I am looking at the Uiseong County homepage and I already have a feeling that I’m going to like it here. The photographs are beautiful and I love the architecture of the buildings here.
Uiseong-gun is right in the middle of Gyeongsangbuk-do. It is bordered by Andong-si and Yecheon-gun in the north, Cheongsong-gun in the east, Gunwi-gun and Gumi-si in the south and Sangju-si in the west.
It is divided into 1 eup, and 17 myeons
The Establishment of the Symbol Mark
The oval figure and the soaring mountain configures ‘ㅇ’ and ‘ㅅ’ in the word ‘Uiseong’, which represents the future-oriented inspiration of leading the province of North Gyeong-sang as the best Uiseong and leading Uiseong, being the center of it in the 21st century, unified with the potency of the Uiseong county and the spirit of one-fortress-one-peace.
The Oval :
Configuring the ‘ㅇ’ in ‘Uiseong’, the oval symbolizes the broad range of the region and the generous and considerate hearts of the people in Uiseong.
The Projection in the Center :
Configuring the ‘ㅅ’ in ‘Uiseong’, the 『Good place to live, Uiseong』of the 21st century represents the door of the new millennium and the future-oriented inspiration of rising as the center of North Gyeongsang province,
The Green Color
Representing agriculture as a vital industry, the green color stands for clean Uiseong.
The Red Color
Signifying the regional specialty products such as apples and peppers, the color red symbolizes the passion of the citizens in their response to the demanding county of Uiseong.
The Gold Color
The gold symbolizes the golden farming fields.
The Mascot: Uidong
The Uiseong-gun mascot features the province’s specialty product, Garlic, which expresses the challenge to the future and progressive spirit, meaning strength of the town and implying its strong Uiseong-gun full of suggestions for the challenge and pioneering spirit of Uiseong-gun, achieving prominence as the center of Gyeongbuk Province.
It is the character which symbolizes Uiseong-gun with an act of kindness and through a service spirit.
The Five Righteous Brothers :
The County Flower: Crape-myrtle
The Crape-Myrtle, blooming from early summer to autumn, is a elegant flower which symbolizes strong spirit of the citizens.
Tree of the Town: Zelkova Acuminata
Zelkova Acuminata is a gigantic tree that has longevity and great fertility which symbolizes the traditions and prosperity of the citizens.
The County Bird: Common Heron
The Common Heron is an elegant and serene bird, and it symbolizes wealth, which represents Uiseong.
I love going on treasure hunts and there are 39 cultural properties to be found in Uiseong. Don’t look worried, we’ll only have time to visit a few of them, the more important ones. So be prepared to visit a few temples and pagodas. I shall start with the Uiseong Tamni Five Storey Stone Pagoda, as it is the #1 treasure in Uiseong being a national treasure. ( also spelt Tapri)
The Five Storey Stone Pagoda in Tamni, Uiseong, National Treasure #77, is a five-storey stone pagoda from the Unified Silla Kingdom. It is built on a low platform, and the tower is unique in displaying both a brick-tower-style, made of brick-shaped stones, and a wooden pagoda.
The platform is made of several stones, and different types of stones are used for the pillars in the middle and one in the corner to make a wooden pagoda-shaped body. The first storey is higher than the second one, and from there, the height is drastically reduced, and a shrine containing a Buddhist statue is installed in the first storey. The first storey and the foundation on which it sits have square pillars carved in entasis on the four corners and imitated in the center on the wooden pagoda. There is a niche on the south side of the first story.
This 9.6m-tall pagoda is the second oldest stone pagoda from Silla. The oldest is the pagoda at the Bunhwangsa Temple in Guhwang-dong, Gyeongju-si which is made of stones cut in the shape of bricks.
Like in all brick pagodas, the top side and the bottom side of the roof stones are layered, and the top side has six layers while the bottom side has five. The four corners of the roof stones are slightly raised as shown in the tip of the roof of the wooden architecture. It has wooden towers in various places and brick towers in other places.
