| Jiri-san's Naedae-cheon Valley 지리산 내대천골 PAGE FOUR: Gilsang-am Hermitage 길상암 in the Inner-Southeast Sector of Jiri-san April 2006 |
At the entrance of the Dojang-gol Gorge as it branches off northwards from the top of
Naedae-cheon Valley, Gilsang-am is a fairly large newly-built Buddhist temple. After this
compound the beautiful stream-gorge is only accessible by hiking trails. At this high elevation, Spring had not yet
really arrived by mid-April. Only one monk lives in this ambitious but remote hermitage, with a few acolytes.
Naedae-cheon Valley, Gilsang-am is a fairly large newly-built Buddhist temple. After this
compound the beautiful stream-gorge is only accessible by hiking trails. At this high elevation, Spring had not yet
really arrived by mid-April. Only one monk lives in this ambitious but remote hermitage, with a few acolytes.
View from the spirit-shrine, and the San-shin painting --
A matronly female, as common in this region, although wearing the
Sanshin's usual red robe with prominent circular gold embroidery,
characteristic of a male king In Korean iconography -- this is pretty rare.
The tiger has a "crazy" expression in line with Korea's old folk-painting
traditions. The male dongja attendant holds a typical staff with a gourd
attached, but the gourd has an unusual spiral-flower design on it, i'm
not sure what that's intended to signify. The female dongja attendant is
holding a sprig of bullocho, appropriately feminine.
A matronly female, as common in this region, although wearing the
Sanshin's usual red robe with prominent circular gold embroidery,
characteristic of a male king In Korean iconography -- this is pretty rare.
The tiger has a "crazy" expression in line with Korea's old folk-painting
traditions. The male dongja attendant holds a typical staff with a gourd
attached, but the gourd has an unusual spiral-flower design on it, i'm
not sure what that's intended to signify. The female dongja attendant is
holding a sprig of bullocho, appropriately feminine.
| The signboard of this Sanshin-gak [Mountain-spirit Shrine] |
Next Section: Eastern
(W Sancheong County: Daewon-sa, Daewon-sa
and other sites in the Southeast)
Jiri-san Index Page
Site Contents Page
(W Sancheong County: Daewon-sa, Daewon-sa
and other sites in the Southeast)
Jiri-san Index Page
Site Contents Page
| Myriad boulders and clean tumbling waters of the seldom-visited Dojang-gol [Tao-Protection Gorge]. |
| View of the southern Jiri mountains, and a statue of the teacher of this monastery's founder in the Main Hall. |
| The remarkable grand display of the Main Altar of the Main Hall, featuring Biro-bul [Buddha of Infinite Cosmic Light, main figure in Hwaeom (Ch: Hua-yen) doctrinal Buddhism], flanked by all of the Bodhisattvas, disciples and the Celestial Kings of the Four Directions; great dancheong and didactic paintings are seen on the wall. |
| The three other figures enshrined in this spirit-hall: Chil-seong, Munsu-bosal the Bodhisattva of Wisdom in front of a painting of Amita Buddha flanked by Gwanse-eum and Jijang Bosals (curious!) and a Shinjung-taenghwa. Details: San-shin, dongjas and Bukseong-shin |
