ShinsungHwa: Visualizing Korean Zen Master Hanpul’s Spiritual Energy (2019)
What is ShinsungHwa?
ShinsungHwa is a unique form of spiritual art where drawings emerge through spontaneous, flowing movements. Artists tap into their subject’s energy and let Qi(氣) guide their hands, creating geometric patterns that serve as a universal language.
A Brief Look at Master Hanpul’s ShinsungHwa
At the heart of Hanpul’s ShinsungHwa, I noticed a unique ‘symbol of light’—an energy form that seems to rotate with its own steady rhythm. This energy flows outward, surrounding him like a gentle current. It has a distinct pattern that feels personal to Hanpul, almost like his spiritual signature.
What stands out to me are the ‘spiral energy symbols’ set at the upper left and right corners. Both seem to direct their energy toward him, hinting at a quiet source of spiritual support. It feels as if unseen forces are lending a hand.
Beneath his feet, there’s a grounding energy that’s noticeably more solid and tangible. This particular energy connects directly to Samseonggung, the temple complex founded by Hanpul. It’s as though his spiritual efforts have taken root in the physical world, providing a strong foundation.
The Mountain Builder
High in the misty peaks of Jiri Mountain, where ancient legends whisper through pine trees, lives a man who built something extraordinary. Hanpul Seonsa created what many consider Korea’s most mysterious place in 1983—Samseonggung, the Palace of Three Sages.
A Man with Ancient Roots
Hanpul isn’t your typical temple builder. He’s a “seonsa”—a meditation master blending Taoist wisdom with martial arts. Picture part monk, part teacher, part guardian of ancient traditions. His family has tended this mountain for four centuries, passing down spiritual practices like a sacred inheritance.
Yet Hanpul didn’t just inherit this mountain home. He transformed it into something entirely new while honoring Korea’s oldest stories.
Building Dreams from Stone
In 1983, Hanpul launched the ultimate DIY project. He wanted to recreate a “sodo”—a sacred place from Korea’s ancient past, from the first kingdom of Gojoseon thousands of years ago. Imagine building a medieval castle using only fairy tale knowledge, and you’ll grasp his challenge.
The result? Samseonggung—a sprawling complex of stone buildings, walls, and towers climbing the mountainside like something from fantasy. Visitors marvel at how one man moved such massive stones, creating structures that feel both ancient and timeless.
The Three Sages Story
“Samseonggung” means “Palace of the Three Sages”—not just any wise men, but Korea’s legendary founders: Hwanin (the Heavenly King), his son Hwanung (who descended from heaven to help humans), and Dangun (Korea’s mythical first king). Think building a shrine to King Arthur, Merlin, and Camelot combined.
Hanpul designed his mountain palace to honor these three figures, seeing them as Korean culture’s spiritual foundation. Each year, the site hosts the Gaecheon-jeol festival, celebrating Hwanung’s descent from heaven to teach humans farming and medicine.
More Than Just a Builder
Hanpul calls himself something unexpected: a “land artist.” This reveals how he sees his work. While artists paint with brushes and canvas, Hanpul paints with stones and mountainsides, creating something part religious site, part art installation, part living museum.
The community around Samseonggung embraces “Korean cultural nationalism”—celebrating traditional Korean values and identity. Until recently, all visitors wore traditional white Korean robes, emphasizing connections to ancient customs.
Questions and Controversies
Not everyone sees Hanpul’s work the same way. Some visitors find their first encounter “embarrassing” or confusing, noting his unconventional appearance and methods. Like many charismatic community leaders, he attracts both devoted followers and skeptical observers.
The site operates as a private attraction, charging admission fees that critics say commercialize what should be spiritual. Questions also arise about historical accuracy—much of what we know about Gojoseon comes from myths and legends, not solid archaeological evidence.
A Living Experiment
The most honest way to understand Hanpul and his mountain creation? As an experiment in living history. He’s not claiming perfect recreation of ancient Korea—he’s keeping certain ideas and practices alive in a modern world that often forgets them.
Samseonggung’s stone walls and towers continue growing and changing, with construction ongoing today. Like any artist’s work, it’s never finished. Hanpul keeps refining his vision, adding new elements and adjusting old ones as he evolves.
Visitors notice Hanpul’s quiet determination. He never set out for fame or to start a movement. He simply wanted to preserve something important—his family’s and country’s spiritual traditions. In a world where old customs vanish, he chose to build something new that honors something ancient.
Whether you see him as visionary artist, dedicated spiritual teacher, or eccentric mountain dweller with big dreams, Hanpul Seonsa represents something uniquely Korean: blending the very old with the very new, creating something belonging neither to past nor present, but to that eternal space where stories become real.
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