This pagoda built in the early Unified Silla period (668-935) is important for the study of the development of pagodas in Korea because it reflects the architectural styles of both wooden and brick pagodas.
The Three-Storey Stone Pagoda (Treasures #188), in Gwandeok-ri, Danchon-myeon, has a two-storey stone platform and a three-storey stone body, and each part is profusely decorated.
A pillar is carved in relief in the middle of each side of the lower platform, and the image of a flying fairy is also carved in relief on each of the eight sections of the platform made by the pillar shape. Each of the four sides of the upper platform also has a pillar shape carved in relief, and an image of the four heavenly guardians of Buddhism are carved on the left and an image of a guardian of Buddhism on the right. Both the four heavenly guardians of Buddhism and a guardian of Buddhism are gods protecting the laws of Buddha, and it is very unique to find them together this way. It appears that a change was made in the latter part of the Unified Silla Kingdom.
The pagoda is made of a one body stone and a one roof stone, and the image of a Buddhist saint is carved in relief on the four sides of the first story. The bottom part of the roof stones of the first storey and the second storey has four layers while that of the third storey has three layers, and the horizontal eaves are slightly raised at the four corners
Head decoration at the top is missing, and only a square supporting stone is reversely placed, and it appears to have been placed there later on. It is unknown what kind of stone was placed at the top.
Originally, two pairs of stone lions were placed in the four corners of the upper part of the upper platform, but now only two (National Treasure No. 202) remain, and they are currently in the Gyeongju National Museum. Animal sculptures appeared for the first time in the Gyeongju Bunhwangsa Temple Brick-Shaped-Stone Pagoda, and since then the trend was continued until the second part of the Unified Silla Kingdom.
It appears to have been built in the 9th century when pagodas were first decorated in earnest. On the whole, it is less magnificent but more splendid and beautiful thanks to the carvings.
There is yet another pagoda, the Five-Storey Stone Pagoda in the Bingsansa Temple Site in Binggye-ri, Chunsan-myeon , National Treasure #327.
This Five-Storey Stone Pagoda is located in Bingsan in the Mt. Bohyunsan mountain range, one of the eight exquisite beauties in Gyeongsangbuk-do. It is a brick-shaped stone pagoda that was built in imitation of the Tap-ri Five-Storey Stone Pagoda.
It consists of a one-storey platform and a five-storey body stone. The base consists of 16 bottom stones. On the middle platform, different stones were used for each pillar and the surface. The top of the platform consists of eight stones, and a body-stone-supporting stone is placed at the top. Different stones were placed at the four corners to erect corner pillars on the first storey of the body of the pagoda, and there is a square space at the front to enshrine a statue of Buddha. From the second storey, the size of the body stone is reduced by half or more, and the five roof stones each have four layers of support. The inclined surfaces of the roof stones have five layers. Only the head decoration stand remains at the head decoration part at the top.
The pagoda is assumed to have been built during the period between the second half of the Unified Silla Kingdom and the first half of the Goryeo Dynasty. It is less classy than the Uiseong Tamni Five-Story Stone Pagoda, but it is beautiful.
The Gounsa Temple is the Head Temple for the 16th District of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The temple controls around 60 subordinate temples.
I just love the architecture of this charming temple, the Gounsa, meaning High Cloud Temple . You may notice that the buildings look a bit new. Want to know why?
Gounsa was founded by the great Buddhist Monk Uisangdaesa, who also founded a lot of other important temples around Korea, in 681, in the first year of King Sinmun of the Silla Kingdom. The Chinese characters of the name were later changed to mean Lone Cloud Temple (although the pronunciation was still the same) in honour of Choe Chiwon, an eminent Confucian scholar, who assisted Priests Yeoji and Yeosa in the construction of two pavilions, the Gaheoru and the Uhwaru here.
