Haetae - Fire Beast

Prominently featured in front of the Gwanghwamun Gate are several large Haetae figures. Resembling a dog with a lion's mane, this mythical creature is the master of fire and a guardian against this element. Its powers include time travel and the ability to bite the moon, hence causing the waning of the moon or even an eclipse. Haetae sculptures are often placed in front of or inside Korean houses as a protection against destructive natural elements.

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Tickle My Beard!

Amidst the sea of lotuses at Bongwonsa Temple stood this stone haetae - a mythical beast of Korea and China resembling a lion-dog with horns. I love how the pink blossoms seemed to be tickling the beast's beard.

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Geumcheongyo Bridge, Changdeokgung Palace

The oldest stone bridge in Seoul, the Geumcheongyo bridge was built in 1411 over the auspicious stream Geumcheon. This stream demarcates the outside from the inside of the palace. Like the area of the palace leading up to the main hall, it had three lanes, with the middle one set aside for the king. Two arches of the bridge are met by stone creatures. On the northern side of the bridge is a Hyeonmu (black tortoise) and on the south, a haetae (mythical guardian beast).  Faces of guardian animals protrude from just below the railing, meant to ward off evil spirits.

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Seoul Lotus Lantern Parade; Traditional with the Modern

Interspersed amongst the parade members wielding small lanterns and others banging drums were the large floats. Although traditional in theme, the sculpted hanji paper dragons, Buddhas, pagodas, haetae beasts, and elephants were also distinctively modern. Some of the exceptionally well-crafted pieces were animatronics; Dragons breathed out flames, rhinos appeared to walk, and an elephants moved their articulated trunks in and out. Truly magical. 

The next day, I saw some of the floats near the temple. Without illumination and the contrast of the night sky, they were still beautiful, but lacked the magic I had seen just hours before.  

See more floats from the Seoul 2013 Lotus Lantern Parade on my Flickr site. 

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