The Ancient Buddhist Temples and imperial palaces represent the most significant cultural treasures that attract the tourist and research interest of visitors to South Korea.

Since almost all Korean Buddhist temples are largely similar, most foreign travelers limit themselves to visiting the most famous ones, as, apart from the unique nature-loving experience that each small trip to the Korean countryside offers, they do not expect to experience something new by seeing yet another distant Buddhist monastery.

However, every magnificent or humble ancient Buddhist temple, every pagoda, every small shrine, or every wind-blown and time-worn Buddhist statue high in the mountain peaks or nestled within the forests forms a unique tile in the mosaic of Korean history and the cultural tradition of the country.

In Korean Buddhist monasteries, these places of silence and contemplation, the oldest philosophical texts of Korea were written, as well as significant poetic works related to Buddhism.

There, the most unexpected historical battles were fought by warrior monks who defended the country’s independence, fighting hand-to-hand against foreign conquerors, tragically breaking their peaceful Buddhist vows. There, dissenters, visionaries, and the damned were exiled, whether involuntarily or voluntarily.