| Taebaek-san Buseok-sa's Seonmyo-gak Shrine and Buseok 'Floating' Rock celebrating the key myth of the Floating-Rock Temple |
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| The story from the Samguk-Yusa of Great Master Uisang-josa founding Buseok-sa, when Seonmyo (as an invisible dragon) suspends the "floating rock" to threaten protesting villagers. |
| very similar painting of Seonmyo in the Josa-dang |
| just behind and to the right (east) of the Muryangsu-jeon Main Hall |
| The actual "buseok" [floating rock] today, resting to the left (west) rear of the Muryangsu-jeon Main Hall; myself standing next to it in 2009 -- photo by Martin Gray |
| Legend says that Master Uisang himself carved these characters "buseok" [floating rock] on the boulder, which does seem to hang precipitously and improbably out of the cliff, but this cannot be confirmed. |
| the Buseok seen from its rear (standing west of it), in October |
The unusual name of this temple, Buseok (Floating Rock), derived from the legend of Master Uisang’s
love story with a young lady called Seonmyo (善妙, Virtuous Mystery). Supposedly they fell in love as
aristocratic teenagers in the Shilla capital Gyeongju, but the lovely girl was chosen as part of a tribute-
mission to Tang China, and when she left Uisang became a Buddhist monk to salve his broken heart.
On her way to Chang-an, however, Seonmyo jumped off the boat carrying her up the Yellow River in a
suicide-bid. Wash ashore half-alive, she was adopted by a wealthy man living in a riverside mansion
that often hosted travelers.
love story with a young lady called Seonmyo (善妙, Virtuous Mystery). Supposedly they fell in love as
aristocratic teenagers in the Shilla capital Gyeongju, but the lovely girl was chosen as part of a tribute-
mission to Tang China, and when she left Uisang became a Buddhist monk to salve his broken heart.
On her way to Chang-an, however, Seonmyo jumped off the boat carrying her up the Yellow River in a
suicide-bid. Wash ashore half-alive, she was adopted by a wealthy man living in a riverside mansion
that often hosted travelers.
| the shabby appearance of the Seonmyo-gak in the 1980s, before it was refurbished |
| Three old Buddha statues used to stand next to the Buseok, but they have now been removed to the Temple Museum. |
When Uisang was sailing up that river towards Chang-an to study, they were briefly reunited; their
passion still burned but Uisang refused to dishonor his monastic vows, being that strictly committed
sort of practitioner. Surrendering to fate, he made him promise to see her once more when he returned
down the river after his studies. Seven years later, he did so. She had embroidered an elaborate silk
master-monk's gown for him as a gift, which his heart could not bear to accept. He left very early the
next morning without saying goodbye. She discovered this, and chased him down the river and the to
the cliffs of Yantai Port on the Shandong Peninsula. His ship was already leaving across the Yellow
Sea, and so she threw the robe after him, then jumped after it in another suicide-bid, successful this
time. However, she was immediately reborn as a dragon that became Uisang's guardian.
passion still burned but Uisang refused to dishonor his monastic vows, being that strictly committed
sort of practitioner. Surrendering to fate, he made him promise to see her once more when he returned
down the river after his studies. Seven years later, he did so. She had embroidered an elaborate silk
master-monk's gown for him as a gift, which his heart could not bear to accept. He left very early the
next morning without saying goodbye. She discovered this, and chased him down the river and the to
the cliffs of Yantai Port on the Shandong Peninsula. His ship was already leaving across the Yellow
Sea, and so she threw the robe after him, then jumped after it in another suicide-bid, successful this
time. However, she was immediately reborn as a dragon that became Uisang's guardian.
When he later faced resistance against building this temple from local residents, because the site was
already sacred for their indigenous Sansin (山神, Mountain-spirit) worship, Seonmyo the dragon-girl
lifted a giant boulder in the air over the crowd three times to cower them into submissive acceptance
(due to both fear and witnessing the miraculous power that a Buddhist master could command).
The boulder came to rest next to the site of the main hall, and it has the characters “bu-seok” on them,
supposedly by Uisang himself. The myth further states that Seonmyo as the dragon then died on that
site, and the Muryangsu-jeon Beopdang (法堂, Main Dharma Hall) is built on the foundation of her
bones (lines of embedded granite can be seen protruding from the foundation).
This unique shrine for Seonmyo, first construction date unknown, therefore stands behind the main hall.
already sacred for their indigenous Sansin (山神, Mountain-spirit) worship, Seonmyo the dragon-girl
lifted a giant boulder in the air over the crowd three times to cower them into submissive acceptance
(due to both fear and witnessing the miraculous power that a Buddhist master could command).
The boulder came to rest next to the site of the main hall, and it has the characters “bu-seok” on them,
supposedly by Uisang himself. The myth further states that Seonmyo as the dragon then died on that
site, and the Muryangsu-jeon Beopdang (法堂, Main Dharma Hall) is built on the foundation of her
bones (lines of embedded granite can be seen protruding from the foundation).
This unique shrine for Seonmyo, first construction date unknown, therefore stands behind the main hall.
| she is holding the gift-box containing the robe she made for him |