Third Floor of Botap Pagoda

[Traveler]
Now you are on the third floor of the pagoda. What is its purpose, you may wonder? Oh, there are some Buddhist images, of course, all facing in a single direction. You may think that the ones in here are the same as those you saw on the first floor. But the Buddha enshrined in here is the Maitreya. All the hanging plaques on the third story also show that this hall is devoted to him.

The statue flanked by two assistants is Maitreya, the Buddhist messiah who will rule the future. The Buddha was worshipped widely among the common people in Korea and therefore almost all the villages and towns across Korea once had one or more stone statues in them. The promise of a better future was a great comfort to the common people, who led hard lives. Interestingly, some experts argue that the name Maitreya has the same origin as that of Messiah, the Christian savior.

Hold on! It’s too early to leave yet, because the landscapes you can see from here are too good to miss. Go out through the open doors in all four directions, and then walk around the pagoda while admiring the stunning landscapes surrounding it. Waves of mountain peaks will gently cover your spirit like a serene lotus blossom. If you find the doors closed, why don’t you leave the pagoda and go to the stairs behind the stone lantern, as it will also offer you a good vantage point from which to view the fine landscapes.