express Bus Terminal, you should walk to Boeun Intercity Bus Terminal taking 1 minute for 37m. Please get on local bus No. 5111 and get off at Sokrisan Bus Stop taking 43 minutes for 17 bus stop passing. You then should walk as soon as get off taking 4 minutes for 291m. Please refer more details to the “Transportation from Seoul Central City Bus Terminal to Beopjusa Temple”. You could simply take reverse course on your way back home. I could estimate total transportation is about 3 hour plus 30 minutes (waiting interval time) for one way which comes total 7 hours for round trip. But you would reduce this transportation time to 5 hours for round trip in case you use private car or rent car which you could save two hours for the transportation.

5.  5. Overall Remarks.

It is said that Beopjusa was founded by the Spiritual Patriarch Euisin and was rebuilt by the Master Jinpyo who stayed at the temple for 7 years. However, it is recorded in Volume 4 of 'Samgukyusa' (Reminiscences about the Three Kingdoms) that after leaving Geumsansa Temple, Master Jinpyo visited Mt. Songni and marked a place where a kuśa grass grew, and then went directly to Mt. Keumgangsan to establish Balyeonsu Temple where he stayed for 7 years. Afterwards, while Master Jinpyo stayed at Geumsansa Temple and Busa-euibang, men named Youngsim, Yungjong, Bulta, etc., who used to live in Mt. Songni, visited Master Jinpyo and learned about Dharma. At that time, Master Jinpyo told them, "There is a place in Mt. Songni where kuśa grass grows. I left a mark on the location. You go there, build a temple and save the world according to this doctrinal teaching and promulgate the teachings to posterity." So the company of Youngsim went to Mt. Songni and found the place where kuśa grass grew. They built a temple there, named it Gilsangsa Temple (Temple of kuśa grass) and held the first ceremony. As the Venerable Jinpyo, who rebuilt Geumsansa Temple, cultivated belief in Mireuk (Maitreya), it was assumed that the company of Venerable Youngsim would also cultivate Mireuk after establishing a temple on the place where kuśa grass grew, because they learned about Dharma from Venerable Jinpyo.
On the basis of such literature, it may be thought that the current Beopjusa was established by the Venerable Youngsim. Meanwhile, the temple was called Songni Temple until the reign of King Injo of the Goryeo Dynasty, and there is a poem titled Songni Temple contained in Dongmunseon (collections of poetry published during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1478). So it can be inferred that the name of the temple changed from Gilsangsa Temple to Songni Temple, and again to Beopjusa Temple. But it is not quite certain.

