Seonamsa

Seonamsa
Seonamsa Seungseongyo (bridge) with Gangseonnu (pavilion) peeping out beneath
Korean name
Hangul	선암사
Hanja	仙巖寺
Revised Romanization	Seonam-sa
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏnam-sa

External video

Seonamsa Video Slideshow

Seonam Temple, Suncheon

Coordinates: 34°59′48″N 127°19′52″E / 34.99661°N 127.331089°E / 34.99661; 127.331089 Seonam Temple, or Seonamsa, is a Korean Buddhist temple on the eastern slope at the west end of Jogyesan Provincial Park, within the northern Seungjumyeon District of the city of Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. It belongs to the Taego Order.

The name Seonam ("Xian's Precipice", ) is derived from the legend that a xian, an immortal, once played the game of Go here.

About 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the entrance towards the main temple grounds, two rainbow-shaped bridges appear; the second-larger one being Seungseon Bridge. Just beyond Seungseon Bridge is Gangseon Pavilion. Past the pavilion, the small oval-shape pond called Samindang comes into site. Inside the pond is a small islet with an evergreen, creating an attractive setting.

Going further on the Ilju Gate appears, beyond which the various temple buildings emerge. The large timbers of the main temple buildings are impressive, blending elegantly with the surrounding Jogye mountains and harmonizing with the nature surrounding them.

A hiking trail to the left of Seonam Temple leads to Maaeburi, a 17 metres (56 ft)-high sculpture engraved on a rock. Seonamsa is beautiful throughout the year, especially in the spring when all the flowers are in bloom, as well as in the fall with all the autumn colors.

With 19 National Cultural Properties in its halls and museum, there are few Korean Buddhist temples with more treasures than Seonamsa.

Legend states that in 529, the missionary monk Ado (阿道) built a hermitage at this site on the eastern slope of Jogyesan and named it Biroam (Chinese: 毘盧庵; pinyin: Pílúān; Korean: 비로암).