菩提庵

Readings

Pinyin: Pútí ān

Wade-Giles: P'u-t'i an

Hangul: 보리암

Korean MC: Bori am

Korean MR: Pori am

Katakana: ボダイアン

Hepburn: Bodai an

Bori am

• (Lit. Hermitage of Enlightenment). Bori Hermitage is situated at Mt. Geumsan 錦山, Namhae region 南海郡, in South Gyeongsang Province 慶尙南道. Bori Hermitage is one of the three famous sites where the Bodhisattva Avalokitêśvara reputedly resides. The hermitage was founded by Wonhyo 元曉 in 683, during the reign of King Sinmun (神文王 r. 681–692). Wonhyo was attracted to the location by the remarkable appearance of the mountain which seemed to be emitting light. He eventually founded a temple there which he named Bogwang-sa 普光寺, meaning, temple of Universal Light. According to the Flower Adornment Sutra 華嚴經, the Bodhisattva Avalokitêśvara resides therein. Before he founded the Joseon 朝鮮 dynasty, Yi Seonggye 李成桂 (King Taejo), is reported to have offered prayers at temples considered famous for their miraculous efficacy. Having received no response to the prayers he had offered at Mt. Gyeryong 鷄龍山 and Mt. Jiri 智異山, he finally visited Mt. Bogwang and dedicated himself to offering up 100 days of prayer. During this practice, he gave a promise to the divine spirit of Bogwang Mountain that he would wrap the whole mountain with silk if his prayers were successful. Later, he was reminded of the promise he had given to the divine spirit of the mountain, but even as a king of the powerful Joseon era, he was not able to honor his promise in a literal sense by wrapping the whole mountain with silk. He was, however, clever in finding an alternative means to honor his promise, by renaming the mountain 'Geum' 錦 which means silk. In 1660, almost 1000 years after its original foundation, the Bogwang Temple underwent great restoration. At this time Hyeonjong 顯宗, 18th in the line of kings of the Joseon dynasty, designated Bogwang-sa as the original temple of the royal family, to commemorate Yi Seonggye's prayers which he had offered up to found the Joseon dynasty. At the same time the name was changed from Bogwang Temple to Bori Hermitage. Bori Hermitage is the site of many Buddhist cultural assets, which include the main hall (Bogwang-jeon 普光殿) and a famous statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitêśvara, which is carved from Chinese juniper. [resp. O. B. Chun]

Dictionary References:

Bulgyo sajeon, 296a

Copyright © 2010 -- Charles Muller

generated: 2013-08-10