Autumn Outing in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province

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Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province

254, Gwanchok-dong, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do

An overwhelming presence of the Eun Jin Mireuk Buddha at Gwanchoksa Temple in Nonsan, which I saw in textbooks.

Lately, I've been so swamped with work that I've had a strong desire to get away. So, I impulsively set off on a solo trip to South Chungcheong Province on the weekend, and my destination was Nonsan. I wanted to see the huge Buddha statue at Gwanchoksa Temple in Nonsan, which I remembered from textbooks.

1. A Quiet Autumn Trip in South Chungcheong Province

As I entered the temple grounds after buying a ticket, there was a slight uphill path, but it wasn't difficult at all. Rather, the subtle scent of incense mixed with the fresh air made me feel good.

It was the height of autumn, and the colorful autumn foliage was beautiful.

It wasn't fancy, but it was full of the simple charm of autumn. It was the perfect kind of trip for walking and contemplating alone. I loved the quiet and peaceful atmosphere, rather than a noisy and grand feeling. That's the charm of traveling alone.

2. Finally Encountering Eun Jin Mireuk, An Overwhelming Presence

As I walked further into the temple grounds, the famous Eun Jin Mireuk appeared before my eyes as the view opened up. Wow, all I could say was, 'It's really big.'

When I saw it in textbook photos, I just thought it was 'unique,' but seeing it in person was a completely different feeling. The head and hands were made unusually large compared to the overall proportions, which was very distinctive. Its height is over 18 meters, and standing under the huge stone Buddha made me feel really small.

I went closer and looked closely at its expression, and it was quite subtle. The glaring eyes and thick lips looked stern, but the plump cheeks and generous jawline looked endlessly benevolent. One face contained both dignity and warmth.

Later, I learned that Gwanchoksa Temple in Nonsan was built in the 970s, right after the Goryeo Dynasty unified the Later Three Kingdoms. As they ended a chaotic period and established a new country, they needed a symbol that would give the people both strong faith and comfort, right? Thinking about that historical background, I felt like I understood the unique proportions a little better.

3. Commentary Heard by Chance, The Story of Goryeo Hidden in Stone

I was standing in front of Eun Jin Mireuk for a while when I heard a guide explaining to a group of visitors nearby. I naturally perked up my ears and listened.

The guide was talking about the two stone structures in front of the Buddha statue that I was curious about. One was a stone pagoda, and the other was a stone lantern. The guide said that the styles of those two artifacts were quite different.

In particular, that stone lantern (Treasure No. 232) is really unique. Usually, the part of a stone lantern that lights the fire is octagonal, but this one is square, and it even looks like a two-story structure, right?

But the upper floor is a 'fake stone lantern' that can't be lit, just for decoration. It was an aesthetic sense to match the proportions, so the sense of the people a thousand years ago is amazing. The stone pagoda next to it is a typical Goryeo Dynasty style, but now only 4 stories remain, but it is said that it was originally 5 stories.

As the guide said, the huge and unconventional Eun Jin Mireuk, the unique two-story square stone lantern, and the relatively simple stone pagoda. It was fun to see these three together. It's like they're showing off their individuality rather than uniformity, which is the charm of Gwanchoksa Temple in Nonsan.

I also heard a legend about how Eun Jin Mireuk was built. A monk named Hyemyeong divided the huge Buddha statue into three stones and made it, but he was worried about how to erect the last stone.

At that time, he was enlightened by watching children playing by building towers with sand by the stream. Like the children's play, he built a slope by piling up soil next to the Buddha statue, and succeeded in rolling the stone up and erecting it.

The origin of the temple name 'Gwanchoksa' was also interesting. When the Buddha statue was completed, the light emanating from the jewel between its eyebrows reached the Song Dynasty in China, and a Chinese monk who saw the light said, 'It looks like a candle,' so it became 'Gwanchoksa.'

I just knew Eun Jin Mireuk as a 'very big Buddha statue,' but there was a story hidden in it with the wisdom of children. I thought I was glad I came to South Chungcheong Province.

4. Nonsan's No. 1 Scenic Spot, A Good Autumn Trip in South Chungcheong Province

Gwanchoksa Temple in Nonsan is said to be the first of the '8 Scenic Spots of Nonsan'. After coming here, I understood why. It wasn't just an old temple, but a space that contained everything from the unique aesthetics and power of the Goryeo Dynasty to interesting legends.

And this Eun Jin Mireuk was originally a treasure, but it was recognized for its value and promoted to a national treasure. It was a national treasure that gave me much more emotion and resonance than what I saw in textbooks. If you are looking for a place to quietly contemplate in the fall, Gwanchoksa Temple in Nonsan is a really good choice. You can feel the comfort of the huge Buddha statue and the charm of autumn as a bonus.

My sudden solo trip to South Chungcheong Province ended like this. Although it was a short trip that only looked around Gwanchoksa Temple in Nonsan, I will not forget the subtle expression of Eun Jin Mireuk for a long time. It was a day I wanted to visit again when my head was complicated.

Gwanchoksa Temple

Address: 25, Gwanchok-ro 1beon-gil, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do (Gwanchok-dong)

Operating Hours: 06:00 ~ 20:00 (Open all year round)

Admission Fee: Free (Admission is free due to the implementation of the reduction of cultural property viewing fees for temples under the Jogye Order from May 4, 2023)

Parking: Free (Available at the dedicated parking lot at the entrance of Gwanchoksa Temple)

* Date of Coverage: November 15, 2025

Source :https://blog.naver.com/sinmunman/224089560127

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