Iron Cauldron

[Traveler]
Now, why don't we turn aside from this straight path for a moment and make a short visit to a tiny building on our right? There is a huge iron bowl shaped like a tin helmet worn by British soldiers during the First World War. What was it used for? Was it a whirlpool tub used by the monks some hundreds of years ago? No, it was not. Remarkably, it was a cauldron used for cooking rice or soup.

Is there anyone who can guess how many monks were fed with rice cooked in this pot in one go? Don't be surprised. They say that the pot can hold as much as 3,200kg of rice. Considering that an ordinary Korean consumes 200 grams of rice in one meal, it’s enough for 16,000 people. Isn't that amazing? It is said that there were more than 3,000 monks in this temple when this cauldron was used. So the cauldron provides clear evidence of the prosperity the temple once enjoyed.

The temple is currently made up of about 30 buildings. However, according to historical records, it was a large monastery with about 60 main buildings and 70 subsidiary buildings until the end of the 16th century. When the seven-year war waged between Korea and Japan following the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, the greater part of the temple was destroyed. But thankfully the cauldron was never harmed. Today this majestic vessel is regarded as a “living witness” of the glorious past of Beopju Temple.