Buddhism was first spread to Korea in 372, a period which there had three kingdoms on the Korean peninsula, they were Goguryeo (37 BC-AD 668), Baekje (18 BC-AD 660) and Silla (57 BC-935 AD). There were many reasons for the approval of the three kingdoms, but the acceptance and respect of Buddhism not only represents a religious event or advent philosophy, but also it was a decision which had huge cultural, political and social ramifications for the three kingdoms. For example, the sutras and manuscripts brought Chinese calligraphy, arts and techniques, cultivation of ethic thoughts, stories of good behaviors to the peninsula. As Kim Sung-woo states that, for Goguryeo and Baekje, Buddhism could be interpreted as an imported advance culture which
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People believed that the house faces south is warmer in winter time and cooler in summer time, there is adequate day-light from south side as well. The other discussion of direction is that, Buseoksa temple as a royal supported site, it was the first Buddhist temple built after the first year Silla unified the three kingdoms, the political meaning of Buseoksa temple was important. According to traditional fengshui in China, facing south means “victory” or “imperatorial”, such as the direction order of Forbidden City in Beijing, each of the palaces were ordered to face south. Thus, it might be said that Buseoksa temple also has political meaning under the fengshui order. However, there is a unique characteristic of Buseoksa temple about the main Buddha Amitabha’s direction. Usually the main Buddha sits in the middle facing south as the same direction with the political ruler, but here the Amitabha sits on the west and faces eastern side. According to Kim Bongryol, this is the symbolism of Amitabha, who is the Buddha of western paradise but does not enter the Nirvana and takes care the world of suffering in the east …show more content…
This nine layers stone platform may represent the doctrine of nine levels of paradise in Pure Land Buddhist belief, which shows Buddhist symbolic meaning in the planning of the temple. Additionally, the nine sets of stairs linked to the stone platforms as representing the nine staircases toward Mandala, it is believed that the pain in the secular world will be washed away after finish each three staircases. However, different opinion suggests that nine layers structure might relate to Taebaeksan Mountain’s natural environment. This means the mountain range affects temple panning greatly. ‘Topography’ is used here to explain the whole structure, and this is different from traditional fengshui theories which simply choose a mountain area with water. Choi Jonghyun’s new research assume that each temple buildings has special “andea,” (the mountain or mountain peak it looks towards ) and the building layout is determined by the location and andae’s appearance (2005,pp76). Although there needs more evidence to prove this hypothesis, it might be assumed that fengshui theory is not the only key factor on Buddhist space in Korea. On the other hand, from the site plan we can see straight axis from Cheonwangmun to Anyangru, but the angle has small changed toward the final Muryangsujeon building. It is said that word ‘anyang’ is the other name of western paradise, so after the gate
People believed that the house faces south is warmer in winter time and cooler in summer time, there is adequate day-light from south side as well. The other discussion of direction is that, Buseoksa temple as a royal supported site, it was the first Buddhist temple built after the first year Silla unified the three kingdoms, the political meaning of Buseoksa temple was important. According to traditional fengshui in China, facing south means “victory” or “imperatorial”, such as the direction order of Forbidden City in Beijing, each of the palaces were ordered to face south. Thus, it might be said that Buseoksa temple also has political meaning under the fengshui order. However, there is a unique characteristic of Buseoksa temple about the main Buddha Amitabha’s direction. Usually the main Buddha sits in the middle facing south as the same direction with the political ruler, but here the Amitabha sits on the west and faces eastern side. According to Kim Bongryol, this is the symbolism of Amitabha, who is the Buddha of western paradise but does not enter the Nirvana and takes care the world of suffering in the east …show more content…
This nine layers stone platform may represent the doctrine of nine levels of paradise in Pure Land Buddhist belief, which shows Buddhist symbolic meaning in the planning of the temple. Additionally, the nine sets of stairs linked to the stone platforms as representing the nine staircases toward Mandala, it is believed that the pain in the secular world will be washed away after finish each three staircases. However, different opinion suggests that nine layers structure might relate to Taebaeksan Mountain’s natural environment. This means the mountain range affects temple panning greatly. ‘Topography’ is used here to explain the whole structure, and this is different from traditional fengshui theories which simply choose a mountain area with water. Choi Jonghyun’s new research assume that each temple buildings has special “andea,” (the mountain or mountain peak it looks towards ) and the building layout is determined by the location and andae’s appearance (2005,pp76). Although there needs more evidence to prove this hypothesis, it might be assumed that fengshui theory is not the only key factor on Buddhist space in Korea. On the other hand, from the site plan we can see straight axis from Cheonwangmun to Anyangru, but the angle has small changed toward the final Muryangsujeon building. It is said that word ‘anyang’ is the other name of western paradise, so after the gate