Leave your worries behind and find inner peace at South Korea’s Mangisa Temple

In South Korea, the demands of daily life and the stress of living in a bustling city often require residents to seek a bit of rest and relaxation. Luckily, a temple compound nestled in the hills of Jinwi, between Osan and Pyeongtaek, provides the perfect location for locals to get in touch with their spiritual side.

Located just 6 miles from Osan Air Base is Mangisa Temple, home to the Iron Seated Buddha, one of South Korea’s national treasures. The country designates national treasures based upon the historical and artistic value of exceptional artifacts or locations — and this extravagant golden statue, said to have been created in the 8th or 9th century, is no exception.

Like the Buddha statue that forms the centerpiece of the temple’s grounds, the Mangisa Temple is said to have been established during Korea’s Goryeo Period sometime around the year 962. These days, the site remains a popular location for practicing Buddhists to make spiritual pilgrimages — but don’t let the temple’s religious roots deter you from visiting.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/1.576626