Heungjusa Temple: A Hidden Gem of Purple Blooms in Taean, South Korea
It's that time of year again when the enchanting purple blooms of Liriope muscari, also known as Big Blue Lilyturf, signal the transition to autumn. Today, I visited Heungjusa Temple in Taean, a renowned Liriope muscari flower spot in South Chungcheong Province. Here's my review of a healing temple trip, covering the key attractions, parking, Liriope muscari blooming season, and current bloom status:)
Before you go!
Heungjusa Temple
Address: 61-61, Songmal 1-gil, Taean-eup, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
Open year-round, always open
Admission: Free, Parking: Free
1. Heungjusa Temple in Taean: A Famous Liriope muscari Spot in Chungcheongnam-do
Seeing Liriope muscari flowers blooming all over the country, it feels like summer is truly coming to an end. Hoping to forget the heat by looking at the purple Liriope muscari that announces the gateway to autumn, I visited Heungjusa Temple in Taean, known as a famous Liriope muscari spot in Chungcheongnam-do in August.
Heungjusa Temple is an ancient temple located on Baekhwasan Mountain in Taean-eup, Taean, Chungcheongnam-do. It is said to be a branch temple of Sudeoksa Temple, the head temple of the 7th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
From around this time in August to early September, the temple grounds are entirely tinged with purple, creating a spectacle known as the 'Purple Carpet Road'.
Throughout Heungjusa Temple, there are cultural assets that allow you to guess the long tradition of Buddhist sculpture art and the thousand-year history, so it's good to enjoy the tranquility of the temple while admiring the flowers.
The first thing that caught my eye when I got out of the parking lot was a huge ginkgo tree. Heungjusa Temple's ginkgo tree is about 900 years old, 22m high, and 8.5m in circumference, and is designated and protected as a Chungcheongnam-do Monument.
Looking at the thick, rough tree that has gone through a long time, I could feel the time it has spent with the history of Heungjusa Temple. The ginkgo tree of Heungjusa Temple exudes mystery as the legend has it that if people who want to have children come and pray, they can gain divine help.
Being under it feels like being immersed in the temple's history, and a comfortable energy permeates you.
From the path to the temple grounds, purple Liriope muscari was gently laid out.
The densely packed purple flower clusters on the short flower stalks sway in the wind and sparkle softly.
The purple carpet created by nature is laid out quietly, as if specially decorating the path to the temple, making your steps slow down naturally.
Liriope muscari Point 1. The road to Heungjusa Temple's Daeungjeon
Liriope muscari leaves are long and narrow, similar to orchid leaves, so until the flowers bloom, they are often mistaken for orchids or weeds. The flowers bloom in clusters on flower stalks that rise from between the leaves, and are mainly purple.
The flower language of Liriope muscari is 'humility' from the appearance of growing silently even in shady places, 'patience' from the strong vitality that endures without losing its green leaves even in the cold winter, 'continuous joy' from being able to see purple flowers for a long time once it starts blooming, and 'black pearl' because the black fruit that forms after the flowers fall is considered beautiful and precious like pearls.
When fully bloomed, the sight of a purple carpet spread out is spectacular, but it's not quite there yet and will probably peak in early September. (Based on the visit date of August 22nd)
The subtle purple Liriope muscari blooming on the way to Daeungjeon seems to go well with the temple's quiet and sacred atmosphere.
Liriope muscari blooming under the 900-year-old ginkgo tree adds mystery, and the surroundings are a landscape where you want to spend time in deep meditation and reflection.
In addition to Liriope muscari, pretty flowers are well-tended around the temple grounds, making it a great place for a quiet walk. The sound of cicadas and the tranquility of the temple heard while walking around the temple grounds, and the sensation of the flowers touching the tips of your toes are great for calming your mind.
The Daeungjeon, where you can feel the dignity of wooden architecture, has an unknown exact founding date, but it is estimated to have been founded during the Goryeo Dynasty based on the style of the three-story stone pagoda in front of the Daeungjeon.
