Shrine near Osan Air Base keeps the spirit of Confucius alive in South Korea

Gwollisa Shrine close to Osan Air Base, South Korea, is devoted to Confucius, the good Chinese language thinker who lived from 551 to 479 B.C. His system of ethics and morality persists to this present day. (Jazzmin Spain/Stars and Stripes)

Gwollisa Shrine, an alluring compound close to Osan Air Base, South Korea, is difficult to overlook atop a hill surrounded by buying and eateries.

Gwollisa is devoted to Confucius, the good Chinese language thinker who lived from 551 to 479 B.C. His system of ethics and morality persists to this present day.

Gwollisa is the Korean pronunciation of Queli, the district in China the place Confucius was born. The Osan shrine is one in all two Gwollisa shrines in South Korea. The opposite is in Nonsan.

As you enter, you are met with a grand stone staircase main as much as the shrine grounds.

Ascending to the highest, you possibly can’t miss the Osan-si Gwollisa ginkgo. This large tree was planted again when the shrine was first constructed almost 230 years in the past. It seems even higher in hotter months when the leaves are in full bloom.

The Osan-si Gwollisa ginkgo tree was planted when Gwollisa Shrine was first constructed almost 230 years in the past. It seems higher in hotter months when the leaves are in full bloom. (Jazzmin Spain/Stars and Stripes)

This shrine, inbuilt 1792 through the reign of King Jeongjo, is the place the sixty fourth descendant of Confucius, Gong Seorin, retired and lectured college students for the remainder of his life.

The lecture corridor was rebuilt a number of instances prior to now couple hundred years, most not too long ago in 1981. The principle lecture corridor homes many statues and artifacts, together with writings that date again centuries. Photos of Confucius are discovered all through the positioning.

The principle lecture corridor at Gwollisa Shrine in Osan, South Korea, homes many statues and artifacts, together with writings that date again centuries. Photos of Confucius are discovered all through the positioning. (Jazzmin Spain/Stars and Stripes)

Take away your sneakers earlier than getting into the constructing and depart them exterior. Slippers are offered.

You could take images and contact sure objects, however many relics are off-limits and are marked as such.

Simply whenever you suppose you might have seen all of it, you flip a nook and there is a lot extra to absorb. The wardrobes, work and different objects make you are feeling as when you took a step again into 1790s Korea.

My suggestion is to go to inside first to soak within the historical past earlier than taking within the distinctive views of the grounds. The one draw back is that parking could be very restricted. I counsel taking public transportation.

The principle lecture corridor at Gwollisa Shrine in Osan, South Korea, homes many statues and artifacts, together with writings that date again centuries. (Jazzmin Spain/Stars and Stripes)

The doorway to Gwollisa Shrine in Osan, South Korea. Gwollisa is devoted to Confucius, the good Chinese language thinker who lived from 551 to 479 B.C. (Jazzmin Spain/Stars and Stripes)

ON THE QT

Instructions: 3 Maehol-ro, Osan-si, Gyeonggi-do. A 5-minute stroll from Osan Station.

Instances: Open each day 9 a.m. to five p.m.

Prices: Free admission

Meals: There are a lot of eating places inside steps of the shrine.

Data: 031-373-0151