Magoksa Temple
Ancient temple is home to centuries of art and spiritual artifactsFounded in 640 by Monk Jajangyulsa, Magoksa is a breathtaking place of worship, especially in the spring when the area surrounded by Mt. Taehwasan comes alive, littered with cherry blossoms and magnolias. The exquisite landscape is only one of the many riches this temple possesses.
The temple survived the Seven Year War largely unfazed, and was used as a refuge during the early Joseon Dynasty. It's resilience and ancient history has left it abundant with treasures, including manuscripts made with liquid gold and silver, bronze-tipped pagodas of which only three remain in the world, and Chinese junipers planted by scholar and independence leader Kim Ku.
Centuries worth of ornate gates, paintings featuring dragons and saints, golden statues, watchful Bodhisattvas and a myriad of Buddhas are scattered about the carefully manicured grounds. Pillars hold the names of the prominent people who have visited the temple over the years, and a stream in the shape of a ying yang symbol weaves gently through the trees. Not only can you visit the grounds, but the temple conducts workshops on meditation and group therapy. More info can be found on Korea's visitor website.
Read more about Magoksa Temple on Atlas Obscura...
Category: Strange Statues, Architectural Oddities, Curious Places of Worship
Location: Magok-sa, South Korea
Edited by: serflac, Rachel