6.  Detailed Course Information

I originally made a preliminary plan hiking Sokrisan (1058m altitude)today but had to change a plan alternatively visiting Beopjusa temple at the foot of Sokrisan Mountain. I was staying at Suanbo Saipan Hot Spring Hotel for tree night and four day and came down at the lobby for breakfast and tried to take a breakfast with somewhat flexible or relax able time. There was someone asking me to question about operation of hot water producing machine in English. I tried to check the operation procedure in Korean and tried to follow the instruction. But it did not work without any reason. I proposed him to make water with electric hot pot instead and he eventually got hot water and joined the dining table. We naturally talked about the plan today which I explained my original plan and planning alternative. I learned he was traveling by bike some countries like Russia, Korea, Japan and Taiwan He came over from Russia last week via Pusan port and planning to bike to somewhere at middle of Korea and going to Jeju Island and transferring to Japan some time coming week. I questioned what you were planning doing today. He replied nothing and provably killing a time at room or hot spring. I was suggesting you could join my alternative plan, if you interested in. He was concerning some burden to me. I told “ it is quite O.K. since I drive alone and not different taking one more person inside or not”, He accepted my suggestion going together at 08:00 hours. We moved for about 2 hours and exchanged a lot of opinion about individual interest. We walked to Beopjusa Temple as soon as arrived at Beopjusa Parking Lot and found it was light rain which we could easily accommodate with umbrella or rain court. When we walked on paved road for about 15 minutes and found NFA information office at right and saw colorful trees lined up left and right on the road and could imagine how fantastic and beautiful scenery on the way. We were walking for about 2 to 3 minutes and reached ticket booth and entrance check point and entering into Beopjusa Temple area and soon made junction taking either walking through paved road or walking through Sejo Unpaved Soil Road. We took a Sejo Unpaved Road and found extraordinary colorful and beautiful forest view on the road and walked for about 10 minutes from the ticket Booth and arrived at Beopjusa Temple Main Gate. I selected one best view point and proposed Mr. Robert to interview on my Blogger. He was most welcome my proposal and successfully left video record at my Utube linked hereto. We was continuously walking on the way and reached junction either taking Beopjusa Temple at left or going to Sokrisan Hiking course at right where we could also see arrangement of temple hall arrangement and some explanation of Beopjusa Story. We turned left at the junction and kept walking for 2 to 3 minutes and met Geumgang Gate and saw big bronze Buddha, total 160 bronze at left from the Gate which was standing on the base as gold color bronze Buddha, 25m tall and 25m granite base or foundation. This Buddha is the biggest in Korea so far. You could see small hall containing big stone jar before the Bronze Buddha which was built at year 720 by Seonduk Woman King and was registered as National Treasure No.64.   We just few steps ahead and found gorgeous Palsang Jeon (Octagonal Hall) in front not only which is unique wooden pagoda presently remaining in Korea and but also which was registered as National Treasure No. 55. We moved some more and encountered Daeungbojeon (Main Temple Hall) which biggest indoor Buddha was inside the hall in Korea and registered as National Treasure No. 912. There was Ssangsaja Seokdeung (Two Lion Supporting Stone Lamp) right after Palsangjeon (Octagonal Wooden Pagoda) which was built by Seondeok Woman King in year 720 and registered as National Treasure No. 5. There is one more stone lamp, calling as Sacheonwang Seokdeung (All Mighty King Stone Lamp) which was just in front of Daeungbojeon (Main Temple Hall) and built by Seondeok King in year 720 and registered as National Treasure No. 15. There is a Samseonggak Hall at the corner and at left from the main temple hall which where they arranged three different gods, traditional Korean religious god (Sanshin), Chines religious god (Chilseong) and Nabanjonja god originating from Buddha’s Student. There were many other halls around Beopjusa Main Temple Hall which we could spend all most one for this temple. We decided to skip these other halls because I felt these might be not so important or useful. We so turned back to the Parking Lot through main temple gate as we came over this morning. 

           

Gangwondo Pyungchang Baekdeoksan Mountain Hike in Korea- Munje Shimteo Course

1.     1. Date and Time : Oct 19, 2018 10:00~18:00 (8 hours including two hours break).

2.     2. Location : Bangrim-myeon (Town), Pyeongchan-gun (District) and Suju-myeon (Town), Yeongwol-gun (District), Gangwon-do (Province).

3. 3. Distance and Course : About 23.79km. Course is to start at Munjae Shimteo Parking Lot => 925 Peak => Heliport => Dangjae => 1280 Peak => Baekdeoksan Summit (1,350m Altitude) => Back to the Munje Shimteo Parking Lot through the Same Ascending Course. Please refer to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obN3NYX1cQw 

4.     4. Access :

There are various ways to the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal where you could use subway or bus or taxis depend on your situation. You could take intercity bus bound for Wunkyeo there at Dong Seoul Bus terminal and get off at Wunkyeo Bus Stop taking 1 one hour and 30 minutes. As you get off at the Bus Stop, please get on the taxi going to the Munjae Shimteo taking about less than 5 minutes for 2.6km which is usually stand by at the bus stop, fare less than KRW 5,000-. Please refer more details to the “Transportation from Dong Seoul  Bus Terminal to Munjae Shimteo”. You could simply take reverse course on your way back home. I could estimate total transportation is about 2 hour plus 30 minutes including waiting times for one way which comes total 5 hours for round trip. But you would reduce this transportation time to 4 hours for round trip in case you use private car or rent car which you could save one hour for the transportation. 

5.     5. Overall Remarks.

Baekdeoksan (Mt.) is located among Ungyo-ri, Banglim-Town, and Wondang-ri, Pyeongchang-Town, in Pyeongchang-District, and Jucheon-Town, Yeongwol-District. It preserves the primitive forest for it holds precipitous cliffs and various trees in valleys. The top of Baekdeoksan consists of narrow rock peaks. Chiaksan (Mt.) and Maehwasan (Mt.) can be seen from afar and Gariwangsan (Mt.) to the east.
It is 1,350.1m high and it covers parts of Yeongwol District, Hoengseong District , Pyeongchang-District of Gangweon- Province. It is a famous mountain in the branch of Charyeong Mountain Stream. There are precipitous cliffs here and there, and pine trees that look like bonsai lure hikers.
In the valleys with endless large and small waterfalls, ponds and lakes, the maples in the middle of October are most beautiful. In light of the name, large amount of snowfalls and snow flowers in winter present rich beauty to the hikers.

