In The Footsteps of Wonhyo

Update from the trail: Wonhyo’s Cave

In the Footsteps of Wonhyo

Last September we travelled in the footsteps of Wonhyo, a beloved and eccentric 7th Century Korean monk who had an awakening after traversing the peninsula. The journey took us 500 kilometers on tracks and unknown by-ways, while leading us to mountain monasteries. We spent many hours with the monks who inhabit the monasteries, talking to them about their experiences, enlightenment and true happiness.

Their experiences and insights will form a big part of the documentary film “In the Footsteps of Wonhyo”, which we plan to release on the Buddha’s birthday, April, 2013.

The pilgrimage was the first real attempt to emulate Wonhyo’s journey in 1,300 years. Our hope is that the trail will develop and grow into a Korean version of Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago, offering pilgrims an opportunity to explore themselves as they traverse by foot across the Korean peninsula.

The Trail

Day 1: Bunhwang-sa to Oeo-sa
Day 2: Oeo-sa to Yangdong
Day 3: Yangdong to Daejeon-sa
Day 4: Daejeon-sa to Cheongsong
Day 5: Cheongsong to Yeongyang
Day 6: Yeongyang to Cheongryang
Day 7: Cheongryang to Nokjeon
Day 8: Nokjeon to Yecheon
Day 9: Yecheon to Dongro
Day 10: Dongro to Mungyeong
Day 11: Mungyeong to Suanbo HS
Day 12: Suanbo HS to Goesan

1일차 : 분황사 - 오어사
2일차 : 오어사 - 양동
3일차 : 양동 - 대전사
4일차 : 대전사 - 청송
5일차 : 청송 - 영양
6일차 : 영양 - 청량
7일차 : 청량 - 녹전
8일차 : 녹전 - 예천
9일차 : 예천 - 동로
10일차 : 동로 - 문경
11일차 : 문경 - 수안보
12일차 : 수안보 - 괴산

Rest of the days:

Cheongwon-gun, Cheonan City, Yeongi-gun and Asan-shi. Following NH 21 all the way to Deoksan Hot-springs, then visit Sudeok-sa (temple strongly associated with Wonhyo) and Gaya-san Wonhyo-am, Wonhyo Cave. North to Dangjin City. On final day, cross the Seohae-daegyo Bridge to Wonhyo-linked Temple in Pyeongtaek City.

For detailed information please visit 'The Wonhyo Trail' section of this website.
Recent Posts
- Update from the trail: Pilgrimage closing ceremony October 27, 2012
- Update from the trail: Wonhyo’s Cave September 25, 2012
- Update from the trail: The Smile of the Buddha September 23, 2012
- Update from the trail: Top-of-mountain Zen September 23, 2012
- Update from the trail: Zen and the art of film making September 21, 2012
- Update from the trail: The Buddha and Nature September 20, 2012
- Update from the trail: Dragon Gate Gorge September 20, 2012
- Second trailer of the Wonhyo pilgrimage September 12, 2012
- In the Footsteps of Wonhyo [Trailer] September 5, 2012
- A film about those who are seeking peace in the mountain monasteries of Korea. August 8, 2012
- Day 15: Arriving at a Sacred Spot, Realizing the End is the Beginning December 19, 2011
- Day 14: Prelude to the Cave December 19, 2011
- Day 13: Cold Walk, Sharp Mind on the Road to Magok-sa December 17, 2011
- Day 12: Tea at the Temple of Eternal Happiness December 16, 2011
- Day 11: Taking Care of the Body in Suanbo December 14, 2011
- Day 10: A Journey to Find Wisdom December 13, 2011
- Day 9: The Beaming Monk of Yongmun-sa December 12, 2011
- Day 8: A Feast on the Side of the Road December 12, 2011
- Day 7: Cultivating the Mind and Dealing with Pain December 11, 2011
- Day 6: Meditating in the countryside December 9, 2011
- Day 5: Walking to Dae Jeon Sa Temple December 8, 2011
- Day 4: A walk through apple and rice country December 8, 2011
- Wonhyo and the Bodhisattva of Compassion December 6, 2011
- Day 3: A Day of Rest at Yangdong Folk Village December 6, 2011
- Day 2: Physical challenges, Oeo-sa to Yangdong Folk Village December 6, 2011

Update from the trail: Pilgrimage closing ceremony

Blog Sept. 25 Pilgrimage closing ceremony By Tony MacGregor We walked up the mountain again today –six of us – to visit Wonhyo’s cave and listen to the words of Master Kim, a Taoist teacher, who is also a follower of Wonhyo. Wonhyo (617 – 686), one of Korea’s most beloved and unconventional monks, reached … Read more

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Update from the trail: Wonhyo’s Cave

Blog Sept. 24, 2012 Wonhyo’s Cave By Tony MacGregor In a last burst of energy we pushed on through the rugged and spectacular landscape surrounding Wonhyo Bong (peak) and arrived at Wonhyo’s cave near Dangjin, on the west coast of South Chungcheong Province, just south of Incheon. We have been emulating the journey of Wonhyo, … Read more

