| Seokcheon-am [Stone-Heaven Hermitage] 석천암 of Bulam-san in Eastern Seoul |
Seokcheon-am is a charming hemitage in a spectacular setting, truly
a model of Heaven made of Stone... the "Realm of the Immortals"
[Shinseon]. It's a steep 20~30-minute climb above Bulam-sa to the
east, perhaps halfway to the summit. Its fine modern artworks, like
the main cliff-Buddha here, continue the distinctive overall themes of
this mountain, that its spirit is an enlightened incipient Buddha
manifesting into our world for the benefit of all beings, and is
associated with the 16 Nahan [Disciples of Buddha].
a model of Heaven made of Stone... the "Realm of the Immortals"
[Shinseon]. It's a steep 20~30-minute climb above Bulam-sa to the
east, perhaps halfway to the summit. Its fine modern artworks, like
the main cliff-Buddha here, continue the distinctive overall themes of
this mountain, that its spirit is an enlightened incipient Buddha
manifesting into our world for the benefit of all beings, and is
associated with the 16 Nahan [Disciples of Buddha].
just to the west of the temple, a locked-up "Tiger-
Cave" used by commandos during the Korean War
Cave" used by commandos during the Korean War
'finally' after the steep hike, this display
marks the entrance to Seokcheon-am
marks the entrance to Seokcheon-am
The signboard on Seokcheon-am's
compact Spirit-hall proclaims it to be
a Chilseong-gak [Seven Stars (of the
big dipper) Shrine], although it also
enshrines San-shin in the center of
its altar and Dokseong on the left
(above). This is an old-fashioned
touch, recalling the pre-20th-century
prominence of the Chilseong in
Korean folk-shamanist practices.
compact Spirit-hall proclaims it to be
a Chilseong-gak [Seven Stars (of the
big dipper) Shrine], although it also
enshrines San-shin in the center of
its altar and Dokseong on the left
(above). This is an old-fashioned
touch, recalling the pre-20th-century
prominence of the Chilseong in
Korean folk-shamanist practices.
the San-shin, Bukseong-shin (in
Chilseong) and Dokseong paintings
are quite standard modern images
-- but note that this Lonely Saint
Chilseong) and Dokseong paintings
are quite standard modern images
-- but note that this Lonely Saint
the Main Hall features small statues of Sakyamuni Buddha flanked by the Bodhisattvas of
Compassion and Salvation, in front of an extraordinary cliff-carving of that triad (tho with
positions reversed, curiously) surronded by 16 individually-framed Nahan [Disciples of Buddha] --
and the Dokseong (lower-right, with his own separate altar). This set of carvings looks older than
anything else in this temple, and could well be pre-20th-century as the monks here claim...
Compassion and Salvation, in front of an extraordinary cliff-carving of that triad (tho with
positions reversed, curiously) surronded by 16 individually-framed Nahan [Disciples of Buddha] --
and the Dokseong (lower-right, with his own separate altar). This set of carvings looks older than
anything else in this temple, and could well be pre-20th-century as the monks here claim...
| close-ups of upper-left Nahan and the Dokseong, who holds a Peach of Immortality |
Above: San-shin stands out due
to his royal red robe in the
upper-right of the Shinjung-
taenghwa, holding a bullocho
Right: close-up of the carved triad
to his royal red robe in the
upper-right of the Shinjung-
taenghwa, holding a bullocho
Right: close-up of the carved triad
the rocky trail up to it is a
Daoist fantasy of huge
boulders, twisted pine
trees and stone pagodas
Daoist fantasy of huge
boulders, twisted pine
trees and stone pagodas
| wears a faded version of San-shin's "king's" robe -- another clear case of crossing of motifs, typical of Korea's folk-art traditions. |