The beautiful lotus pond at Geurakam Hermitage.
Hello Again Everyone!!
As part of the five hermitage adventure my wife and I did a couple weeks back, we decided to include a hermitage we had yet to visit: Geukrakam Hermitage (극락암). It was the third of five temples, and the day was already getting long, but including Geukrakam Hermitage was ultimately a good hermitage to have included on our little mini-adventure.
Geukrakam Hermitage is 1.5 kilometres northwest of Tongdosa Temple. It is well known because the monk Gyeongbong, who was a religious dignitary, lived here. It was built in 1344, but no one knows who originally built it. And as a hermitage, Geukrakam Hermitage is much bigger than any other hermitage at Tongdosa Temple. At the entrance gate of the hermitage there is a pond. The pond is famous because you can see the reflection of Mount Yeongchui on the surface of the pond; which is comparable to the beautiful harmony of the bridge and the pond together.
When you first approach the hermitage grounds, you’ll first notice the imposing Mount Yeongchui around you. As you draw closer to the hermitage one of the very first things to greet you, besides the parking lot, is a beautiful bridge that spans the width of an equally beautiful lotus pond. This bridge is reminiscent of a bridge at Tongdosa Temple. When my wife and I visited, the lotus flowers were fully in bloom. And for a pond that almost looks as though there is no water, but only the greenery of the lotus, you can imagine just how many beautiful lotus flowers there were. After passing by the lotus pond to your left, you’ll notice the kitchen to your right. Continuing through the Buli-mun gate at the hermitage, there’s a beautiful open pavilion to your left. To your right, in a grassy open courtyard, are two plainly painted buildings. The view from the open courtyard and pavilion of the valley and surrounding mountains are some of the best in the Tongdosa Temple grounds. A four tiered water fountain sits to the right of the large main hall. However, the main hall, even though it’s large in size, is plainly built, and the interior of the building is completely underwhelming with only one small-sized Buddha as an altar piece. The one redeeming aspect of the main hall are the massively sized, and finely painted, ox-herding murals. However, to the rear and left of the main hall are two more impressive and intriguing structures.
To the rear of the main hall is a beautifully built shrine hall pavilion. There were numerous people praying there, with a large sign (written in Korean) asking for silence. So be on your best of behavior when visiting this shrine hall. Inside of this hall is a statue of Dokseong (The Recluse). And the exterior is adorned with six simplistic murals of Dokseong, as well. To the left of the main hall is the Susaejeon Hall dedicated to Chilseong. Inside of this older looking hall are beautiful murals of the Seven Stars and the Pole Star, as well as equally beautiful statues of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha), Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion), and an apparent Jijang Bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife). On the far right side of the wall, in the corner, is a beautiful painting of San shin (The Mountain Spirit). Be careful when entering this hall, as you can only enter through the left door, and not the one that is deceptively open.
HOW TO GET THERE: First, you’ll have to get to Yangsan; and more specifically, Tongdosa Temple. To get to Tongdosa Temple, you can take an intercity bus from Busan, Eonyang or Ulsan. Specifically from Busan, you can take a bus or subway to Nopo-dong intercity bus terminal. There, you can get a ticket for Tongdosa temple. It leaves every 20 minutes. Once you arrive in Yangsan, and facing the very small bus terminal, you should walk left and then turn right at the first corner. The temple entrance is past the numerous restaurants and shops. Walk up a 1.5 km path, sprinkled with ancient graffiti, and you will eventually arrive at the outskirts of the temple grounds. Admission for adults is 3,000 Won. From Tongdosa Temple, you’ll have to continue up the main road for another 700 metres until you come to a fork in the road. Instead of heading straight ahead, turn right and continue heading that direction for 1.4 kilometres. There are a cluster of hermitages that are well marked. Follow the signs that read 극락암.
OVERALL RATING: 5/10. The highlight of this hermitage, by far, is the beautiful lotus pond that you first see when approaching Geukrakam Hermitage. Other highlights are the colourful Susaejeon Hall, as well as the religiously significant shrine hall at the rear of the massively built main hall. If you have the time, and you want to explore all the hermitages at Tongdosa Temple, make sure to check out the hermitage. However, if you’re short on time, and can only see the very best of what Tongdosa Temple, and its hermitages have to offer, Geukrakam Hermitage can be saved for another time.
The walk up to the hermitage grounds.
The first look up at the stairs to the beautiful bridge at the hermitage.
The walk behind the main hall that leads up to the shrine hall.
The shrine hall with a quiet sign out in front of it.
The Susaejeon Hall at the hermitage, which is dedicated to Chilseong.
The centre pieces in the Susaejeon Hall. In the centre is Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha), with Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife) on the left, and Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion) on the right.
