A Temple of Chinese Characters, a World of Buddhist Language: Understanding the Heart of Eastern Buddhism at Beomeosa Temple

Upon entering Beomeosa Temple in Busan, the first thing that strikes me is its grand scale and rigorous axial layout. The main hall is majestic, with ascending steps leading step by step into a Buddhist realm interwoven with solemnity and ethereality.

Beyond the temple's main axis, on one side lies the Patriarch Hall, dedicated to eminent monks of all generations; on the other, the Ksitigarbha Hall, a compassionate and solemn presence, protects all beings in the netherworld. Facing each other from afar, the two halls resemble the two wings of the Buddhist practice of inner and outer cultivation: one for the transmission of enlightenment and practice, the other for the aspiration to universal salvation.

However, even more striking within this solemn space is the fact that all the Buddhist proverbs, stanzas, and hall plaques found throughout the temple are written in Chinese characters—rectangular, powerful, and imbued with the essence of the Dharma. This is more than a formal choice; it charts the historical trajectory of the flow of civilization and the eastward spread of faith.

From India to China, Buddhism transcended language, transforming into the countless volumes of the Tripitaka through the efforts of eminent monks and translators. The Chinese Buddhist scriptures that arrived on the Korean Peninsula from China have become the cornerstone of Korean Buddhist practice for millennia. Each stroke carries more than just language; it transmits the light of wisdom and carries cultural heritage.

I stood before the stone inscriptions, silently reading the familiar words—
"Mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, three without difference," "All dharmas arise from conditions and cease from conditions"—

I've read these lines before in the Diamond Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.

Now, they are more than just text; they are spiritual dialogues that transcend national boundaries.

Amid the mountains of Busan, amidst the Buddhist chants from the eaves of Beomeosa Temple,

I saw the traces of Buddhism's spread eastward, and I saw that Chinese characters are more than just words; they are a bridge—connecting the past and the present, connecting China and Korea, and connecting my heart to the Buddha's.

Post by 諸文武 | Jul 30, 2025