Gyeryong-san Gap-sa Temple's
Yongmun Pokpo
Dragon-Gate Waterfalls   龍門瀑布
& Daeseong-am Yaksa Yorae Bulsang
Great Saint Medicinal-Healing Buddha Statue
The term “Dragon-Gate” originated in Chinese Daoism to designate a narrow gorge between rocky
cliffs where a river, stream or waterfall passes through, like a dragon-energy charging out of its
deep-mountain origin and bursting out through the 'gate' into the mundane world, as a dynamic part
of the bio-hydrological cycle that sustains all life on earth.  Therefore these are regarded as highly
sacred sites, quite auspicious for spiritual practices. South Korea has two major historic monasteries
named Yongmun-sa 龍門寺 at mountains with the same name -- one in Gyeonggi Province east of
Seoul, and the other in the northwest corner of North Gyeongsang Province; and many waterfalls
named “Yongmun-pokpo” (龍門瀑布).  There are many such sites in China, regarded as scenic-sacred.
This site is less than 1000 meters up from Gap-sa Temple, and about the same below Shinheung-am.
It has a dozen waterfalls through the narrow gorge, of many different styles.  These photos are from
my visit in September 2012, with my friends Shawn and Yumi.
Near the falls and next to the trail-stairs, Shawn stands by a boulder-overhang
that was previously a shelter for shamans worshipping the dragon-spirits here.
Myself at the Joseon-era carving of the name "Dragon-Gate Falls"
Just downstream from the Yongmun Falls is Daeseong-am [Great Saint Hermitage],
an ancient site that was rebuilt in the 1970s to house a special Buddha-statue.
Nice outdoor Sanshin-dan [Mountain-spirit Altar] of Daeseong-am;
the 500 standing-stones may be intended as Sanshins, echoing the "500 Buddhas" motif.
The grotto-shrine for the antique Yaksa-yeorae-sang [Medicinal/Healing Buddha Statue]
The icon is believed to have been carved in the mid-Goryeo era (12th century).  It was originally
enshrined at a Yaksa-am Hermitage above Gap-sa, which was totally destroyed in the Korean War;
so it was moved here to Daeseong-am in the 1970s, as a much better location for pilgrims to stop-by.
At that time, the broken nose was crudely repaired with cement.
Note the elfish face on the boulder top-right of the buddha!  and what seems like a bird or angel-fish
perched on a snakeish sword right-below that!  These are natural patterns in the rock, not carved
-- but are probably the reason for building the grotto here.  Koreans are delighted by these
kind of "miraculous manifestations" that show that "the mountain is alive, with a strong spirit"....
Crude "natural" Sanshin-sang [Mountain-spirit Statue], for the "nature-spirits",
enshrined near the Medicinal Buddha as another such "manifestation".
Another great boulder with votive-offerings left on the blocks serving
as crude altar; next to stone-steps leading-up to the Healing Buddha.
Above that, a luxuriant stand of thin-shaft Bamboo -- rare to find this far north in Korea!