This study compares the location of Tongdosa Temple and that
of the ruins of Hoeamsa Temple from a feng shui perspective.
Tongdosa was founded in 656 by Jajang. Zen Buddhism was
introduced into Korea at the end of Silla, and feng shui was
introduced along with Zen Buddhism. The location of Tongdosa
was selected according to feng shui theory. The Dark Turtle peak
of Tongdosa is a part of the Azure Dragon ridge that extends
from the left side of Yeongchuksan Mountain. The site of
Tongdosa is located on the southern foot of the Dark Turtle
peak. In harmony with right and left ridge, the hidden central
ridge of Dark Turtle peak gives the vital energy to the lair at the
end of approaching ridge.
The lair of Tongdosa is the site of Daeungjeon and Geumgang
ordination altar. The lair is encircled by water, and it forms a
harmony of yin and yang. This is left-handed lair going against
the current of water. The water encircling the lair functions as lair-proof.
The Blue Dragon ridge, which extends from the front of Dark
Turtle peak, passes through Yeongchuksanmun and stops when it
meets White Tiger ridge.
The White Tiger ridge extends from the right side of the top of Yeongchuksan Mountain and continues low, surrounding Daeungjeon and Geumgang ordination altar.
The mountain in front of Tongdosa is a part of White Tiger
ridge. The ridge make Wite Tiger structure of the geographical
features of Tongdosa.
One stream originating from Yeongchuksan flows from the west
and another stream flows from the south to Tongdosa. The two
streams join in front of upper area of Tondgosa and encircle the
lair. As a gate blocking the waterway, the rounded mountain at
the water gate forms a structure of getting water where the vital
energy is accumulated.
The lair of Tongdosa is located in a place with a mountain
behind and a stream in front. Moreover it is a place where the
water energy of stream flowing in a bow-shaped curve and the
earth energy of ridge extending from Yeongchuksan are in
harmony. Daeungjeon and Geumgang ordination altar are located
in this place.
Tongdosa is located in an auspicious site which catches wind and gets water. It has the shapes and the contours of geographical features where water flows encircling mountain.
With opened front and closed back, it combines the yin and
yang of heaven and earth and satisfies all the requirements of
feng shui.
Hoeamsa was founded in 1328 by Jigong after the Arananta
Temple of India. Originally, Hoeamsa was a huge temple whose building area was over 1200 square meters.
The Dark Turtle peak of Hoeamsa turns it''s back on the lair.
The liar is not on a flatland, but on a terraced field made of
slopes.
The White Tiger ridge also turns its back on the lair. The
Azure Dragon ridge has no vital energy because it runs straight.
The stream penetrating the lair splits into two, and the two
streams originating from Cheonbosan flow straight along the
mountain. Wind is also strong on the site of Hoeamsa. For this
reason, in the lair of Hoeamsa, the vital energy is not gathered
but distributed. Though there is a mountain shaped like jade belt
in front of Hoeamsa, it is too weak to form a structure which
catches wind.
Hoeamsa prospered from the end of Goryeo to the early Joseon
Dynasty as the headquarter of all the temples of Korea and as
the temple for the honor of the nation and royalty. However,
since Hoeamsa was founded without consideration of feng shui
conditions, it has not continued until today.
The temples built before the advent of the feng shui thought
were located in a sacred place or in the downtown of the capital
where the king resides. Such are Mireuksa Temple in Iksan,
Hwangryongsa Temple, Bunhwangsa Temple, and Heungryunsa
Temple in Gyeongju. These temples were built on a plain where
there are no mountains. The land on which these temples are
located does not have enough earth energy, for it does not meet
the feng shui requirements such as "There should be mountains
on the back and water on the front", "The front side should be
low and the back side should be elevated" and "Water must flow
encircling mountain". The reason why these temples became
ruined temples can be explained through feng shui factors.
The temples built on land that meets feng shui requirements
have become famous temples that have been around for a
millennium. However, the temples built on land that did not meet
the feng shui requirements have become ruined temples. This
shows that feng shui factors influence the rise and fall of
temples.
The essential goal of feng shui is to minimize environmental
problems such as destruction of nature and contribute to the selection of eco-friendly locations. Incorporating feng shui location factors in nature-friendly location factors will not only
help improve the quality of life of individuals, but also help to
develop sustainable land development plans. Therefore, this study
aimed to prove that feng shui can play a significant role in
modern society.