Not quite temple tourism[but I'll still call this part five.]

This was part four.


[1111px version with a Monkey for scale]


We were in the middle of a week off, so My Lady Friend and I spent a day and a half in Seoul. We visited the National Museum of Korea, which currently features Buddhist mural paintings on loan from the Seattle Art Museum; blue-green landscape paintings from the Joseon Dynasty; longquan celadon ceramics, and an archaeological exhibit focused on decorative wear that was crafted with jewel beetles.

The gigantic gwaebul painting above was the last piece that we came across after viewing many, many landscape and iconographic works. The mural was created in 1767 for use in outdoor ceremonies at Tongdosa Monastery. I haven't been able to find dimensions, but you can look at this photo of my Lady Friend standing in front of the painting and get an idea.


[1111px version, cracks and all]




Did you know that East Asian people gaze at the Full Moon and see a rabbit making rice cakes? Well, now you know...