Temple Stay Experience in Gurye

I had not gone on holiday since COVID-19 outbreak. Now I was fully vaccinated so I thought it would be okay to go on holiday provided I could keep a safe distance from others. 

Then I recalled Sinyoung’s temple stay experience. Temple Stay seemed perfect for me especially in the pandemic era. Most temples are located in mountains and only a few visitors are allowed in at a time.  

So, last September I went to two temples in Gurye, Jeollanam-do: Cheoneunsa and Hwaeomsa. Both temples are surrounded by lush green landscape of Jirisan Mountain. 

Cheoneunsa

On the first day I went to Cheoneunsa. It was built in 828 during the unified Silla period and it is one of three main temples in Jiri mountain. 

Cheoneunsa is also the filming location for the popular Korean drama “Mr. Sunshine.” The building on the right side of the picture below, Bojeru Pavilion, appeared in the background of the episode 19.

The day starts early at 4:50 am with “yebul”, ceremonial chanting and then breakfast is served at 7 am. These are optional so you can choose to sleep through the early morning. After I had breakfast at 7 am I went back to sleep and woke up again at 9 am. You are not obliged to do anything so it is up to you how to spend time at temples.

Hwaeomsa

Next day I left Cheoneunsa and then visited Hwaeomsa. Hwaeomsa was founded in 544 during the Baekje Kingdom and contains numerous cultural assets including 5 National Treasures, 7 Treasures, and 2 Natural Monuments.

What was unique here was that you can appreciate monks’ performance on 4 Buddhist instruments in the evening. The scenery that monks play a dharma drum, a wooden fish, a cloud-shaped gong, and a large brahma bell with the background of sunset was magnificent.

Activities in temples are usually optional and most of them were not even available at the time when I visited there due to COVID-19. Nonetheless, it was nice to be around the temples. I enjoyed reading poems in a pavilion listening to the peaceful sound of a wind chime and the monks chanting, going on a hike, having a cup of coffee admiring the traditional architecture of temples, and strolling in the quiet stillness of the mountain.

It was one of the best holidays that I have taken in years and I have decided to visit Bulgugsa this time in October. 🙂