National Museum of Korea
We started out visit to Seoul with a trip to the National Museum of Korea. We hoped that it would give us an overview of the history and it served that purpose well.
Click any image for a larger view
One of the highlights of the museum’s collection is the”10 Story Pagoda,” on display in the central area. Made of marble, it has many detailed carvings on each layer. The pagoda holds Buddhist relics and is a religious shrine.
As you might expect, there were many items depicting Buddha, including several large statues. As part of our tour, I learned a few things about Buddhism. This Buddhavista is a deity who has earned its way to Nirvana, but has not gone there, deciding instead to stay and help others reach a state on enlightenment.
Korea is known for its ceramics and there have been several different styles over the centuries. One of the earliest is Celadon, known for its distinctive color. This intricate incense burner is an example.
There were MANY more beautiful and interesting items. This warrior’s armor caught my eye. (I don’t remember details, since I just caught a quick shot as our tour walked by.)
It’s very interesting to learn about a different culture!
Ellen Lindner
P.S. No flash photography was allowed, so I was happy to get a few good shots, along with a few blurry ones.
