South Korea's centuries-old Gounsa temple is left in ruins following unprecedented wildfires
Unprecedented wildfires ripping through South Korea's southern regions have destroyed large parts of an ancient Buddhist temple, ruining two of its three state-designated 'treasures.'
Five days of wildfires, considered one of South Korea's worst, have left 24 people dead, destroyed more than 200 structures and forced 27,000 people to evacuate, officials said Wednesday.
The Gounsa temple was reportedly built in the 7th century during the Shilla dynasty that ruled the area and other parts of the Korean Peninsula at the time. It is nestled at the foot of Deungun Mountain in the southeastern town of Uiseong. While it doesn't house buildings constructed in the ancient period, it is home to several famous cultural heritages built later.
The temple, believed to have been erected in 681 A.D., was engulfed in flames on Tuesday when the wildfires worsened due to strong winds. About 20 of the temple's 30 buildings and structures were completely burned down, including the two revered structures: 'Gaunru,' a pavilion-shaped structure built in 1668 overlooking a stream, and 'Yeonsujeon,' another traditional structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king, according to the state-run Korea Heritage Service.
Both were built during the Joseon dynasty, the last on the Korean Peninsula and were given the status of 'treasure,' a government-designated status given to old buildings, paintings and other cultural assets with historic and artistic significance that receive state-level protection and maintenance.
'I went there this morning and found they've been reduced to heaps of ashes," said Doryun, a senior monk who lived at the temple for more than three years when he was younger. "I feel really empty. Life is transient,'
Doryun now works for a Buddhist organization in charge of the temple. He said that monks and Buddhist faithful managed to move the temple's third 'treasure,' a stone Buddha statue reportedly built in the 8th century, to a safe place.
'Many buildings were burned down, but we moved and protected other sacred assets so that we maintain the temple. We feel it's very fortunate,' Doryun told The Associated Press over the phone.
Doryun also said about 20 monks and other workers live at the temple, but none have been injured.
The Korea Heritage Service said the temple's two other lower-level cultural assets, including a stone pagoda, have also been found intact.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
05-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Muslim pilgrims seek forgiveness and shade on Mount Arafat in key Hajj ritual
Braving the heat and uneven surfaces, they scaled Mount Arafat to perform a key ritual of the annual Islamic pilgrimage. They opened their arms in prayer, smartphones and hearts raised, as fans sprayed fine mists of water to cool them during their long hours of worship. Pilgrims must remain in Arafat until sunset. Temperatures exceeded 40C. Away from the worship, an ice cream kiosk nearby provided some relief. A pilgrim receives water to cool himself (Amr Nabil/AP) Salem Naji Ahmed, from Yemen, travelled four days to neighbouring Saudi Arabia because he could not afford the flight. 'These sacred feelings are the most luxurious and best thing about Arafat,' he told The Associated Press. 'We came from Yemen, four days and nights. It was very tiring, but we came to please Allah and perform one of his obligations in the holy sites and in the best area on earth.' The rocky hill holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Koran and it is where the Prophet Mohammed is said to have given his last sermon on his final Hajj. According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins. Hatem Salem, from Egypt, said: 'We cannot express the feeling. We feel the best at the holy sites with a humble heart and faith.' Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it. The authorities have not disclosed the total number of pilgrims at this year's Hajj. Earlier, they said more than 1.5 million foreigners were participating. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country.
South Wales Guardian
05-06-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Muslim pilgrims seek forgiveness and shade on Mount Arafat in key Hajj ritual
Braving the heat and uneven surfaces, they scaled Mount Arafat to perform a key ritual of the annual Islamic pilgrimage. They opened their arms in prayer, smartphones and hearts raised, as fans sprayed fine mists of water to cool them during their long hours of worship. Pilgrims must remain in Arafat until sunset. Temperatures exceeded 40C. Away from the worship, an ice cream kiosk nearby provided some relief. Salem Naji Ahmed, from Yemen, travelled four days to neighbouring Saudi Arabia because he could not afford the flight. 'These sacred feelings are the most luxurious and best thing about Arafat,' he told The Associated Press. 'We came from Yemen, four days and nights. It was very tiring, but we came to please Allah and perform one of his obligations in the holy sites and in the best area on earth.' The rocky hill holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Koran and it is where the Prophet Mohammed is said to have given his last sermon on his final Hajj. According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins. Hatem Salem, from Egypt, said: 'We cannot express the feeling. We feel the best at the holy sites with a humble heart and faith.' Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it. The authorities have not disclosed the total number of pilgrims at this year's Hajj. Earlier, they said more than 1.5 million foreigners were participating. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country.
Powys County Times
05-06-2025
- Powys County Times
Muslim pilgrims seek forgiveness and shade on Mount Arafat in key Hajj ritual
Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims clambered up rocks and nestled between boulders on Thursday as they embarked on a day of worship under the scorching sun at the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Braving the heat and uneven surfaces, they scaled Mount Arafat to perform a key ritual of the annual Islamic pilgrimage. They opened their arms in prayer, smartphones and hearts raised, as fans sprayed fine mists of water to cool them during their long hours of worship. Pilgrims must remain in Arafat until sunset. Temperatures exceeded 40C. Away from the worship, an ice cream kiosk nearby provided some relief. Salem Naji Ahmed, from Yemen, travelled four days to neighbouring Saudi Arabia because he could not afford the flight. 'These sacred feelings are the most luxurious and best thing about Arafat,' he told The Associated Press. 'We came from Yemen, four days and nights. It was very tiring, but we came to please Allah and perform one of his obligations in the holy sites and in the best area on earth.' The rocky hill holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Koran and it is where the Prophet Mohammed is said to have given his last sermon on his final Hajj. According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins. Hatem Salem, from Egypt, said: 'We cannot express the feeling. We feel the best at the holy sites with a humble heart and faith.' Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it. The authorities have not disclosed the total number of pilgrims at this year's Hajj. Earlier, they said more than 1.5 million foreigners were participating. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country.
