Koreans who take up wood carving often seem to develop an obsession with certain parts of the body, particularly the penis.
Browsing the archives for the Sites to see category
27 Jul 10
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Posted in Bulguk-dong, Korean culture, Other, Statues & carvings, guest writer
Tagged carving, weird, wood carving
Tagged carving, weird, wood carving
10 Jul 10
Continued from Part 1….
5. Neoseo-ri Tombs (너서리왕릉): Once surrounded by houses, the half dozen or so tombs of Noseo-ri have been cleared of buildings and made into oasis-like park in the midst of downtown Gyeongju. Just across the street from Bonghangdae tomb, this park is a great spot for tomb watching, an afternoon picnic or [...]
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Posted in Gyeongju, Sites to see, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10, history
Tagged 12 Animals, ancient carvings, architecture, Chinese Zodiac, Gyeongju, history, legends, people, Shilla Dynasty, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10
Tagged 12 Animals, ancient carvings, architecture, Chinese Zodiac, Gyeongju, history, legends, people, Shilla Dynasty, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10
27 Jun 10
Perched on the ridge of Mt. Tohamsan (토함산) , looking East over the Churyeong (추령) Pass is one of the best kept secrets of Gyeongju: the Beak Nyeon Cha Jip (백년찻집) or “100 Years Tea House”. Whether you’re a dedicated tea aficionado or you need a break on the trip over to the East Sea [...]
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Posted in East Sea, Gyeongju, Restaurants, Sites to see, Tips for tourists
Tagged 100 Years Tea House, Beak Nyeon Cha Jip, East Sea, Gyeongju, hiking, Korean food, Mt. Tohamsan, Restaurants, Seokkuram, Tea, teahouse, Tips for tourists
Tagged 100 Years Tea House, Beak Nyeon Cha Jip, East Sea, Gyeongju, hiking, Korean food, Mt. Tohamsan, Restaurants, Seokkuram, Tea, teahouse, Tips for tourists
15 May 10
The other Sunday the sun was finally shining after a solid week of rain. My wife and I hopped in the car and took off to explore the countryside determined to enjoy some of the hard-earned Spring weather. As luck would have it, we drifted back some country roads going west out of town, and [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Gyeongju, Sites to see, Temples & shrines
Tagged architecture, Bodhisattva, Buddhism, Cave shrine, Countryside, Flowers, Gyeongju, Mt. Eorimsan, Nae Tae Villiage, Pear Flowers, Spring, temples, Villiages
Tagged architecture, Bodhisattva, Buddhism, Cave shrine, Countryside, Flowers, Gyeongju, Mt. Eorimsan, Nae Tae Villiage, Pear Flowers, Spring, temples, Villiages
12 May 10
Coming up in about a week and a half is my absolute favorite holiday in Korea: Seokga Tanshinil (석가탄신일), or Buddha’s Birthday. Every temple in Korea celebrates Buddha’s Birthday one way or another. Most hang lanterns, have special ceremonies and serve a special group lunch or dinner for parishioners. A few of the larger or [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Bulguk-dong, Gyeongju, Statues & carvings, Temples & shrines, Tips for tourists, holidays
Tagged ancient carvings, architecture, Buddha's Birthday, Buddhism, Bulguksa, Golgulsa, Gyeongju, holidays, lantern parade, Seokkuram, Seonmudo, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, video
Tagged ancient carvings, architecture, Buddha's Birthday, Buddhism, Bulguksa, Golgulsa, Gyeongju, holidays, lantern parade, Seokkuram, Seonmudo, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, video
4 May 10
Continued from Part 1:
5. The Buddha Boulder (부처바위) of Tapgol Valley (탑골): Tucked behind the quaint beauty of Oknyeongam Hermitage (옥룡암) in Tapgol (pagoda) Valley is a large rock outcropping covered with Buddhist carvings. There are dozens of cryptic images including meditating Buddhas, flying Devas, pagodas, and even winged lions! The quiet magic of [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Gyeongju, Statues & carvings, Tips for tourists, Top 10, history
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Byeondosan, cycling, Geumgangsan, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Namsan, ruins, Seokkuram, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Tips for tourists, Top 10
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Byeondosan, cycling, Geumgangsan, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Namsan, ruins, Seokkuram, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Tips for tourists, Top 10
1 May 10
The other week my wife and I were walking through an older neighborhood of Gyeongju on our way downtown to grab a burger at McDonalds (Yeah, yeah. I know, but she’s pregnant. I’m not going to argue.) About a block from the courthouse, we turned the corner and stumbled on something we’d not seen since [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Gyeongju, Seonggeon-dong, Temples & shrines, history
Tagged architecture, Buddhism, downtown, Gyeongju, history, Japanese occupation, Modern History, photography, Soto Zen, temples
Tagged architecture, Buddhism, downtown, Gyeongju, history, Japanese occupation, Modern History, photography, Soto Zen, temples
28 Apr 10
One of the cool things about Gyeongu is that it’s literally covered with ancient stone Buddhas from the Unified Shilla Dynasty (통일 신라), most dating back to around the 7th or 8th centuries C.E. Very little is generally known about the sculptors who chiseled out these masterpieces way back when, though they were probably carved [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Gyeongju, Statues & carvings, Tips for tourists, Top 10, history
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Byeondosan, cycling, Geumgangsan, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Namsan, ruins, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Tips for tourists, Top 10
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Byeondosan, cycling, Geumgangsan, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Namsan, ruins, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Tips for tourists, Top 10
