Chungcheongnam-do

Magok temple, situated in Taewhasan, Gongju-si, Chungchungnam-do, has taken the first step to become a world heritage. South Korea has selected 7 temples across the nation, among which is the Magok temple, in order to enlist traditional buddhist temples as part of UNESCO World Heritage. It has drafted up a tentative list. World Heritage is based upon 1972 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Its heritages are those that the ent ire world population protect it and is subject to preservation, aimed to inherit it to future generation.

Magok temple, which is around 1000 years old, was built by an old monk named Jajangyulsa in AD. 643 during Shilla dynasty. It was named after the shape of the crowded people when the population came to the valley in order to listen to the lecture of Shilla’s Bochunlwhasnag. It resembled the shape of a yam. Initially, it was a large temple of 30 spaces. Yet, from the end of Shilla period just before Koryo period for around 200 years, it could not perform its duty as a temple but rather served as a hiding ground for thieves. Monk Jinul, with orders from the king during the Koryo period, demanded that the thieves leave and in return the thieves tried to hurt him. There is a legend that Jinul threw his body into the air and turned into a tiger and scared off the thieves.

Magok temple, the headquarters of 6th parish of the Jokye Order of National Buddhism, it has under its jurisdiction all temples in Chungnam. These include Yeongsanjeon (National Treasure 800), Daewoongbojeon (National Treasure 801), Daekwngbojeon (National Treasure 802), in overall, seven sets of treasures and six sets of Chungchungnam-do’s regional type treasure, and 5 sets of documents of Chungchungnam-do appointed cultural heritages. Among them, Yeongsanjeon, represents the oldest building, symbolizing the type of architecture that is representative of middle Joseon period’s wooden architecture. Magok temple is also famous for temple stay. Temples stay is a programme where participants learn manners and behaviors in the temple and hear of the historical legends, make floating flowers and Buddhist rosary and thus experience the traditional culture and the temple culture. Recently, with Taewhasan in the middle, there is a walking path where tourists can enjoy 1~3 hours of tracking after visiting Magok temple. there is an old saying “in the spring, go to Magok temple”;this shows the beauty of this place in the spring where it gives the illusion to be among gods in March and April when flower blossoms and huge cherry blossoms cocktail together. It is a sincere wish that Magok temple, so near to us, become not just a heritage to koreans but to the world by enlistment.