Buddhism was introduced to Korea during the 4th century, 372 A.D. There are numerous Buddhist temples in Korea. I was fascinated by these places of worship due to several reasons. One was to understand more about Korean Buddhist history, architecture, temple motifs, and so on. Another reason was to enjoy the natural beauty as many temples are located in picturesque mountainous areas.
One will not fail to notice the bell pavilion (Jong-gak) as you enter into a Buddhist temple. The pavilion houses the four instruments (Samul) used in Buddhist rituals: the large temple bell, the Dharma drum, the wooden fish, and the cloud shaped gong-plate. The bell tower is typically found on the right side of the Dharma hall when looking away from the front of the hall. I read that the location is set on the right side because they are functional according to Buddhist theory. These instruments produce and disseminate sound in all directions awakening the sentient beings living on earth, water and air.
The large bell, Beomjong, tolls three times a day- at dawn, noon, and dusk-as a way of reaching denizens of hell with Buddha's teachings. Upon hearing these solemn and lofty sounds, the denizens of hell repent the evil karma they have consciously or unconsciously created during their numerous former lives. They offer a prayer aspiring to attain the pure and natural mind of enlightenment, the Bodhi-mind. As a result of the prayer of aspiration, the mind of the denizen, despite their physical presence, no longer resides in hell. The mind departs for the way of enlightenment and transcends the three samsara realms in the world of transmigration. The three realms of samsara are (1) the Desire realm, where one is preoccupied by desires for physical gratification (2) the Form realm, where one is free from desires and (3) Formless realm, the highest region of samsara where one is free from material existence.
The Chinese character for "beom" originally meant Brahma in Sanskrit, but has come to signify "dharma" in Korean usage. One can see images of 'apsaras' (Sanskrit word - female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hinduism) inscribed on the sides. The bells are typically made of bronze with a dragon attached to the top as a hanging hook. An external log hung on chains is used to ring the bells.
Twenty-eight rings in the pre-dawn signifies the unbroken ancestral lineage from Sakyamuni Buddha to the first Patriarch Dalma (Bodhidharma is revered as the first Patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism. He reached Guanzhou in China from India during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty 520-557). 33 times in the evening signifies 33 Buddhist realms/heavens. 108 times on special occasions calls all sentient beings to transcend the 108 afflictions (baekpal beonnoe in Korean).
The Dharma drum, Beopgo, is struck in order to awaken all animals on earth by communicating dharma. Hearing the beat, animals and Buddhist practitioners are emancipated from mundane, worldly desires. The drum is made of wood with bull and cow leather on both sides (yin-yang balance). Dragon paintings on the sides enhance the beauty and reflects authority - they are the protectors of the dharma truth teachings of the Buddha.
The wooden fish, Mok-eo (dragon head-fish body) is struck for the awakening-liberation of creatures living in water, and the cloud shaped gong, Unpan, for sentient beings resident in the sky. The wooden clacker, Moktak, a simplified version of the wooden fish, is used in Buddhist Dharma halls. In the monastery, the sound of the wooden fish or the clacker, recalling fish that never close their eyes, reminds Buddhist practitioners to refurbish their vows to strive toward enlightenment without slothfulness until Mahayana aspirations are fulfilled (Mahayana is one of the two main existing sects of Buddhism that prevails in Far East Asia in practice). The gong-plate is made of bronze, copper or iron in the shape of a cloud.
The Divine bell of King Seongdeok is the oldest and the most celebrated bell in Korea, believed to be dated 771 AD. The bell was originally located at Bongdeoksa, the guardian temple of King Seongdok of Unified Silla Dynasty (668~935). It is now enshrined in the National Museum of Gyeongju City. The bell weighs about 20 tons.
Please do not forget to enjoy the sounds of these instruments captured in the video below (Woljeongsa temple, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea). The video features resident monks demonstrating the samul to attendees of the very popular temple stay program. I was lucky enough to be there to witness this occasion.
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