Photos of Seongmo-do, Incheon Municipal Area, Korea

Incheon Flag
Images of the World
Flag of Korea

Seongmo-do, Incheon Municipal Area

Seongmo-do is an island just to the west of Ganghwa Island, in the northwest of South Korea. A frequent ferry sails between the fishing village of Oepo-ri on Ganghwa-do to Seongmo-ri, the only town on Seongmo Island. The most notable site on Seongmo-do is Bomunsa, a temple allegedly constructed on command of Queen Seondeok during the Silla Era in 635 CE.

Village of Seongmo-ri
 
Village of Seongmo-ri
 
Bell pavillion, Bomunsa
 
Bronze bell of Bomunsa
 
Main hall of Bomunsa
 
Buddha statues, Bomunsa
 
pagoda, Bomunsa
 
Monk statue, Bomunsa
 
Monk statues
 
300 stone monks
 
Seokgulamja, Bomunsa
 
Grotto of Bomunsa
 
Grinding stone, Bomunsa
 
Dragon carvings, Bomunsa
 
Reclining Buddha, Bomunsa
 
Stele, Bomunsa
 
Lanterns and dragons
 
View from Seongmo-do
 
God of Mercy carving
 
At the God of Mercy
 
God of Mercy carving
 
View of the west coast
 
Roof line, Bomunsa
 
Ferry from Seongmo-do
 

It is a most spectacular temple, with a splendid main hall and a curious display of hundreds of carved stone monks seated in what seems like a “stadium”, looking at a sizeable sculpted marble pagoda on a plaza. The famous Grotto of Bomunsa, initially built in 635, was reconstructed in 1812; a natural cave contains a chamber for an image of the Buddha and other Buddhist figures.

A steep climb behind the temple of Bomunsa leads to Ma-aeseokbuljwasang, the image of the Buddhist God of Mercy, 10 metres high and many centuries old, carved on a rock at Mount Nakga, (“Eyebrow Rock”). It was sculpted by the chief priests of Bomunsa, Lee Hwa-eung and Bae Seon-ju. Many people come here to pray. The view from here, over the western shore of the island of Seongmo-do, is spectacular.