SonamSa -- Sonam Temple

Sonam Temple (Seonam-Sa) is located in South Cholla province near Chogye Mountain (Chogye-san) in Sunchun (Suncheon). During the break between first and second term, I traveled around with some of my students, including Yim Hyung Wook, Kim Woo Hyun, Kim Mi Nam and Jeong Kyeong Suk. We went to Sonam-Sa, Nagan and Haenam, traveling by bus or on foot and staying in Yogwons. We were going to go to a few more places, but we ran out of money. More information and pictures of Sonam-Sa are available on the Life In Korea website.

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The twin stone pagodas seen in the courtyard are believed to date from the Shilla period (9th century). Like many things in Korea, they are designated as a national or cultural treasure. A closer picture I took of one of the Pagodas can be seen here.	These are two of the many Buddhas at the temple. The painting behind the statues depicts several otehr Buddhas or priests who have achieved Buddha.
There are plenty of little piles of stones like this around the temple. My understanding is that the stacks of stones are like little pagodas, and the stones represent prayers.
This is a beautiful bridge, and my photo doesn't do it justice. The curve is a perfect half circle, there is a dragon head in the center. The bridge dates back to the middle of the Chosun dynasty, which lasted from the 14th to the 20th century.

NEXT - Nagan Fortress Town