Healling is allowing nature to
manifest itself;
An island of art in Mt. Namsan
Gyeongju
By: Ity Sofer
So far as healing
and nature are concerned, among the various mountains in Korea Mt. Namsan in
Gyeongju shines forth as a shining diamond in a basket of jades. It is a well
known fact that since ancient times this mountain served as a vibrant source of
inspiration and strength to the spirit of the Korean people.
In this
regards the legend is told that; “Long ago a god and a goddess descended in Seorabeol-
(Silla’s capital city-today Gyeongju). Seeing its glory the god said: “This is
where we should live”. Although he spoke softly, to humans it sounded like a
Thunder’s roar. At that time ladies doing their laundry were so frightens
hearing this that they screamed with fear. The gods were so sorry that they
both stopped where they were and turn into mountains. The god became Mt. Namsan
covered with dark-reddish rocks and sand, while the goddess became the soft and
lower Mt. Nang-san…”
Walking among
the traditional houses of Namsan Dong village in the eastern plain of Mt. Nam-san
one feels as if actually walking in the ancient streets of Seorabul during the
Korean ancient capital’s golden age. Old temples and Pagodas decorate the
landscape; bringing back the sense that countless such monuments existed at the
time, just as the saying goes: “Pagodas like stars and temples like gees in the
sky.”
While on the
main road of Namsan Dong if one turns left in the stream which crosses the
village and drive for about 300 meters the narrow road will lead to a complex
of 4 traditional Hanok houses, specifying it is Ya-Sun’s gallery, the residence of Ya- Sun (wild
– hermit).
The complex
welcomes you to experience a new dimension of oneness with nature. Ya-Sun lives
her life through Art, or rather being one with nature through art.
Being fed up
from the hustle of city life and exhausted due to over study she visited
Nam-San. Rested on the mountain’s lap she felt refreshed and fell in love with
its spirit and surroundings, saying that the mountain embraced her with all its
might & glory.
Having settled down there for the last 17 years she started applying
her inherent skills and re-connected with nature to allow it to guide her in
every aspect of life. Leaving aside theoretical knowledge, she started using
art in various pragmatic ways, by allowing nature to work through her in its
simplest form.
Later on by developing her own style
of Seon Hwa (Zen drawing) she explains: “When you wish to keep drawing, that’s
the time you should put down your brush. When you feel the wish to fill up more
and more space, it may be due to your greed, which is difficult to let go, so you
should then be able to tell yourself to stop. When applying Seon Hwa the self
centered life which is based on the concept of “I” starts getting dissolved. You
then start seeing the needs of others and wish to care for them too, so as a
result control over speech and thought naturally gets developed.”
She adds:
“These days education doesn’t consider much creativity and kindness towards
others. The motivation is: “because others do so I do…Students are not
encouraged to develop their own spirit, they are just copying others. In Seon
Hwa we use the brush even just for drawing one spot or for a mere stroke, but
that is sufficient, as it shows my own original way.”
Although born into a relatively poor family
she taught herself Chinese letters and calligraphy, ultimately resulting in opening
a Seodang (A traditional academy) to teach Chinese characters to Kids, along
with moral principles of Confucianism. Thus she is an artist who shows through
her way of life how to become one with nature. She says:
”People say
that I live an Eco-friendly, a nature friendly life. However it may not be
correct to say so. Man and nature are one. They are one and the same thing,
they are not each other’s friends but rather they are part of each other,
otherwise there’s duality, not oneness”.
She explains:
“A new born baby is already creative, but after growing up if he or she only
studies to pass exams the creative mind loses its creative potential. Usually a
Mother asks her child to read many books, but I don’t. Sometimes it is
important just to live naturally without rules. Allow nature to be the teacher.
I never
limit myself to any form or tool. At times I draw using other parts of the body
such as with my feet and hands. I also combine in my art various items from
nature such as; Leaves or different kinds of soil etc’....
