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Daegu is located in southeast South Korea. With a populaton of 2.18 million it is South Korea's 4th largest city. It can be reached by taking the high speed train from Seoul or Busan. Though famous for apples I did not eat any apples during my visit. I did visit the Daegu Yangnyeongsi Musuem of Oriental Medicine. This museum was opened in 1993 for the purpose of providing a permanent display of Oriental Medicine. The next day I took the cable car up to Mt Palgongsan. At the top is a small restaurant and viewing platform. From there I hiked downhill to Donghwasa Temple which features the world's largest medical Buddha. |
Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Cultural Center was established in 1993 to display 350-year-old traditions of Oriental medicine.
The museum has three floors. The bottom floor is a medical market which different types of herbal medicines can be purchased. The middle floor presents eperience stations, a souvenir shop and a outdoor garden. The top floor displays general and historical facts about oriental medicine development.
Plant are a very important source for raw materials for herbal medicines. Some are picked for their leaves, others for roots, fruit, flowers or bark.
Mt Palgongsan, popular amongst local hikers, is situated in the northeastern part of Daegu city. The local bus 1-101 will take you near to the base of Mt Palgongsan. To reach the summit I had two options, to walk or to take the cable car. I chose the cable car with the idea of walking down to Donghwasa Temple. The cable car is located at the end of Palgongsan-ro 185-gil.
It is the site of multiple events of historical and religious significance, and contains many Buddhist temples, Confucian traces, natural religious sites and even a Catholic refuge.
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Cable Car |
Restaurant on Mt Palgongsan |
The high peak, know as Bi-Ro-Bong, housed the Je-Chun-Dan alter for people to pray for the nation's wellbeing and secuity before 100BC. This mountain has encouraged many talented leaders of the Korean nation, both culturally and in other ways.
Mt Palgongsan has even taken a role of being a strategic zone for the protection from North Korean attacks. In 1950-53 along the Na-Dong river it is believed the mountain aided South Korean citizens in these battles by omitting a strong spiritual energy, or chi, and using this force to drive the people to victory.
If you like you can place a coin on the wishing stone and make a wish. Will you wish come true, I have no idea, but they do have your coin.
Leaving, I followed a rough trail, marked by red ribbons, down to Donghwasa Temple.
Donghwasa Temple is located south of Daegu Jinsan Palgong Mountain. Built by Geukdal in the 15th year of the reign of Silla King Soji (493) it was originally name Yugasa Temple.
Simji Wangsaa rebuilt the temple during the reign of King Heungdeok (826-836). It was winter and the flowers of the Paulownia tree were still blooming. Hence the temple was renamed, by Simji Wangsa in 832, Donghwasa from 'Dong" meaning "Paulownia tree" and "Hwa' meaning 'flower'.
Throughout its history it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times.
Many of the contemporary buildings were reconstructed during the reign of Joseon King Yeongjo who reigned from 1724-1762.
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Drum |
Bell |
The Tongil-yaksa-yeorae-daebul Buddha which is 33 metre high standing on top of a 17 m high pedestal was built in 1993 by Buddhists seeking unification of the two Koreas. The hat upon the Buddha's head donates a medical Buddha.
Donghwasa Temple is one of the temples involved in Korea's temple stay program. This allows people to experience traditional Korean culture and Buddist monastic life. It is something I might consider on a future visit.