Sanbang-sa Temple, Cheju-Do Island

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Below is a picture of the Buddha statues located in the Sanbang-sa Temple Cheju Do Island, Korea. An extinct volcano, Halla San, supposedly wiped out the indigenous Koreans of the island. The place adopted Chinese mythology and one consisted of legendary isles also known as Three Holy Mountains. Legend has it that the isles contain sacred fungus that holds the key to immortality. These fungi were commonly known as Fly Agaric. The red and white spotted mushrooms are more familiar in European fairytales and "magical dwarfs." It's interesting to read that a common fairytale mushroom to European culture is seen as a legendary mushroom to hold the powers of immortality. It makes me wonder how this legend came about all the way in Cheju-Do Island, Korea. 
Gray, Martin. “Sanbang-Sa Temple, Cheju-Do Island.” Sacred Sites, https://sacredsites.com/asia/korea/cheju_do.html.

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