[Terry's Tale] Happy Birthday! Sang Il Chukha Druimmnida!

Recently my friend Mr. Han’s mother celebrated her birthday.  I had previously witnessed celebrations for two of his daughters, Han, Hye-rhim, and Han, Cho-ah, but they were much more low key than the kinds of celebrational activities common for children in the US, and his even his father’s celebration which was simply a complete family gathering for a common meal followed by cake. 

Now I was able to view something more.  This celebration brought together the entire family at a special restaurant.  The entire family consists of Mr. Han, his wife, his children, his parents, his sister and her husband, and their children.  The talk was family gathering type talk probably common to people of families anywhere in the world who do not often see each other; the children’s play was common to children’s play anywhere in the world; and the sharing of the common family meal is experienced by most people around the world.

The cake was little different than one might buy or make in the US – a white cake with a whipped topping, with decorative topping additions consisting of articles of chocolate, fruit, and even some made from the topping itself.  With the final addition of the candles and the ceremony of lighting them comes a brief rendition of the 'Happy Birthday' song in Korean (Sang il Chukha druimnida) followed by the ceremony of blowing out the candles

The candles, though perhaps a bit different in appearance than what I was accustomed to seeing in the US, still represent the years of one’s life as bright points of light – light which is passed on to their heirs and others through wisdom.

The restaurant

ABOVE AND BELOW:  The Menus (the prices are in

 \an and range from about $11.00 and up)

BELOW: The accessory items

BELOW: Turtles bringing money for prosperity

BELOW: The entree dishes

ABOVE: A stewed chicken

ABOVE: Octopus legs and other seafood in a special sauce

ABOVE:  A vegetable mix waiting for the addition of rice and sauce - Bibimbop

ABOVE: A very delicious rice porridge

ABOVE:  A  chicken stewed in a special sauce

ABOVE: Mr. Han's parents and the youngest daughter (Han, Cho-ah) to my right, his sister in the far corner, her husband in the left foreground, and the four children (two from each family) view the cake and its candle decorations. 

BELOW: The drink for the final toast

[Terry's Tale] Adventuring Into Antiquity

Nothing ever happens without some causative event behind it, yet things may happen to you or around you for which you, just in being, may be the cause – directly or otherwise.

As I am an American in Cheonan, South Korea, events occur in which I become involved just because I am here.  As a case in point a Buddha statue was brought to my attention.  A short while back I was asked to view a Buddha statue thought to be of great antiquity. 

The owner could provide little information about the piece. Supposedly it was carved from a single block of wood, but being covered by some kind of plaster veneer, I couldn’t know for certain until I gave it a closer inspection.  The veneer was damaged to some degree as might be expected from a statue of some age, and it appeared that the original paint had become discolored with great age.  It basically looked very authentic and I honestly believe that it will prove to be so, but I have been told that the Chinese have become quite agile at mimicry of physical objects, especially those of ancient origin.  The owner had come by the statue as it had been used as collateral for a loan.

On first opening the crate this was the sight that greeted us. 

 With some of the styrofoam packing removed the statue was even more clearly visible

The head in closeup. For its apparent age the statue is in generally excellent shape -

so good in fact that it does create the impression of possible fakery.

Though the owner was told that it was carved from a single block of wood a closer inspection revealed otherwise.  In this closeup can be seen the chest and the upraised hand.

 In this torso and crossed legs closeup, as with all of the other pictures we see absolutely beautiful proportionality. 

 The closeup of the pedestal reveals the areas of 

the greatest damage to the plaster veneer 

 The plaster was apparently painted in some brightly colored paint type materials.  Over time this paint has simply darkened to the overall color manifest on the statue.

The white areas are the areas of damage to the veneer  

 ABOVE AND BELOW: Two angles on the face and head

 that demonstrate the remarkable state of the statue

As the owner wanted to sell it my recommendation was that first the provenance be established and then radiometric dating be performed.  It is my understanding that these are now being pursued, but in the meantime I was given the opportunity to briefly visit yet another Buddhist temple and on this occasion meet the head monk.

On the afternoon Han, Wan-hui and I took a drive of about twenty five minutes to the Magoksa Temple.  There we met with Won Kyung, the head monk.  Conversation that afternoon lasted about two hours and was mainly centered on the statue.  He too was in accord with the idea of seeking expert authentication of the statue. 

Posing with Won Kyung, Head Monk of the Magoska Temple,

a Temple of the JoGye Order of Korean Buddhism.

So, this is where the issue stands today, July 6 - the authentication of the statue which will then determine the outcome of its eventual destination.

 The entrance to the temple has a gazebo for resting

BELOW:  To enter the temple you have to pass by the protectors of the temple

And pass over a special bridge

Beyond are special places for the monks

BELOW: The temple's gong and drum are used to 

notify the monks of events and daily rituals. 

BELOW: The sign over the entrance to the gong and drum structure

BELOW: Living quarters

BELOW: Proceeding to the portal beyond which we would meet with Won Kyung

 ABOVE: The main temple hall

ABOVE: Through the portal and on to the meeting

BELOW: Won Kyung, Head Monk of the Magoksa Temple

The meeting begins with a preparation of tea

Looking around you find a sparsely decorated office/meeting area

Delicious boiled corn is offered

Beyond the back window live bamboo renown for its tremendous 

flexibility allowing it great survivability under adverse conditions  

Above: An old style door latch

ABOVE: Meeting finished it is back through the portal 

Back towards the structure covering the drum and gong

Back through the lantern covered bridge

Back down the pathway

Back through the buildings housing the protectors

Past the marker stone

Those who know me know that I now wear the rune of a traveler as a neck pendant.  More than ever, it seems ever so appropriate as I never know where my journey will take me next. 

I will continue the story as new developments occur.