A few details.

This post will include several broad strokes, yet also include some detail shots of those larger subjects. I don't do it often, but sometimes I try to take "art" photos. I look for details in the larger patterns to see if any of them are interesting on their own. Sometimes it shows up in my photos, sometimes it doesn't.

This is a shot of a temple not far from Andong. I can't remember the name right now, but I could look it up if you want. This particular temple complex looks as if it was made specifically for instruction. There are several extra buildings that look as if they may be lecture halls or apartments for visitors. Those buildings aren't so interesting.

Korean temples are very ornately painted. The color palette isn't very large, but the details are very intricate. This can be very interesting the first time you see it. Even the second, third, and fourth times are nice. But if you spend enough time here, you soon realize that the saying, "If you've seen one (insert item here), you've seen them all" too often proves true for Korean temples. This is not to take away from the beauty. It is just that after a few temples you come to realize the sameness of most of them.

Something that does make the temples different are the story panels around the buildings. If you look back at the first photo you can see a couple of these panels. Here is a close up. These panels usually tell the story of Buddha or some related incidents of his life or disciples. This panel depicts the Buddha's mother dreaming of a white elephant. This signified to her that she would give birth to a boy who would be come the Buddha. (It is a bit more complex than that, but that is the general idea.) What is interesting is how the story is interpreted on the panels between different temples and even different cultures.

Here is a pagoda in the center of the temple complex. This is a rather modern version of the traditional pagoda theme.

A close up of one of the four Buddhas, one on each face. I used to be able to recognize which Buddha was which. They are all the same person, but the different poses represent a different aspect. I am not sure, but this one could be be the preaching/turning the wheel of law Buddha. Of course it would be a Korean interpretation of whichever image it is.

Switching themes a bit ...

I went to visit Seoul during the winter. And while there I visited a friend. She may not like this picture much, but I think she looks pretty.

One of the bonuses of traveling around with someone is that they can sometimes take pictures of you. So here you have a rare picture of me. I am standing next to an ice rink the city of Seoul laid down on the plaza in front of city hall. I think the skating was free, but the line was horrendously long, so we didn't bother to give it a go.

Here is a wider shot of me in front of the Seoul city hall building. Built in 1926 during the Japanese occupation it is reminiscent of that utilitarian, no frills style of building often done by totalitarian governments.

Switching again ...

I think I have mentioned before the historical set used for a TV drama which is near the culture museum. There is another part of the set built on the lake. Obviously this set was used for water and port scenes. I suppose these boats are historically accurate, but I am sure some license was taken with history to make things look better for TV.

A closer view of the boats.

And still closer.

Here is a shot of the Naktong river just below the dam. The first bridge you see there is a car bridge and the second is a pedestrian bridge. The last structure you can see there, if you can see it, is actually a small dam just to control downstream flow. That is why the river is so broad right below the main dam.

Quick, without looking at the following picture, what do you think this is?

It is the face of Andong dam. It is basically an earthen dam, but it is covered by stones to protect it.

If you couldn't tell if it was winter by the coats and the stark landscape, here is more proof. This is just a small frozen waterfall along the side of a road.


Back near the Naktong river is Sinse-dong Chilcheung jeontap (신세동 칠층전탑). It is a seven story brick pagoda. This one was a bit different than most in that each tier was covered over with roof tiles at one time, which is probably while there are still seven stories standing. You can see some of the roof tiles in the photo. It was built in the Shilla era (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), and stands about 17 meters tall. The perspective differences with the man and the car make it look a bit larger.

Here is an "art" shot of the pagoda.

And yet another taken from the back into the sun.


Just a couple of old style buildings, still in use, near the pagoda.


. . .

This is another small froze water fall just up the hill from the last building.

A close up of the ice.



And finally, a shot of part of Andong from the hills that overlook the city. That is the Naktong river continuing on it's way. Remember to click any photo you might want to see it in a larger size. And please leave a comment if you feel like it.

A little local color.

I just wanted to include a few final photos of fall before I move on to the winter shots. Most of these are just sites a bit out from the city. A couple are revisited sites. Have a look and tell me what you think.

These first few are from a time I revisited Dosan Seowon.

The maples here in Korea really show a lot of color in the fall season (and sometimes out of season).


