#2 S. Korea PET
Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 12:28 pm
Buddhism.
I guess the total number of Buddhists is about equal to the total number of Christians in S. Korea, but Buddhism has been around
a lot longer -- and is very deeply entrenched in the culture. This is one building in a temple complex that I visited. Very often
Buddhist temples are located up on a mountain.
The side of one of the buildings. Hmmmm... Notice anything?
In Buddhism, the swastika signifies auspiciousness and good fortune as well as the Buddha's footprints and the Buddha's heart.
The swastika is said to contain the whole mind of the Buddha and can often be found imprinted on the chest, feet or palms of
Buddha images. It is also the first of the 65 auspicious symbols on the footprint of the Buddha.
I C&P'd that info from a site on Buddhism.
Place of worship inside one of the buildings. This one is set up for ancestor worship, which is a common part of the culture with
many folks here. You can see the pictures of the deceased relatives there. And the drum, set toward the right side of where people
are bowing down, is banged on during chanting - summoning the spirits.
Another worship room. This woman is bowing down to Buddha(s). Three large Buddha statues and hundreds of Buddha figurines
all around the room. Not sure what those white "cubes" are for.
It was Buddha's birthday earlier this month, and it's a big day here. Similar to Christmas in America.
GAME TIME!
These fellas are playing a game called Jokball. It's played similarly to volleyball -- but using the feet rather than the arms. Kick
the ball no more than three times on your side of the net, and hopefully by the third kick, the ball is up close to the net so that
one of the players can raise his foot up past his ear so that he can *spike* the ball down on his opponents. Unlike volleyball,
though, the ball bounces once as it is passed from player to player on one side of the net.
Standard dirt soccer field in the background, btw. haha
Another look at Jokball. Not IN.
A traditional Korean game called Tuho. I think you're supposed to stand 10 paces back from "the bucket," and then throw the
wooden arrows (four shots) into the bucket. This lady appears to have cheated by standing too close. But she's good. She is
implementing the leg-kick method --and has made all four shots. It's not that easy. Props to her.
Poptart, the angular one, has a nice release, yet you can see the two stick already on the ground. All four ended up there, No
leg kick used. I will work on that. Supposedly, this is a drinking game. Take a shot for each arrow missed. Or... sing a song for
each arrow missed. Screw it, I did neither -- and they're lucky I didn't break one of their sticks over my knee.
These kind of wood platform gazebo are located all over the place. They are basically "resting" places, or meeting places, or
mingling places.
A look at a couple of them. You have to take your shoes off if you are going to stand on it. You have to take your shoes off a lot
of places here. In most homes, in many restaurants, and on these things... When I first got here to S. Korea, I made the mistake
of walking around on one of these with my shoes on. One of the guards from a nearby apartment building saw the horrah and
came flying over to lecture me. I really don't know what he said, but it seemed as if this particular guard found joy in reaming
the dumb Yankee out. ha
There we go.
Will you be having coffee or can?
I'll have coffee.
This dispenses dixie cup sized cups of coffee for 300 won. A little more than 25 cents. I seldom have 12 oz (or more) cups of
coffee any more. Just these things. Three or four cups a day. Small cup, but... strong. Drink one of these devils after 8:00 PM
and you won't be sleeping.