6.     6. Detailed Course Information

     I took my mind covering Baekdeoksan Mountain Hike within one day schedule and reviewed best suitable course to my conditions among several possible courses and made a decision to take Munjae Shimteo Course as indicated at the Course Map attached. I left my home early in the morning 06:00 hour and expecting 3 hours for transportation to Munjae Shimteo and arrived at the Munjae Shimteo slightly before 09:00 hour. I tried to park the car to at small parking area and found no available parking zone and arranged to park the car somewhere proper area near to parking zone. I looked around first of all hike course map and found at right and checked the Munjae Shimteo Course. When I checked the Course Map and landmark, I realized I was standing already at elevation 800m altitude which I would easily cover remaining elevation, 550m altitude. So I thought it would be an easy hiking course and possibly cover less than 5 hours. But it was not so easy and short distance course at all which takes 8 hours including 2 hours break. I found all information on the landmarks or boards were wrong in distance because they were based on straight distance not considering continuous bending or zigzag road, even not closer. Anyhow I started to ascend through small wood bridge and soon met first landmark arrowing to steep slopped uphill road and climbed on the uphill road for about 10 minutes and reached second landmark junction arrowing to continue to walk on smooth mountain road for about less than 5 minutes and reached third landmark arrowing to go up steep uphill road again. When I walked up on this road for about 15 minutes and changed to mild ridge road, less slopped. I was continuously walking through this ridge road for about half an hour and reached heliport where I could look down so nice and fantastic view of surrounding mountains and peaks as see at the photo. It was exceptionally visibility was so high and far that I could clearly see remote Daegwanryeong Hill where I could see wind power far away and also remote Chiaksan Mountain. We could not usually see these mountains so clearly. I was quite lucky and fortunate I was able to see these mountains at Baekdeoksan Mountain. I took naturally break for photo and drink a water. As I just stepped a minute, I found landmark showing distance to the Summit (4km) as well as back to Shimteo (1.8km) and felt I could cover this distance lee than three hours. But both were wrong, distance and my estimation time. I kept walking on the ridge road for some more half an hour and found formal landmark stating as 3.1km to the Summit I was keeping walking on the same ridge road for about half an hour and found proper area for snack break at big rock area. I decided to take snack break and enjoyed the break and continued to walk on the same road for one more half an hour and reached landmark stating as 2 km to the Summit. I met one unknown younger man hiking alone and was naturally walking and talking together individual interest. I learned this young man, 42 years old was still single living alone at some away location from parent and working at refrigerator factory. I questioned the reason why he did not marry. He answered there was not fit-able partner so far. I personally suggested you would better lower your demand specification in terms of education, personal character, and family root and so on. You should pull down requirement level of each category. I would consider my suggestion      We walked on the same ridge road for about one more hour and reached next Junction mark stating as only 500m to the Summit and the other way to Meokgol 4.8km. We confirmed road condition was completely changed to very high slop rocky and stony road which we could not so easily walk on as before and finally touched down 1,350m altitude Baekdeoksan Summit Monument after 20 minutes struggling walk on steep and harsh road. I looked around the Summit and found so gorgeous view of surrounding mountains like remote Daegwanryeong Hill and Chiaksan Mountain. We descend some to previous 500m junction and arranged suitable area for comfortable lunch break and shared each food and enjoyed so delicious meal together. We kept walking down on the ridge road together and exchanged many mutual interests and felt it is essential for human to exchange different opinion and take a necessary information or suggestion or opinion or help or support. As we walked down somewhere around middle of the hike course, we saw sun was becoming set down to Chiaksan Mountain and kept so nice picture at the camera. We were continuously working down under somewhat darkness and young man switched on his head lantern and guided to correct way down which I personally felt there was no reason to concern about late descends since there was supportable and believable young person behind. So I commented this to young man. He counter commented he was also feeling as adverse situation as he felt safe and protecting since there was senior who have experienced long in many filed in human life. He told he did not need to concern about anything, just going down together. As a conclusion, I could say this story is one of reason or attraction why I came up to the mountain alone. When I almost back to parking lot, there was a call from my wife asking where you are. I answered I was near to the parking lot and going to leave for home soon. She told you must come down to parking lot before 3 pm without fail. I replied O.K. confirmed and don’t worry.