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Update from the trail: The Smile of the Buddha

Blog Sept 23, 2012 The smile of the Buddha Today I realized again what attracted me to Buddhism as I gazed upon a 7th century carving of the historic Buddha and stared deeply at his face. It was his smile. No written treatise could express as well the reality of the Buddha’s experience as well … Read more

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Update from the trail: Top-of-mountain Zen

Sept. 22, 2012 Top-of-mountain conversation with Zen master By Tony MacGregor We did a hair-raising climb to the top of a mountain today to see one of South Korea’s greatest monks and learned that he is a huge supporter of Wonhyo, the subject of our pilgrimage. We had a long talk with Seol Jeong Sunim, … Read more

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Update from the trail: Zen and the art of film making

Blog Sept. 21 Sudoeksa Zen and the art of film making Kak Seong sunim, the friendly middle aged monk at Magoksa Temple said something that struck a chord with me as we talked to him before we left the temple. When I asked him about learning from nature, he said anything can be your teacher. … Read more

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Update from the trail: The Buddha and Nature

Blog Sept. 20, 2012 The Buddha and Nature We finished off our day (Sept. 20) with tea and a long chat with Hoseon sunim, a middle-aged man who had been a monk for 12 years. I asked him about nature and what it can teach us. I had been inspired by the day’s filming near … Read more

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Update from the trail: Dragon Gate Gorge

Sept 19, 2012 Traditions Expert Reveals Korean Buddhist Links to Mountain-spirits at Gap-sa Temple by Tony MacGregor Today we were visited by a leading expert on Korea’s religious traditions, mountain temples and folk-shamanism. David A. Mason arrived on Tuesday night at Gyeryong-san Gap-sa Temple where we were staying as we make our way across the … Read more

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Second trailer of the Wonhyo pilgrimage

We have made our way across Korea, and have travelled almost 250 kilometers, and it has been an epic journey so far. In this, our second trailer for the coming documentary, we have captured the serenity of the ricepaddies, the clear mind and face of a female Zen-monastic (whom is also a master of the Zen … Read more

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In the Footsteps of Wonhyo [Trailer]

We have been on the Wonhyo Pilgrimage now for three days, making our way from Gyeongju to Pyeongtaek in honor of the 7th century monk Wonhyo, who found enlightenment at the end of his journey. 25 days of September have been dedicated to a quest of selfdiscovery, and so far we have visited three temples … Read more

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A film about those who are seeking peace in the mountain monasteries of Korea.

- IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF WONHYO – The mountains have always been a refuge and haven for the Korean people. Before the coming of Buddhism, the spirits of the mountains were worshiped. They still live on in tiny shrines on the mountains and in the native shamanism, which still flourishes in Korea. It was in … Read more

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Extracts from Wonhyo’s Writings

"One who realizes that he is in delusion is not greatly deluded, and one who realizes that he is in darkness is not in total darkness."

"When sewing clothes, a short needle is needed and a long spear is useless. To avoid the rain, a small umbrella is needed, and a cover that spans the entire sky is useless. Therefore, small things should not be regarded as trivial. Depending on their true nature, both small and large things are precious."

"The sun has heat as its basic nature, and the moon has cold as its basic nature. If there is only the sun, and no moon, the growing shoots, will dry up and will not live long enough to bear fruit. But if there is only the moon and no sun, the shoots cannot grow and so will rot."
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- Pilgrimage closing ceremony wp.me/p1Ujk7-go 6 months ago
- Update from the trail: Wonhyo's Cave wp.me/p1Ujk7-gb 7 months ago
- Update from the trail: The Smile of the Buddha wp.me/p1Ujk7-g3 7 months ago
- Update from the trail: Top-of-mountain Zen wp.me/p1Ujk7-fJ 7 months ago
- Update from the trail: Zen and the art of film making wp.me/p1Ujk7-fl 7 months ago
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Who is Wonhyo?

Wonhyo (617 – 686), one of Korea’s most beloved and unconventional monks, was a great scholar with more than 80 commentaries and essays to his credit. Born into a simple family in the Silla Kingdom, Wonhyo, a monk for many years, renounced the formal religion life to teach ordinary people. He was known to carry a gourd, dancing and singing around the country, encouraging people to chant and recite the Buddha’s name. He called himself “Muoae Geusa” (unhindered practitioner). For a short time he was married to a princess and had a son, who became a leading Confucian Scholar. Legend has it that while on pilgrimage to China he found enlightenment after drinking rotten water from a skull-cap. This experience became the base of his realization that "there is nothing clean and nothing dirty; all things are made by mind." Wonhyo teaches us to live in Buddha's mind by returning to the origin of One Mind. His One Mind philosophy is of great relevance to the modern world where people live in chaos and delusion as a result of ignorance of their true nature and attachment to name and form.
Contact us

inthefootstepsofwonhyo@gmail.com
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