🐾 Exploring the geomancy of Hoamsan Hoapsa Temple, south of Seoul: Putting the tiger’s energy to rest

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Hoamsan #Hoapsa #geomancy #Seoul #temple #Bibofengshui #Muhakdaesa #JeongDojeon #Gwanaksan #SeoulTravel

Geomancy, which has been used to read and utilize the energy of the land since ancient times, has been closely connected to the lives of our people.
There are interesting geomancy stories hidden in Hoamsan and Hoapsa Temple, located at the foot of Gwanaksan Mountain, south of Seoul.
Let’s explore the geomancy charm of Hoamsan Mountain, following the meaning of the tiger-shaped mountain, the temple built to suppress the energy, and the stone statues.

자 (子): Rat

축 (丑): Ox

인 (寅): Tiger

묘 (卯): Rabbit

진 (辰): Dragon

사 (巳): Snake

오 (午): Horse

미 (未): Goat (or Sheep)

신 (申): Monkey

유 (酉): Rooster

술 (戌): Dog

해 (亥): Pig (or Boar)

1. Topographical features of Hoamsan Mountain, a famous mountain south of Seoul

The mountains surrounding the south of Seoul like a folding screen each have unique shapes.

Umyeonsan Mountain: It is considered a mountain with the energy of the earth (土) in the shape of a sleeping cow (牛). Gwanaksan: It is known as a rugged mountain with the shape of a flame.
Samseongsan: It is said to contain the shapes of various animals.

Among these mountains, Hoamsan is located to the west of Gwanaksan and is named after the shape of a tiger crouching toward the north.

2. Wisdom to suppress the tiger’s energy, Hoapsa

Since ancient times, tigers have been considered to be creatures with courage and strong energy.

It is said that a temple called Hoapsa (虎壓寺) was built in the heart of Hoamsan out of concern that the strong tiger energy of Hoamsan would head toward the capital, or palace, in the north.

This is a representative example of Bibo (裨補) Feng Shui to suppress or control the power of a strong energy target.

If the tiger shape of Hoamsan had been facing Umyeonsan in the east instead of the north, it is an interesting guess that the current status of Gangnam, Seocho, and Songpa areas may have been different.

3. Special symbols on the way to Hoapsa Temple

If you climb from Hoapsa Temple towards the peak of Hoamsan Mountain and go down a bit towards Seoksu Station on the right, you will come across a unique sight.

That is Hanwoomul and Seokgu-sang (石狗像).

Hanwoomul: A well that has been passed down since ancient times, and there are various stories about its origin.

Seokgu-sang: A stone dog shape that is said to have been built to counter the fierce tiger energy of Hoamsan Mountain.

4. The conflict between tigers and dogs, the wisdom of Bibo Feng Shui

Since ancient times, dogs have been considered animals that can confront tigers.

The stone dog, or Seokgu-sang, was built near Hoapsa Temple to suppress the strong tiger energy of Hoamsan Mountain, and this is a representative example of Bibo Feng Shui.

This can be understood in the same context as the stone tiger statue built next to Gwanghallu to suppress the strong energy of Gyeondusan Mountain near Namwon, Jeollanam-do.

If the stone tiger statue of Gwanghanru was intended to control the energy of a dog heading toward Namwon City, the stone statue of Hoamsan was a wise measure to suppress the energy of a tiger staring at Seoul.

5. The hidden wisdom of Muhak Daesa and Jeong Do-jeon, the stone statue

The stone statue of Hoamsan is said to be part of a secret plan prepared by Muhak Daesa and Jeong Do-jeon at the time of the founding of Joseon to solve various geomantic problems that could arise when establishing the capital in Hanyang.

This can be considered in connection with the story of Sungnyemun, the vertical signboard of Namdaemun, and the Namji Pond, as well as the Haetae statue erected in front of Gwanghwamun to control the strong fire energy of Gwanaksan.

Although it may seem a bit far-fetched to view the Haetae statue and the stone statue of Hoamsan as a simple pair of stone statues, it is a passage that allows us to glimpse the deep understanding and concerns about geomancy at the time.

6. Different meaning from the stone statues of royal tombs

The statues of military officers and civil servants that can be seen in royal tombs, as well as the stone statues of sunsets, stone tigers, and stone horses around the tomb, are meant to protect and decorate the king and queen who are sleeping in the tomb, and are not directly related to the purpose of feng shui for protecting the king and queen who are sleeping in the tomb, such as the stone statues of Hoamsan Mountain.

The story of feng shui contained in Hoamsan Mountain and Hoapsa Temple contains interesting historical and cultural contexts that cannot be dismissed as mere superstition.

The stone statues that show the tiger-shaped mountain range, human wisdom to control its energy, and traces of this will convey special meaning to those who visit Hoamsan Mountain.

When passing through the southern part of Seoul, why not stop by Hoamsan Mountain and feel the wisdom of our ancestors contained in feng shui?

Hoamsan #Hoapsa #Fengshui #Seoul #Temple #Bibofengshui #Muhakdaesa #Jeongdojeon #Gwanaksan #SeoulTravel #History #Culture #Legend #Story #KoreanMeaning #PlacesToVisit

• Internal Link: https://tginfokor.com/rice-cooker-shaped-cauldron-rock-jeongam/

External Link: https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6592652570198348813/657611644487688776