i) The Bell Pavilion

On the way to the Main Hall, you may pass an open, two-storey structure, within which were the four instruments that call all living things to hear the words of the Buddha and which regulate the timetable of temple life (see p. 96).

ii) The Main Hall

There is usually little doubt about which building is the Main Hall. Location, contents and the attention it receives separate it from the other buildings. The number of statues therein depends on the wishes and wealth of the temple, so they can range from one to at least eleven as in the Taejok-kwang-jon at Kumsan-sa in Kimje. There is generally a certain system fol-lowed in the number, disposition and personalities chosen.
The Main Hall is usually called Teung-jon or Taeungbo-jon (Great Hero Hall) and so the central figure is usually Sakyamuni, the Histori-cal Buddha (Sokamoni-bul in Korean). However, if the Main Hall carries the name of Kuknak-jon, then the image within is always Amitabha, Buddha of the Western Paradise, (Amit'a-bul in Korean). These two Buddhas are the most popular. However, as in Haein-sa, near Taegu, the main statue is Vairo-cana (Pirojana-bul in Korean), the Cosmic Buddha.

iii) The Disciples' Hall

The Disciples' Hall is called the Nahan--jon. There statues representing specific enlightened disciples of the Buddha are to be found. The statues are usually made of wood and number between sixteen and 500 serious-looking men, often brightly dressed, seated cross-legged or on stools with hands on legs, or holding books, or gesturing, and one is always holding a resigned tiger by the hind legs with his head and fore paws dangling. Each statue represents a disciple of the Buddha who attained enlightenment and each one has an individual story. If you look carefully, you can enjoy the humor inherent in temple life!