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Pagyesa Temple (804 onward, buildings much more recent)
other sites in Daegu
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Daegu, Korea |
Click on an image to enlarge
Pagyesa is built on a thickly forested slope in northeast Daegu. It is a long walk uphill from the entry gate to the reservoir below the temple that stores much of the city's drinking water. Further up sits the temple, which was founded in 804 AD during the reign of the Silla king Aejang. Now it is a subsidiary of nearby Donghwasa temple. Most of the present buildings are much more recent, but the temple loses none of its aura of antiquity. If you come at the proper hour you can hear Buddhist services, smell the scent of votive candles, and observe the daily activities of the resident monks.
It so happened that the photographer's visit coincided with a South Korean national holiday when many Daegu residents took the opportunity to visit Pagyesa on their vacation. Since many South Koreans are practicing Buddhists, the walk up the hill is something of a pilgrimage. As Buddhists climb up the hill they leave a stone along the way to bless the journey, usually stacking it atop someone else's stone. It is considered bad luck if the pile falls when placing a stone on it.
Site plan of Pagyesa: Click on an arrow
for a view from that location
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Above: click on the small map for a 360 degree panorama from that location. Left: entry ticket |
Bibliography:
All images copyright
1998-2002 Abe Ahn and Tim Ciccone
Nilsen, Robert
South Korea Handbook
Moon Travel Publications. Hong Kong. 1997
http://www.metro.taegu.kr/
http://gic.kyungpook.ac.kr/taegu/pakyae.html