Iljumun of Silleuksa Temple


“Ah, finally, it’s Silleuksa! Honey, this is Iljumun of Silleuksa!”

"Iljumun? Is this the main gate of the temple?”

“That’s right! The first gate into a temple is called Iljumun. This symbolizes ‘oneness’ or ‘one mind!’ Originally, Iljumun meant that the pillars were lined up as one. Rather than having four pillars like a common house, a roof was placed on just two pillars!”

“Oh, you’re right, there are only two pillars. Are these beams made of rock rather than wood?”

“Are they? In Iljumun of Silleuksa, the distinctive technique of entasis for stone pillars was used; with this technique, the middle part of the pillars was slightly thicker in diameter! Look, there is some writing carved here! Can you read it? Now, from the right…”

“Samilsusim Cheonjaebo, even a short period of cultivating the mind can be treasured for a thousand years!”

“Baenyeontamyog Iljojin, a hundred years of greed becomes dust overnight!”

“These sound wise. It would be nice if people could live like that!”

“Why not live like that? It is said to contain the teaching that one should clear worldly afflictions with the Buddha’s words, and go in with one mind toward the world of wisdom before entering the sacred temple!”

“Oh, really? That’s why I feel that my mind is being cleared…”

“Now, shall we go into Silleuksa Temple, the world of wisdom, with our clear minds?”