Objects of
paintings may be: Lotus flower, a dragon fly, a Buddha statue… A Lotus plant
never get spoiled, the roots have holes which symbolizes emptiness. The Stem
symbolizes strength. Even when the leaves fall down during winter the stem
doesn’t look ugly. Observing, for example, a Dragon fly it seems it moves his
eyes in all directions, so I also want to see the world in this way.
In Ya-Seon’s
gallery one can experience sleeping in a cozy traditional room on a warm floor,
heated by an outside fire place.
The beddings
are homemade, dyed by using natural colors from nearby plants or soil. In the
morning organic Breakfast is served, made by Ya seon who hasn’t gone for
cooking classes. She says; “During the early days I used to invite the village
grandmothers to teach me the secrets of organic cooking as well as the ways of
making Korean fermented food”.
During the
day guests may experience painting, stamping, cooking, experiencing a traditional tea ceremony,
relaxing or just walking
around the eastern plains & slopes of Mt.Nam-san to explore the mysteries
it can offer. All of which is a part of a healing process and recharging ones
youthfulness.
She says: “Most
People even if walking around don’t know yet the real value of Nam-San”. And
indeed its value isn’t only within its sites but with the people living around
it as well.
One nearby
attraction is Seochulji (Letter appearing) pond with its Iyo-dang- a 300 yrs
old Yi dynasty pavilion. Sitting on the banks of this peaceful pond surrounded
by Crape myrtle trees, a well known tale concerning this place during the Silla
era comes to mind:
“One spring
day in 489 AD King Soji (21st King of Silla) was enjoying a royal
outing around Namsan. He pondered the strange reason that his queen refused to
come. She had suddenly fallen ill so she remained in her room. As the court
priest had promised to fetch the court physician the King kept on enjoying the
picnic. While eating some snack he noticed a few rats and crows making a noisy
commotion. Suddenly one large gray rat leaped forward and bowing low before
King So-Ji squeaked; “Follow that crow when it flies.” The surprised King
quickly commanded a mounted officer to follow the black crow as it flew away to
the eastern slopes of Nam-san. In a small village the warrior was distracted by
two fighting pigs and when he looked again the crow was gone. Walking on and
pondering what to do he finally reached this small pond. While gazing at his
reflection in the pool an old hermit appeared and gave him a sealed letter.
Written on the envelope:
” Unopened
one will die, opened two will die.” Having read the ominous note King So-Ji
felt it is far better not to open the envelope. However the royal astrologer
stated that the one person was the King himself and therefore by all means he
must open the envelope.
On a letter
a message said; “Shoot an arrow through the clothes closet of the queen’s
chamber.”
Though
surprised, the King hurried back to the palace. The queen stirring from her
pretended rest quickly dressed up to greet her husband. Ignoring her
questioning eyes he shot an arrow into the closet standing by the wall. A cry
was heard as the door was opened and the half dressed court priest fell forward
with the broken arrow in his shoulder. The priest had gained the love and trust
of the queen as both had plotted to kill the King. Both were eventually executed.”
Another
nearby attraction is Chil bul-am;
Having
crossed Nam-San dong and climbing for about 50 minutes along the stream
Chil-Bul-am (7 Buddhas hermitage) can be reached. 2 rocks which are carved with
7 Buddhas figures in each direction are considered the most delightful and
scenic of sites within the entire Nam-San region.
As one sits
down beneath the magnificent rock on which the Buddha figures are carved even for
just a few minutes, observing the natural breath, the mind starts to calm down,
resulting in mental tensions to get dissolved. Then a sense of well being may
spread throughout the body & mind allowing us to feel the peaceful
atmosphere of Mt. Nam-san unfolding with its natural beauty. Indeed, the nature
as it is manifesting itself can help healing the ills of life.
References:
Gyeongju
history- by Hyun Sei Lee
Korea’s
golden age- by E.B. Adams