The temple underwent renovations in 948 during the reign of King Jeongjong and again in 1018 during the reign of King Hyeonjong of the Goryeo dynasty..
The temple was left unscathed during the Imjin war of 1592 – 98 and served as a base for anti-Japanese activities led by a priest, Samyeongdaesa who personally directed military operations from here.
He stored rice for emergencies and treated the wounded, so the temple became well known for its active role in defending the motherland. As the source of Buddhism and learning, the temple gave birth to several Buddhist high priests such as Hamhung and Suweol, and it is still being frequented by many Buddhist monks.
It preserves 27 temple houses including Regional Tangible Cultural Asset #151, the Gaullu Pavilion, and it also has a 500-meter long pine forest for casual hikers called “Solgul” at the entrance and the Dungun Mountain at the back of the temple has a path up a mountain for more serious hikers.
The entire temple was nearly destroyed in a fire in 1835, which was later rebuilt by Priests Mansong, Hoam and Suyeol. Another big fire during the 1970s destroyed some of the buildings again. You have got to see this temple, it is beautiful, they have even added new buildings to the premises including a new main hail.
The Gaullu Pavilion of the Gounsa Temple (also spelt Gaunru)
This two-storey pavilion has a half-hipped, half-gabled roof, the eaves of which are supported by single wing-like brackets.
The workmanship of the interior and frame indicate that some alterations were made when it was renovated.
The Seated Stone Sakyamuni Buddha Statue of Gounsa Temple (National Treasure #246) is a complete Buddhist statue that is hardly damaged with both the pedestal and the mandorla (Buddhist halo of light) still intact. The Yukgye (a protuberance on top of the head symbolizing supreme wisdom), shaped like a topknot on top of the curly hair, is not apparent. Small shell-shaped hair are attached to the head, and the square-shaped face has small eyes, a small nose and small lips, so it looks a bit fat. It has a well-built chest and a curvy waist but looks unstable due to the slightly raised shoulders. The palm of the right hand is placed on the knee, and the tip of the hand points to the ground, but it is broken. The palm of the left hand faces upward and is placed in front of the navel, but it does not look natural. The clothes that shroud the left shoulder show regular patterns and creases, which also appear on the legs and the arms.
The halo, which represents light emanating from the Buddha, is circular with a sharp edge. The head halo and the body halo represent a lotus flower and a vine pattern, and the edge represents a burning flame. The pedestal consists of an upper part, middle part and lower part, and the upper pedestal displays lotus flowers raised upward. The Eight-sided middle pedestal is decorated with pillars at the corners, and the lower pedestal displays leaves of lotus flowers placed upside down.
The statue of Buddha shows the characteristics of the 9th century sculptures, which are very different from statues built in the 8th century in terms of the head, the face, the body, the creases, the pedestal and the halo.
Let’s now visit a temple the Daegoksa Temple (Mt. Bibongsan) in Pyeongrim-ri, Dain-myeon which is home to Regional Tangible Cultural Asset #160, the Daegoksadaeungjeon or the Daeungjeon Hall of the Daegoksa Temple and Regional Tangible Cultural Asset #161, the Pavilion for a Buddhist Temple Bell.
The Daegoksa Temple is said to have been founded by Buddhist priests, Jigong and Nawoong, in 1368 during the reign of King Gongmin of the Goryeo Kingdom
Most of its buildings were burnt down during the Japanese Invasions of 1592-98.
They were rebuilt by a Buddhist Priest, Tanudaesa, in 1605. The buildings were later renovated in 1687 by the Priest Taejeonseonsa, who is said to have changed the name of the temple from Daeguksa to Daegoksa, meaning Great Valley Temple, because of a large valley he discovered near here.
In the temple's main hall, called the Daeungjeon is an image of Buddha.
The roof of the building is half-gabled, half-hipped and its eaves are supported by multi-cluster brackets. The outer arms of the brackets are shaped like ox-tongues.
