He sits there patiently and stoically. As soon as you cast
your eyes upon him you know that your walk up the mountain trail was well worth
the effort. Gatbawi, the sitting Buddha, is considered one of the masterpieces
of Buddhist sculpture. An official Korean Treasure (No. 431), the 4-meter tall
stone Buddha, Gatbawi, was carved in the 9th century. There he rests
on a mountain peak, overlooking a wide vista north of Daegu. As the Buddha of
medicine, he holds a medicine pot in his left hand. The stone headpiece atop his
head represents his supreme wisdom, while the position of his hand symbolizes the
expelling of evil. This latter point is important because tradition has it that
Gatbawi will grant visitors one wish.
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| Gatbawi, Korean Treasure no. 431 |
A trip to Gatbawi is mesmerizing for reasons of your
choosing. Perhaps it is seeing the sitting Buddha himself. You might savor the
dramatic view of the countryside. For
the weekend hiker in you, the trail up to Gatbawi is pleasant, as the long
staircase and trail wind and climb through the forest that blankets the
mountainside. Your trip to Gatbawi, by any measure, is well worth the visit.
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| Hiking up the mountain staircase |
Give yourself several hours for the visit and climb up.
Getting there: Leaving Dong Daegu Station, exit and turn right,
walk down a set of stairs. You will see the city bus stop ahead. Take bus #401,
or 101-1 to Gatbawi (40-50 minutes). By
taxi, the trip is 25-30 minutes from Dong Daegu Station (figure a 20,000 won
fare).
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