Bongeunsa

By chance, I heard that there was a temple nearby where I was meeting a friend in Seoul, so I went to check it out. That temple turned out to be Bongeunsa, one of the more lavish temples in Korea. It looked very new because it was rebuilt after most of the temple was destroyed in a fire in 1939, and damaged further by the Korean War. But the reconstruction efforts are commendable, even if it slightly diminishes the traditional appeal.


One of the unique features of this temple is the canopy of paper lanterns that covers the main courtyard.


I think because this guy's head is on backwards, he didn't realize until it was too late that the rope he was pulling was actually a tiger's tail. Oh snap!


The location of this temple is a juxtaposition of the times—just to the south sits COEX Mall, the largest shopping center in Seoul.


This badboy was standing guard in front of the large Buddha.

Near the top of the complex stands this giant Buddha with what looks like a giant mortarboard on his head. Maybe he is a professor at Buddha University, graduating all those who worship him. Or maybe he just graduated himself, and rather than look for a job, decided to start his own temple striaght out of school. In front of him, and in the buildings, people were praying for their children to do well on the upcoming national college entrance exams, so I guess either of those explanations makes sense.


This building was lined from top to bottom with identical little gold Buddhas, and there were several other buildings with less ostentatious, but still very gaudy decor. Actually, I'm not sure if they were made of real gold, but it certainly gave the place an air of being well endowed.


Look, I caught Willie Nelson trying to pass himself off as one of the four temple guardians!