Korean Temples: The Beauty in the Details

Walking along our local hiking trail I pointed out a tiny bug on the ground and commented on its interesting shape. My friend gave me a strange look and exclaimed, “How on earth did you see that?!” I laughed and explained to her that I am a details person. Where others see a vast landscape, I pick out the patterns of the trees. It’s not to say that I can’t see the big picture, but I am drawn to the smaller details in life. It is this little quirk that led me to realize that the true beauty of Korean temples is not in what you first see.

 

Korea is brimming with traditional temples of all shapes and sizes. But while their hand carved eaves and delicately painted walls are beautiful, many often say that if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. At first glance this may seem true; but I’ve come to appreciate that what makes each temple breathtaking and unique are its details.

 

While each temple follows a similar blueprint and many were refurbished or rebuilt after the Korean war decimated the country, they also each retain their own bit of history and character. If you take the time to look, a Korean temple is so much more than its magnificent size or brilliantly colored wood.

 

What makes a Korean temple beautiful?

It’s the rusty doorknobs and the smell of old books

It’s the bright colors and hand carved details

 

It’s the quiet moments and monks in prayer

 

It’s the Buddha carvings peering at you from surprising angles

 

 

It’s the girls in their hanboks

 

It’s the arched rooves bordering deep blue skies

 

 

It’s the cool feel of a carved wall and mountain spring water

 

 

It’s the stone statues, standing their ground

It’s the rows of shadows and ancient peeling paint

 

It’s the colorful autumn leaves draping over crumbling walls

 

It’s the thousands of lanterns, swaying in the ocean breeze

 

These are just some of the details that make Korean temples beautiful.