The three-story stone pagoda standing in one corner of the temple grounds is eye-catching with its neat and tranquil appearance.
What surprised me the most was Manse-ru.
It looks like it has a long history at first glance. The pillars and rafters of Manse-ru, which have endured hundreds of years of wind and rain, such as the knotted parts, the blackened parts, and the worn-out parts, were like works of art created by time.
Manse-ru, the oldest building in Heungjusa Temple, was first built in 1527 (the 22nd year of King Jungjong's reign), and was also used as an armory for monks during the Japanese invasion of Korea.
The calm and majestic energy seemed solid, as if it had a long-standing Buddhist spirit, and if you sat under it and felt the breeze, you could forget the heat of midsummer.
Looking at the scenery created by nature between old buildings and relics, I realized again that there is beauty that does not change even after time passes.
Lagerstroemia indica are planted in the front yard of Daeungjeon, adding to the temple's elegance as the bright pink flowers sway gently in the wind.
Heungjusa Temple's real Liriope muscari course is the Baekhwasan Tree Walk. Actually, the Liriope muscari flower garden in front of the temple was already so beautiful, but a monk told me to go to the pine forest next to Heungjusa Temple if I wanted to see Liriope muscari.
Baekhwasan Native Forest is a perfect place for a weekend family trip as it has a natural recreation forest with a dense pine forest, a forest exhibition hall, an arboretum for preserving rare plants, and various convenience facilities such as forest cabins.
On Baekhwasan Mountain, there is a 6km-long course called Solbaram-gil (Pine Breeze Road) that connects the trails 'Gayounghyeon's birthplace ~ Heungjusa Temple ~ Baekhwasan Peak ~ Taeeul-am' along Taean's beautiful pine forest. When the weather gets cooler, it would be good to continue the healing walk while enjoying the Liriope muscari flowers.
If you like hiking, you might want to take the course up to the Baekhwasan peak and the direction of the Cloud Bridge.
If your purpose is to see Liriope muscari flowers, don't go to the peak side, but go to the pine forest path around Heungjusa Temple. There is a Liriope muscari colony here.
Liriope muscari Point 2. Baekhwasan Pine Forest
The Liriope muscari formed a colony and looked enormous. It is wider than most Liriope muscari festival sites. I am already excited to imagine this place all dyed in purple. It was no different from a festival in my mind. I definitely want to come back when it's in full bloom.
The Baekhwasan Tree Walk is a forest aerial walkway created in the pine forest next to Heungjusa Temple, with a total length of 248m and a height of 4.5m. You can comfortably enjoy the forest while smelling the scent of pine trees. This Liriope muscari forest path is selected as one of the 100 beautiful pine forests in Chungcheongnam-do due to its outstanding scenery.
Liriope muscari mainly starts blooming between July and August. The purple Liriope muscari is in full bloom from the end of summer to early autumn, creating a spectacle. It is often most beautiful between the end of August and early September, so it is good to visit during this time.
Even in the same space, the Liriope muscari near the entrance of Heungjusa Temple bloomed a little more, and the pine forest side still looks very early.
The purple flowers spread out under the straight pine trees look like purple stars that have come down to earth, and the appearance blooming under the quiet temple comes to me meaningfully, like the flower language of 'humility' and 'patience', which are the teachings of Buddhism.
Liriope muscari blooms under the shade of trees, and there are chairs to rest on in the middle, so it is not too burdensome to see flowers in the hot summer. I hope you enjoy a poetic romance given by the mysterious purple flowers and a quiet temple healing trip at Heungjusa Temple in Taean, a famous Liriope muscari spot in Chungcheongnam-do in August and September, the gateway to autumn :)
2. Heungjusa Temple Parking Lot
After getting off at Taean Intercity Bus Terminal, take a local bus towards Wonbuk → Walk about 10 minutes from the bus stop near Heungjusa Temple
(*Need to check the bus schedule as the bus frequency is long)
There is a dedicated free parking lot right in front of Heungjusa Temple. It is recommended to arrive early in the morning as there are many visitors during the peak season of Liriope muscari.
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