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 (21^st 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