| Bing-san or Bukdu-san Daeheung-sa and Bulam-sa small temples in the Bingsan Gyegok Valley Park |
| There are two small, quirky Buddhist temples way up the southwestern road of this Bingsan Valley. The first one seen, Daeheung-sa or "Great Arising Temple", is most interesting... And that's because of its' Sanshin-gak or "Mountain-spirit Shrine" ---> |
| This "Sanshin-gak" turns out to really be a Samseong-gak [Three Saints Shrine] -- one with a most unusual triad! There is no Chil-seong [Seven Stars of Destiny] icon, typically in the middle position. Instead, San-shin [Mountain-spirit] is in the center, and he is flanked by Dok-seong [Lonely Saint] on left and Yong-Wang [Dragon-King of the Waters] on the right. |
| This San-shin painting is modern and well-done, but really quite ordinary -- save for the bizarre "flower-stamen" headgear on the dongja boy-attendant!! |
| The Dok-seong and Yong-Wang are also quite simple and ordinary -- and apparently done by the same artist. |
| Bulam-sa [Buddha-Rock Temple] is just a bit further up that valley, and is made of the most modernist faux-country-folk architecture that I have ever seen used for a temple! (usually, this sort of motif is now used for restaurants and pension-motels). It sports a simple pagoda and a lovely biseok monument. On this day in July 2013 nobody was there and it was all locked... |