No, I don't know who she is. Unfortunately!
I just saw her and thought it made a good picture. I think she was there with a male friend, so I hope neither of them mind.

This is the same shot you may have seen if you have visited this blog before.

This time, however, it is fall. You can see a little color there, but I think I missed to best of it.

A similar shot like this was in the earlier post, too.

The trees surrounding the site are rather colorful.

The door theme strikes again.


Yes, I have taken a lot of red pictures. That is just because it is such a change from all the green.
Remember, I grew up in the desert, so it is all a wonder to me.

That pea soup green river, which was not very green at all when this photo was taken, looks a lot better in this photo.

This is a bit far from Dosan Seowon. The lake behind the Imha dam caused a lot of things to get flooded over. This is one structure that was saved and moved to it's present site. It is another seowon, which basically means private learning place, but this one only includes the main lecture building.
It looks like someone is living in this building now. You can see the smoke marks from the 온돌 (ohndohl), under floor heating. Nowadays the heat comes from gas-fired boilers heating water, but there are still a large number of houses outside the cities that still use wood for direct heat.
The lectures were held in the center platform and the side rooms were where the teachers stayed or relaxed.

At the end of the season, after the rice has been harvested and threshed, the stalks are either collected or burned.

If the stalks are collected, they are used for a number of things including roofs, rope, ground covers, and even fodder.

Just another building that was moved because of the flooding from the Imha dam.
And a closeup of the front gate ...

This is the lake behind Imha dam. You'll notice the water level looks a bit low.

It is low, actually. At least much lower than you might expect. You can see that there is a lot of room for the lake to rise.
It has risen a bit with all the rain Korea has had, but I doubt levels have been anywhere close to the tree line for quite a while.

In a small village near the lake is this house. You are actually only seeing a small part of it.

I will give you the information directly from the information sign out front.

The I-Udang House

Kyoungsangbuk-do Folklore Material No. 49.

This house is the residence of the direct lineal descendants of Kwon Hwan of the Imha branch the Andong clan. It is called I-udang House after Kwon's penname.

Built in 1640, the house has a square layout with a courtyard at the center. It has a spacious wooden floor hall. The sarangchae, or men's quarters, was added in 1773 when the main building was renovated. It stands on a tall foundation and is surrounded by railings. It has a hipped-and-gabled roof. The house faces northeast whereas all the other houses in the village face north.

The last picture is of a 700 year old ginkgo tree 은행나무 (eunhaeng nahmoo). It is thought to be the largest gingko tree ( in girth, at least, 16 m at the base) in Korea and possibly in Asia. There is a record of when it was planted, so it is known to be about 700 years old.
That strange metal structure is there for a specific reason. Originally this tree sat in a school yard next to a stream. The rising waters from the Imha dam started to change that stream into part of the lake and threatened to destroy the tree. As the waters rose, they successfully transplanted the tree 15 meters above it's former location. The tree still lives, though it looks like it is on life support. The metal structure holds(held?) the tree up after transplanting.

That is all the photos for this time. Next time winter. I promise.

Architecture

About two thirds of the way between Andong and Dosan Seowon is a place called Ocheon-ri Relics Site (오천 유적지). Basically it is the remains of a village that was originally located where Andong lake currently is. When the water started to rise, the houses were moved to this location to preserve them for future generations.

Here, you can read the information plaque for yourself.

I have been here several times, stopping on my rides between Andong and Dosan Seowon, and I have yet to see the exhibition hall mentioned above open, weekdays or weekends. Of course I wouldn't be able to read any of the exhibits, but it still might be interesting to see.

There won't be much commentary on these photos. I just wanted to share so you can see a little of how things used to be.




A couple of shots showing a general view of the houses.





There are a couple of different styles of houses located here.



One house from two different angles.




Just a little color of the season.


A compound gate ...



... and the steps leading up to it.



A few more houses ...



...



...



An interesting gate, and yes, it is a bit smaller than it should be.



A few interior shots and close ups.









I am not sure if the sign is a name, or if it says something about 'life style.' (Edit: Thanks to a good friend, I now know I am pretty stupid. That sign means "The place for trying on traditional Korean clothing.")




Just thought I would end with a little more color.



Be sure to click on any photo to see it bigger. I hope you enjoyed this particular group of photos. Next time, winter!