On my first retreat there, I discovered a volume of tales, arranged by the monk Hyun Chang, about the murals around the main temple, which had been photographed in rich detail by Choo Myongdok.  I hereby offer the text of my translation of this work so that more can visit this magical place in spirit.  In the Korean original, there is a full-color illustration accompanying each tale.  I can include only a small sample of those illustrations here on this web site, but I hope that some day a publisher of Buddhist and/or East Asian artwork will see fit to produce a hard copy of the entire work on the same kind of beautiful glossy paper as the original:

Korean Zen Legends Illustrated in Temple Murals: Table of Contents

Part I: Jataka Tales (downloadable pdf )

I. The People Whom Siddhartha met at the Four Gates:  The Four Gate Connection
II. Siddhartha Abandons the Palace and Becomes an Ascetic:  Renouncing Sexuality
III. Six Years in the Snow-Covered Mountains:  Spiritual Exercises in the Snowy Mountains
IV. Siddhartha Rolls the Wheel of Truth:  The Primary Rule of Change
V. Becoming Queen:  The Story of Lady Malli
VI. The Unfailing Light of Virtuous Deeds:  A Poor Woman’s Lamp
VII. The Buddha Worships a Skeleton:  The Way to Repay One’s Obligations to One’s Parents
VIII. Nanda Sees the Sights of Heaven and Hell:  Nanda Enters the Priesthood
IX. Making a Necklace with Severed Fingers:  A Devilish Murderer Becomes a Believer
X. This is What I Heard:  The Origin of the Sutra
XI. Falling to Hell Alive:  Devadatah’s Rebellion
XII. A Boy who Consecrated Sand to the Buddha:  The Story of King Ashoka’s Previous Life
XIII. The Face of the Utmost Seeker:  The Story of the Buddha Shakyamuni’s Previous Life
XIV. In Order to Rescue Others:  The Story of the Golden Deer
XV. For the Sake of a Single Verse:  The Story of a Youth in the Snow-Covered Mountains
XVI. For the Sake of a Starving Tiger:  The Story of Crown Prince Chondanmaje
XVII. Giving the Most Beloved Thing:  The Story of Crown Prince Sudena

Part II:  Korean Buddhist Legends (downloadable pdf )

I. A Tree Growing on One’s Back:  A Tale About the Four Utensils Used in Buddhist Services
II. Under the Influence of Five Drops of Honey:  A Metaphor for Life
III. Two Brothers on a Desert Island:  The Past Life of the Goddess of Mercy
IV. A Young Boy who Ascended to Heaven Riding a Wooden Horse:  The Story of the Ahjabang in Chilboolam
V. A Man who was Cured of an Incurable Disease:  Sejo the Great and a Young Boy
VI. Moving a Residential Temple from one Province to Another:  The Wondrous Deed of Priest Boduck
VII. The Establishment of Haein Temple:  The Story of Priest Soonweung and Priest Yijung
VIII. The Story of the Foundation of Naewon Temple:  The Miracle of the Venerable Wonhyo
XI. Dreaming a Strange Dream:  The First Story of the Venerable Muhak and Yi Sungkye
X. In Order to Deify Five Hundred Arahats:  The Second Story of the Venerable Muhak and Yi Sungkye
XI. From Kanghwa Island to Haein Temple:  The Conveyance of the Tripitaka Koreana [The complete Buddhist canon on 80,000 wooden printing bocks]
XII. Meeting a Three-Eyed King:  The Origin of the Sakan Tripitaka
XIII. A Monk who Used to Ride a Tiger:  The Story of Priest Hwanjuck
XIV. Reading Buddhist Writings to Cows:  The Story of Hansan and Seupdeuk

Part III: Stories of the Zen Masters (downloadable pdf )

I. Crossing the River Down by the Reed Leaves:  The Story of the Venerable Dharma
II. Attaining Truth at the Price of Cutting off an Arm:  The Story of the Venerable Hyega
III. Coming Back to Life After Three Years:  The Story of the Venerable Dharma
IV. A Woodcutter’s Enlightenment:  The First Story of the Venerable Hyeneng
V. Do Not Think about Good or Evil:  The Second Story of the Venerable Hyeneng
VI. Like a Bee Laboring to Pierce Through a Paper Window:  The Story of the Venerable Shinchan
VII. Tempted by a Kisaeng:  The Zen Priests Teachun and Han Toiji
VIII. The Disciples Who Became Cranes:  The Story of the Venerable Hakreukna
IX. Teaching by Holding up One Finger:  The Story of the Venerable Guji
X. Taking a Seat On Top of a Tree:  The Venerable Dorim and Baeknakchen
XI. A Face That Has No Anger:  The Story of the Venerable Muchak
XII. An Incarnation of the Bodhisattva:  The Story of the Venerable Cloth Bag

Part IV: Buddhism Takes Root in Korea (downloadable pdf )

VI. Buddhism in the Kingdom of Koguryo:  Many Famous High Priests are Trained
II. Buddhism in the Kingdom of Baekjae:  Preaching Buddhism in Japan
III. Buddhism in the Kingdom of Shilla:  The Golden Age of Buddhism
IV. The First Martyr:  Venerable Lee Chadon
V. Drinking Water from a Skull:  The Story of the Venerable Wonhyo
VI. The Profound Meaning of Hwaumkyoung:  The Story of the Venerable Weesang
VII. Live for a Day and Then Die:  The Spirit of the Religious Laws of the Venerable Zajang
VIII. Commandments for the World:  The Sesokohkye of Priest Wonkwang
IX. Carrying a Burning Brazier on his Head:  The Venerable Hyetong and the Venerable Mooway (Fearlessness)
X. Entering a Perfect State of Spiritual Concentration:  The Story of the Venerable Heerang
XI. Changing the Location of a Cauldron Nine Times:  The Story of the Venerable Goojung (Nine-Kettles)
XII. The Era of the Suppression of Buddhism:  The Story of the Venerable Bowoo