The purpose of this study is to perform a geomantic analysis of Gochal Jangkyeong Temple, Mangwol Temple, Gaewon Temple, and Gukcheong Temple inside the Namhansanseong Fortress in the Seongnam region, identifying the topographical and geographical Fe...
The purpose of this study is to perform a geomantic analysis of Gochal Jangkyeong Temple, Mangwol Temple, Gaewon Temple, and Gukcheong Temple inside the Namhansanseong Fortress in the Seongnam region, identifying the topographical and geographical Feng Shui characteristics of the subject temples, as well as the characteristics from a geomantic perspective. Historically, Namhansanseong Fortress is a fortress guarding Seoul along with Bukhansanseong Fortress, registered as a UNESCO world heritage site in May 2014. It is a precious asset and the 11th heritage in Korea to be registered, and is a world heritage that humanity joinly works to preserve. The temples inside Namhansanseong Fortress were built from the Three Kingdoms Era to the Choson Dynasty, and some temples were built for national defense rather than for religion, establishing the ideological basis of patriotic Buddhism after experiencing the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, and the First and Second Manchu Invasions of Korea. A summary of the findings of this study is as described below.
First, the baseline data for location selection was derived by performing a geomantic analysis on the temples inside Namhansanseong Fortress to identify the commonality and difference between ordinary temples and Seungyoung temples, and analyzing the fortune of temple locations by performing analyses from various Feng Shui perspectives, such as Hyoungqi theory analysis, Liqi theory analysis, ternary Liqi theory analysis, and Bibo theory analysis. Until now, there was no preceding study related to temples inside Namhansanseong Fortress or analysis from a geomantic perspective. Therefore, this study attempted to identify the source in relation to how the temples inside Namhansanseong Fortress approached the traditional Feng Shui theories.
Second, by analyzing the differences between temple Feng Shui and general Feng Shui, the merits and demerits, as well as the functional elements of temple Feng Shui and general Feng Shui, were distinguished.
The biggest characteristic distinguishing the difference between temple Feng Shui and general Feng Shui is the harmony between man and nature achieved by rejecting man's selfish human-centricity and greed in relation to land. In other words, it can be said that the center of temple Feng Shui lies in the harmony between man and universe based on the Eui-Jeong-Bul-Yi philosophy that the body and the land(territory) are not separate entities.
Third, the status of temples before the Choson Dynasty up until today were identified, and the elements of Ji-Ri-Oh-Gyeol (Dragon, Vein, Sand, Water, Direction) were analyzed in detail based on the yin-yang theory and the five elements theory, applying it to each temple.
Originally, only Mangwol Temple and Okjeong Temple were inside Namhansanseong Fortress, but the seven temples of Gaewon Temple, Jangkyeong Temple, Gukcheong Temple, Hanheung Temple, Cheongju Temple, Namdan Temple, and Donglip Temple were newly built when constructing the fortress.
Feng Shui is a traditional geographical study of Korea and China based on the yin-yang theory and the five elements theory, a sangji (topographical) technique with the purpose of pursuing good fortune and avoiding bad luck.
This study analyzed the five elements(dragon, vein, sand, water direction) in an objective perspective. When extending or reconstructing not only should the characteristic of the temple be well-suited for arrangement. Furthermore, geomantic characteristics were considered for the analysis of ibsuyong that flows from Jusan, Black tortoise's bowing/raising, left-blue dragon and right-white tiger, diverse Sasinsas such as Josan and Ansan, and the flow of water, locking of wave ridge.
Therefore, by realistically analyzing the basic Feng Shui theory and geographical concepts of various temples, and parts identified as lacking are actively supplemented, supplementary materials are created to supplement the structures so that seungsaenggi is preserved, and the samhab potaebeob and hyeongong Feng Shui theory are incorporated to determine the seat and direction, the temple will superbly serve its value and purpose.