Beautiful Scenery at Beomeosa

Elegant Stairs

Beautiful scenery at Beomeosa

Beautiful Walls

A restricted area

You can’t enter into this door. Ascetics or monks are leading an ascetic life, so you have to be quiet.

Manners at Temple

* We have to be devout to monks.
* When we meet monk, we have to clasp hand and bow.
* When we are going in to the sanctuary, we have to go in to the side door. (The main gate is an entrance of monks.)
* When we see a picture of Buddha to hang on the wall or monk, we have to get a solemn mind.
* When we go inside of the sanctuary, we have clasp hand all the time.

Festivals at Beomeosa

The Buddha’s Birthday

The Buddha’s Birthday is April 8th of the lunar calendar. This day, Korean temples have big events, including the Beomeosa. There are many ceremonies such as bathing the Buddha and hanging lanterns. People wish on a lantern their hopes. Beomeosa is the biggest temple in the Busan. This event is very magnificent and gorgeous in the Beomeo temple.

Buddhism culture festival

The first Buddhism culture festival was held in 2002. It is held 4 days every year on October. This festival purposed to show peculiar local culture to tourist duration in 2002 Busan Asian Game. There are variety performances that are rites of Buddhism such as Burmudo and Youngsanjae. You can see Guumjeong mountain environment picture show and also can experience temple stay, tea ceremony and more things.

Temple Stay pictures

Interiors of the temple stay palace.

About a Temple Stay

What is the temple stay?

A Temple stay is chance to learn by direct and actual experience of Buddhist temple culture program. It is not simple to introduce of temple life. You can take not only experience the Korea Buddhist culture but also spiritual respite through it. This program was beginning in the 2002 Korea and Japan World Cup. It is given a favorable reception to offer opportunity understanding Korea traditional culture from natives and foreigners. It offers to chance self-reflection. Now Beomeosa only have temple stay in Busan. Temple stays usually hold two days and one night. There are different schedules but it ordinarily operates 2 to 4 times every month. There are just sample

Schedules

* first day
13:00 - Check In - room assign
16:00 - Orientation - Brief mention about temple stay
17:00 - Dinner
18:00 - YeBul - The evening worship
19:00 - Free time & Special Program (Tea manner,Zen meditation,make tradition lamp)
21:00 - Bedtime

* second day
04:00 - wake up call, Chanting and sutra reading(if you want)
05:00 - Zen Meditation, Sunmudo(Zen Martial arts)
06:00 - Breakfast
07:00 - Free time & Walking and looking around the temple place
10:00 - Special Program (Tea manner,Zen meditation,make tradition lamp )
12:00 - Exercise (meal manner) - How to do the balwoogongyang
13:00 - Check Out

How to apply for temple stays?

Anyone can participate in this program. If you want to entry for this program go to http://www.beomeosa.co.kr/ and fill application for admission temple stay or call 051-508-3122. There are entry fee about 40,000won. Before you join it you have to remove greed and negative minds. Then you can return yourself and take great experience through temple stay. If you want to see English website go to http://eng.templestay.com/. This site introduces temple stay. Also it has information about not only Beomeosa but also many temple of temple stay.

This is a palace for temple stay in Beomeosa.

Other treasure - Stone Lamp

Stone Lamp

This lamp dates back to the Unified Shilla era. It was part of the original temple that was destroyed by fire in 1592. It is designated as Local Cultural Asset #16.

Other Treasure-Wonhyoam Pagoda

Wonhyo-am

Wonhyo-am is located to the south of Beomeosa. It is on the site of the former residence of the famous Shilla monk, Wonhyo. Wonhyo am is the site of two pagodas which are registered as Cultural Properties.

This is the Wonhyoam Eastern Pagoda (Tangible Cultural Asset #11)

This is the Wonhyoam Western Pagoda (Tangible Cultural Asset #12)

Other Treasure-Ill ju mun

Ill ju mun

This is the first gate to the temple, called the Iljumun. It is so called because when viewed from the side the gate appears to be supported by a single pillar. It symbolizes the one true path of enlightenment which supports the world. This gate was constructed in 1614. In 1718 two of the four stone pillars were replaced and in 1781 the wooden roof was rebuilt. It is currently designated as a Tangible Cultural Asset #2.

The national Treasures at Beomeosa

Daeungjon

This is the main hall of Pomosa called the Daeungjeon. This hall was built in 1614 after the temple was burned down during the Japanese invasion of 1592. Major remodellings of this building were undertaken in 1713, 1814 and 1871. It has been designated as NationalTreasure #434.

