Beomeosa Temple: A Unique Place To Visit In Busan

Want to visit one of the three temples in the Yeongnam area and one of my favorites in Busan? Then look no further than the breathtaking Beomeosa temple (범어사), nestled at the foot of Geumjeongsan mountain. Its location and tranquil setting make it the ideal place to recharge your batteries while admiring the craftsmanship and cultural heritage of the site. Without further ado, here’s my guide to Beomeosa!

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History of Beomeosa

Built in 678 by the influential and famous monk Uisang during the Silla period, the temple is described as a Seon temple which uses the method of meditation encouraging the discovery of your true self by forgetting all distracting and futile thoughts. Surrounded by breathtaking nature and scenery, I’d say there’s no better place for it and that’s probably why Beomeosa also offers temple stays.

Beomeosa, which means “Nirvana Fish Temple” refers to the story that “a golden well that never runs dry is located at the top of Geumjeongsan and that a golden fish came down one day to play in this well” and so the mountain was named after the well and the name of the temple came to be.

Largely destroyed by fire during the wars, then rebuilt as well as enlarged, the temple is today what it is: a peaceful place, far from the worries of the world.

Visit of Beomeosa

1. Turtle steles and flagpole support

Before you begin your visit to the magnificent Beomeosa, you’ll come across turtle steles in front of memorial stones said to be there to comfort the souls of deceased Buddhist monks. Continuing on your way and before finally entering the temple, you’ll also stumble upon two stones called danggan jiju, representing an ancient flagpole support.

This is where the real visit starts, by entering, as often in Korea, through the main gate of the temple!

2. Jogyemun Gate (조계문)

Usually called Iljumun or the One-Pillar Gate, it symbolizes the first point of entry into many temples in South Korea, and relates to the Buddhist principle that “all laws of the world lead to one path”. This is where you begin your self-discovery journey.

As you pass through the Jogyemun gate, you’ll already be amazed by the detailed designs and colors on the wooden structure, also known as dancheong, a symbol and national treasure of Korea.

Marvel at its structural balance and aesthetics before heading inside, where more wonders await you!

2. Cheonwangmun Gate (천왕문)

As you climb the steps leading up to Cheonwangmun Gate, or Gate of the Four Heavenly Kings, you’ll find yourself surrounded by statues of fierce-looking warriors, covering each of the cardinal points and symbolizing the defense of Buddhism against evil forces.

These Kings, each with different features are represented as follows:

• Vaisravaṇa: King of the North, leader of the Four Kings and ruler of the rain, he represents wealth and prosperity and is often seen with an umbrella/pagoda in his hand (symbolic weapon) representing his authority.

• Virudhaka: King of the South, he represents growth, his symbolic weapon is the sword as he guards the South.

• Dhritarashtra: King of the East, he represents harmony and protection and holds a lute as his symbolic weapon, to inspire harmony and spirituality.

• Virupaksha: King of the West, he represents knowledge and holds a snake/dragon in his right hand and a pearl in his left, as he’s the leader of the Nagas (serpent spirits) and the one who sees it all.

3. Daeungjeon Hall (대웅전)

Burnt down during the Japanese invasion in 1592, in which the Beomeosa monks actually fought, the Daeungjeon Hall houses a Shakyamuni statue (historical Buddha of our present), with statues of Maitreya (Future) and Dipankara (Past) on its sides.

And as nothing is ever left to chance in the construction of such masterpieces, if you look closely, you’ll see that the shape of the roof is that of a Chinese character “人” meaning “person”.

4. Three-story Stone Pagoda (삼층석탑) & Inner Courtyard

Built during the reign of King Heungdeok of the Silla Dynasty, the pagoda, located just in front of the main hall or Daeungjeon Hall, shows the masonry work and unique style of this period.

Fun fact: the base part, repaired after the Japanese occupation, is actually larger than the rest of the pagoda due to an added stone.

Once you’ve finished enjoying the quality of the craftmanship, just explore Beomeosa’s inner courtyard and its national treasures while a few monks go about their daily activities to understand why this is one of the most famous temples in South Korea.

The architecture, stunning lush forests and serene beauty are ideal to clear your mind while also offering incomparable views of the surrounding area.

And if you come in spring, the temple is also famous for its population of wisterias, which dots the valley with pretty purple flowers.

How to get to Busan

Here are the different modes of transport you can use if you travel from Seoul or Gyeongju:

From Seoul

• By KTX (or high-speed train): from Seoul station to Busan, a ticket will cost you 50,800 KRW ($37) and take around 2.5hours.
• By bus: the journey will cost you 38,300 KRW ($28) and will take betwenn 4 and 5 hours.

From Gyeongju

• By KTX: this time, the journey takes 30 minutes and costs 11,000 KRW ($8).
• By bus: from Gyeongju bus terminal, a ticket to Busan will cost you 6,000 KRW ($4) for 55minutes.

If you’d like to check the various timetables and prices, here are the KTX and bus websites.

How to get to Beomeosa Temple

From Busan station, you can take the subway (line 1, orange) until Beomeosa station, then hop on bus 90 for 5 stops and get off at Beomeosa Parking Lot (범어사주차장).

Entrance to the temple is free and it’s open from 08:00 to 17:00 every day.

Best time to go

There’s really no best or worst time to go to Beomeosa, as each season offers something unique. Whether you want to see the valley sprinkled with purple colors in spring, the scarlet fall foliage in autumn, the snow-covered temple in winter or hear the sound of crickets in summer, the choice is up to you.

But as with all attractions in Korea, my best advice would be to visit during the week for an even more tranquil experience!

If you want to admire the natural beauty of a place steeped in history, I’d say there’s no better place than the hidden gem at the foot of a mountain that is Beomeosa.

Want to find out more about the history of the temple and its national treasures, feel free to check out these two websites: Korea Heritage Service and Geumjeong-gu Office website.

And if you’re still full of energy after your visit, why not round it off with a hike up the breathtaking Geumjeongsan?

Click here to discover my list of Busan’s 8 most beautiful temples!

Click here to check out my guide to Samgwangsa temple in Busan!

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