The ceiling is coffered. The building well reflects the style prevalent during mid-Joseon period.
The Daegoksabeomjonggak(Bell tower in Daegoksa Temple) is a two-story bell tower which was first erected in 1368. It was destroyed by fire during the Japanese Invasions of 1592-98 and was rebuilt in 1605 together with the temple's main hall, the Daeungjeon.
It was renovated in 1687 by the Buddhist Priest Taejeonseonsa and underwent repairs again in 1978.The roof is half-gabled, half-hipped and the bracketing is of a multi-cluster style.
The outer bracket arms are ox-tongue shaped with lotus flowers carved on the upper part. The tower's bell is said to have been taken to the Yongmunsa Temple.
There is a 3 km-long path between Daegoksa Temple and Jeokjoam, and it take one and a half hours to reach the top of the mountain overlooking a 3,930 meter-long valley. In the south, the Angye Plain faces the Nakdonggang River which flows in from the north, and since the geographical features of the mountain are exquisite, it is loved by many mountain climbers.
The mountain rises 579.3 meters above sea level and was called Mt. Taehangsan) before the Goryeo Dynasty and Mt. Jamisan during the Joseon Dynasty.
The Uiseonggwandeokdongseokbuljwasang(Seated Stone Buddha in Gwandeokdong, Uiseong). Tangible Cultural Properties # 136.
This is a seated stone Buddha dating back to the Silla period, which remains together with a stone pagoda here at Gwandeok-dong, Uiseong.
The Buddha statue, 98cm high, is thought to be a mid-eighth century piece displaying outstanding sculptural workmanship, though part of the neck, pedestal and halo are lost.
The style of eighth century Silla Buddhas is well displayed by its usnisa(the protuberance on the top of the head symbolic of supreme wisdom). This Buddha is a valuable source for the study of stone Buddha images from the Silla Kingdom.
Uiseongjeongandongseokjoyeoraeipsang(Standing Stone Buddha Statue Jeongan-dong, Uiseong) Tangible Cultural Properties #175.
This image of Buddha is a good example of the standing Buddhas carved towards the end of the Silla period (57 B.C.-A.D.935).
Its right hand is missing.
The awkward pose of the Buddha, the size of which is achieved at the expense of liveliness, and the rendering of the flat torso and the angular face are typical of the megalithic Buddhas made at that time.
The way the undergarment and the tie-string are depicted between the wide U-shaped folds of the robe, which is draped over both shoulders, is also evidence that it was made in the traditional style of the large standing Buddhas of the ninth century.
There are remains in front of the image of what seems to have been part of the pedestal.
Bianmyeonjarakdongseokjoyeoraejwasang(Seated buddha in Jarakdong, Bian-myeon) Tangible Cultural Properties 56
This is a valuable example of a Goryeo (918-1392) Buddha fashioned after the style of the Buddhist images of the earlier Unified Silla period (668-935).
The knotting of the undergarment is a typical Silla motif while the long waist of the Buddha, and the square base are typical of Goryeo works.
The mundra, or symbolic hand gesture, is for expelling devils.
We’ve unearthed quite a lot of treasures haven’t we? I never knew Uiseong is such a treasure trove of temples, pagodas and Buddha statues. Bear in mind though, that these are but a few out of the 39 cultural properties I mentioned earlier. Looks like I’ve really taken you on a cultural tour of Uiseong today. I was so absorbed in all this treasure hunting that I didn’t realize I hardly spoke about anything else. History was one of my pet subjects at school, that’s why I was so engrossed. I hope that you were not bored but I promise you I’ll make it up to you in my next post. Wait till you hear about the dinosaurs in Uiseong-gun. Stay tuned! Bye for now.
I really, really love your blog. Please visit mine. I am a Canadian living in South, Korea in Chilgok!
ReplyDeleteI am writing a book about Korea now. It's called Transcending Korea.
I can really see your love for Korea. Best Wishes,
David Green