Three Story Stone Pagoda

This pagoda, located in front of Daeungjeon, the main hall of Beomeosa Temple, is believed to have been built during the reign of King Heungdeok (826-836) of the Silla Dynasty. Beomeosa Temple, made by great priest Uisang, is one of the most important Buddhist temples for Hwaeom Order which was established by the priest. The temple is also famous for being a central place in the national efforts to defend the country from the intrusion of Japanese pirates. This three-story on a double-foundation stone pagoda follows the general style of stonework of Silla Period. It is decorated with the "panel design" rather than the usual pillar- shaped carvings.

hermitages

There are eleven hermitages called "am" in Beomeosa.

Cheongnyeong-am (Blue Lotus Hermitage)

bell tower

Pal Sang Chun - Palsang Hall

This hall's wall was painted with life story of Buddha. It was established in 1905.

Tok Sung Chun - Lonely Saint Hall

This is a worship hall of enlightening Na-Ban-Jonja disciple. It was established in 1905.

Na Han Chun - Hall of sixteen arhats

This is a worship hall of sixteen Nahas pray are famous disciples of Fautama Buddha. Arhats are Buddhist sages that have overcome the cycles of death & reincarnation. It was established in 1905.

Daeungjeon - The Main Hall

This is the main hall of Beomeosa called the Daeungjeon. It was built in 1614 and has been designated as National Treasure #434.

This is a stone monument in front of Daeungjeon.

This is a interior of Daeungjeon.

Birojeon - Vairocana Hall

This is the Viarocana Hall. It was built in 1721 and is located to the next of Miruekjoen.

In Korea, Vairocana or Birojana is the Cosmic Buddha and central to the Hwaeom Philosophy espoused by Uisang.


If you enter this hall, you can see these small figures. They fill this hall’s walls. Each figures is praying to Buddha. People write someone’s name and pray for them.

Mireukjeon - Maitreya Hall

This is the Maitreya’s hall. It was built in 1889 by the monk, Uiryong. It is located to the right of the main yard next the Hall of Vairocana. Maitreya is the Buddha of the Future. Maitreya is called "Mireuk" in Korean and was a very popular figure when Buddhism first came to Korea during the Three Kingdoms Period.

Seven Story Stone Pagoda

Tree gates of Beomeosa

First Gate (一柱門 : Ill Ju Mun)

This is the first gate to enter the temple. It symbolizes one mind. Ascetics have to throw away their evil passions and think Buddha and truth when they pass on it.

Gate of the Heavenly Kings (天王門 : Chon Wang Mun)

This is the second gate to enter the temple. In this small palace, the Four Devas (kings) who guard the precept of Buddha are installed.

Gate of Non-duality (不二門 : Bul Ee Mun)

This is the last gate. It means the real salvation.

How to get to Beomeosa

Beomeosa is located in the north part of Busan, Korea. The easiest way to Beomeosa is using public transportations.

1. Subway

You can go there by Busan Subway. Take subway line No. 1 and get off at Beomeosa station. A fee is about 1000 won. From the station walk east up the road to the #90 bus stop. This distance is about 200 meters. A circle bus No. 90 runs every 30 minutes. Take the bus and you can arrive at a ticket office. This fee is 1000 won for adult.

2. Local Bus

Take upward buses and get off at the terminus. Then take the bus #90.

Beomeosa history

Beomeosa is one of the best five temples in Korea which was built in typicalmountain district Buddhist temple form and has been for more than a thousand year. The scarlet autumn leaves are at their best early in November and it is located in the foot of Gumjeong mountain in Gumjeong-gu, Busan. It was built in 678 by monk Ui Sang. Beomeosa has long history and many treasures such as Three Story Stone Pagoda and Taeungjon and more. It is a historical temple.


Hence the name of Beomeosa

The origin of the name Beomeosa is traced in the geography book Donggukyeojiseungram. In the top of a mountain Geumjeongsan, there is a golden color pond and fish. The golden fish rode the colorful clouds descend from a heaven. Then this mountain called MT Geumjeong and built a temple in under the mountain and called Beomeosa. Beomeosa has Chinese-based name that means Temple of the Nirvana Fish.


Maintenance of Beomeosa

It was disappeared Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. It vanishes nearly during 10 year. Up to this day it repairs many times and often.