JB Life Summer Vol. 3

JEONBUK TOUR
ABOVE: Two examples of the famed statues at
Songgwangsa..
RIGHT: The view approaching O’s Gallery in
Soyang.
[Photos by ANJEE DISANTO]
Construction-wise, the temple has many different buildings,
holding also traditional Buddhist schools that still
work to this date. Extra silence is advised to not disrupt the
daily lives of monks who live, work and pray there. Also,
it’s one of the temples with the most extensive collection
of statues in the region of North Jeolla province. Inside
many of the buildings, the statues are not only numerous
but also gorgeous. The warriors and heavenly kings near
the entrance gate are especially meaningful: they are the
oldest such clay statues in the whole of South Korea. The
statues, who act like protectors for visitors and the monks
themselves, are usually made of wood, which guarantees
a longer life expectancy for them, but are just not as pretty
as the ones here. The clay statues in Songgwangsa have a
certain sense of depth of field, and it’s lucky that there is
actually no netting or barriers blocking their view (another
thing that differs from other temples in Korea). It goes
without saying that you should not touch the statues, but,
instead, you should just take the chance to actually see
closer, and in more detail, what makes Korean Buddhist
statues so special.
The main Buddha statue present in the temple is not
only a symbol of the resistance stated above but also actually
contains special Buddhist writings inside, wishing for
the safe return of the two princes who had been kidnapped
during the Chinese invasion. The statue is considered one
of the most well-kept and important in the country.
You might have heard before that Jeollabukdo is the
home of arts in Korea. Songgwangsa is a strong argument
for that. One of the main shrines contains some of the
most beautiful ceiling panels present in Buddhist temples.
They are really colorful and, instead of following certain
types of patterns (like is common to most temples), the
panel served as an homage to artists and entertainers that
where influential at the time of construction. It portrays
the work of singers and dancers who were mesmerized
by Buddha’s teachings and it was put together by not only
monks, but also artists, acting like a collective registry of
that era.
These days, Songgwangsa is also a Temple Stay location,
and its rural, streamside position makes it ideal for
meditation and retreat. For more information, visit their
website at www.songgwangsa.or.kr [Korean only].
O’s Gallery
In the heart of the Soyang countryside and between a chain
of mountains and a reservoir lies a very classy and unique
cafe experience. O’s Gallery, as the name states, is a gallery
for local influential artists, but, above it all, it’s the perfect
place to balance your temple trip with good coffee or drinks
plus some relaxing enjoyment of some of the best things nature
and men have created. O’s Gallery is the popular original
in a trio of cultural cafes. Along with O’s Square in Jeonju
and O’s Culture Café in Samnye, this architecturally stunning
café spot brews up more than just coffee.
On the way to the entrance, the building really does seem
like a high-end gallery or a museum, combining tendencies
of concrete and rough wood with a neat and simple
garden. If you choose to sit down outside, the scenario of
mountains and reservoir will act as a great backdrop to the
simplest of things happening around: kids playing in the
big field in front of the building, young couples plotting
out the next steps of their trips, families together laughing
about something incredibly relevant and funny for them.
This can be a place for you to watch life around.
If you choose to sit inside, you might be surprised by the
things to see, even if you are well accustomed with what
Korea has to offer in terms of cafe atmosphere. There is
an actual area for different types of artists to expose their
artistry but mostly any place you choose to stay for a while
will have some spin on artistic expression: paintings are
scattered all over the place and, even when they are not, a
pleasant view is just outside the window, framing a sweet
conversation with a loved one, a friend, or family.
The prices may not be the cheapest, but the whole experience
is absolutely worth it. Be sure to try the special
artisan breads that on offer there (there is a recipe of chocolate-orange
bread that promises to leave a memory for the
future). The loaves, unlike the beverages, are not steeply
priced (around 8,000 won) and you wouldn’t taste anything
like them anywhere else. Be sure to grab any of the special
teas or coffee drinks to accompany, or, if you are like me,
you can settle for a beer to go along with the bread.
To enjoy all these Soyang attractions you can either
utilize the convenience of a car and have a pleasant ride
through clean-aired nature or find Bus 806 in Jeonju,
which goes past many major stops and won’t cost much
at all. These are just a few of the attractions in an area
that is finally realizing its own beauty and drawing in the
tourist population it deserves. While the weather stays
warm and the summer rain washes the air clear, now is the
perfect time to visit.
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Jeonbuk Life 19