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The Great Awakening...
After thousands of years of life, Lama Subo could no longer remain among the living. He died in his sleep in the Jogyesa monastery, much to the chagrin of his long-time friend Lama Ji Gong (or Crazy Ji in most circles). An old man himself, Lama Ji Gong presided over the funeral services of his friend, who was also head of the Buddhist faith (Buddhism had a great diaspora, but was only the state religion of two nations, Korea and Piercia). While the death of an old monk may have seemed unimportant, it changed the Korean empire forever. Buddhism was once a waning faith, with Taoism becoming extremely popular throughout the eastern part of the Kingdom, and was even begining to gain popularity in the west.
Ji Gong prayed at the monastery for days on end after the death of his friend Subo, and thought about the voices that once rang through his head. It wasn't long ago that he'd hear voices, telling him what to do, and in what direction to take his life. There was nothing but silence now. But it dawned on him; Subo wanted nothing more than to spread the word of enlightenment, and help mend the world and its wounds. In the north the conflicting, and staunch beliefs in the ONE path rather than the MANY paths (this is the way Buddhists saw the difference between the Monotheists and their own beliefs) created much strife as mass religious killings and wars were fought among Oldonians, Romans and Russians. He realized that the only way to fully recognizae the great works of Subo would be to accomplish these goals...
The Maha Bodhi...
With the loss of their great religious leader the Korean people were driven to great works. Thousands of Koreans from all parts of the Empire (including Mayan, Greek, and Piercian followers) flooded to Seoul for the funeral of the great Lama Subo. After an amazing speech by up-and-coming Monk Kukai as well as the deliberate oratory of the elderly Lama Ji Gong, the followers quickly drew up plans to build a great temple marking the very spot that the Buddha first came to Seoul, this would also hold the remains of the Lama himself. The Emperor Gojong comissioned the project, and put Imperial funds towards the resources for its construction, so long as the faithful built it themselves. In honor of the new Buddhist policy of aggressive expansion of their faith the name Maha Bodhi (or "Great Awakening" in the original Jogye language of the Buddhists) was given to the great temple:
Construction Style
This is an excerpt from Wikipedia...
The Great Awakening, and Buddhist Resurgence...
the Emperor realized how important this building was to his followers (as well as the pilgrims it brought in, and thus tax revenues) he named Kukai his new religious advisor. This was contraversial because the head Lama would be the de-facto religious advisor, as many considered him the only one worthy of conducting prayer and meditation rituals with the Emperor. However the Emperor realized that a younger, and more vibrant representative would be needed now to spread the Buddhist faith and thus increase the glory and wealth of the Empire. Gojong, determined to take advantage over the flood of citizens into his capital, announced plans to make Buddhism a worldwide religion, citing that Japan had agreed centuries ago to accept the faith and that the Empires of Piercia and Greece had already begun to do so. He was confident that by spreading it throughout Terra he would gain more influence, as well as money, and of course the love and admiration of his people.
Lama Ji Gong was named the head Lama (now known as Dalai Lama) of the Buddhist religion, and praised the Emperor for his choice of the young monk. Lama Ji Gong would also be the first to bring Buddhism to international affairs by asking the Emperor to send Kukai north to Rome in order to ask Princeps Augustus for clemency upon the Piercians. While the Emperor did not necessarily think that the Romans were obligated to show clemency, he did want the conflict to finally end so Korea could commence commerce without worrying about political results. It wasn't long ago that the Greeks and Koreans nearly came to blows over Korea's refusal to close borders with Rome, and the Emperor saw the continuation of the conflict as a great distraction from his foreign policy goals. So Kukai was sent to Rome...
After thousands of years of life, Lama Subo could no longer remain among the living. He died in his sleep in the Jogyesa monastery, much to the chagrin of his long-time friend Lama Ji Gong (or Crazy Ji in most circles). An old man himself, Lama Ji Gong presided over the funeral services of his friend, who was also head of the Buddhist faith (Buddhism had a great diaspora, but was only the state religion of two nations, Korea and Piercia). While the death of an old monk may have seemed unimportant, it changed the Korean empire forever. Buddhism was once a waning faith, with Taoism becoming extremely popular throughout the eastern part of the Kingdom, and was even begining to gain popularity in the west.Ji Gong prayed at the monastery for days on end after the death of his friend Subo, and thought about the voices that once rang through his head. It wasn't long ago that he'd hear voices, telling him what to do, and in what direction to take his life. There was nothing but silence now. But it dawned on him; Subo wanted nothing more than to spread the word of enlightenment, and help mend the world and its wounds. In the north the conflicting, and staunch beliefs in the ONE path rather than the MANY paths (this is the way Buddhists saw the difference between the Monotheists and their own beliefs) created much strife as mass religious killings and wars were fought among Oldonians, Romans and Russians. He realized that the only way to fully recognizae the great works of Subo would be to accomplish these goals...
The Maha Bodhi...
With the loss of their great religious leader the Korean people were driven to great works. Thousands of Koreans from all parts of the Empire (including Mayan, Greek, and Piercian followers) flooded to Seoul for the funeral of the great Lama Subo. After an amazing speech by up-and-coming Monk Kukai as well as the deliberate oratory of the elderly Lama Ji Gong, the followers quickly drew up plans to build a great temple marking the very spot that the Buddha first came to Seoul, this would also hold the remains of the Lama himself. The Emperor Gojong comissioned the project, and put Imperial funds towards the resources for its construction, so long as the faithful built it themselves. In honor of the new Buddhist policy of aggressive expansion of their faith the name Maha Bodhi (or "Great Awakening" in the original Jogye language of the Buddhists) was given to the great temple:
Construction Style
This is an excerpt from Wikipedia...
Mahabodhi Temple is constructed of brick and is one of the oldest brick structures to have survived in eastern India. It is considered to be a fine example of Indian brickwork, and was highly influential in the development of later architectural traditions. According UNESCO, "the present temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely in brick from the late Gupta period". [8]
Mahabodhi Temple's central tower rises to 55 meters, and were heavily renovated in the 19th century. The central tower is surrounded by four smaller towers, constructed in the same style.
The Mahabodhi Temple is surrounded on all four sides by stone railings, about two metres high. The railings reveal two distinct types, both in style as well as the materials used. The older ones, made of sandstone, date to about 150 BCE, and the others, constructed from unpolished coarse granite, are believed to be of the Gupta period (300–600 CE). The older railings have scenes such as Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, being bathed by elephants; and Surya, the Hindu sun god, riding a chariot drawn by four horses. The newer railings have figures of stupas (reliquary shrines) and garudas (eagles). Images of lotus flowers also appear commonly.
Mahabodhi Temple's central tower rises to 55 meters, and were heavily renovated in the 19th century. The central tower is surrounded by four smaller towers, constructed in the same style.
The Mahabodhi Temple is surrounded on all four sides by stone railings, about two metres high. The railings reveal two distinct types, both in style as well as the materials used. The older ones, made of sandstone, date to about 150 BCE, and the others, constructed from unpolished coarse granite, are believed to be of the Gupta period (300–600 CE). The older railings have scenes such as Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, being bathed by elephants; and Surya, the Hindu sun god, riding a chariot drawn by four horses. The newer railings have figures of stupas (reliquary shrines) and garudas (eagles). Images of lotus flowers also appear commonly.
The Great Awakening, and Buddhist Resurgence...
the Emperor realized how important this building was to his followers (as well as the pilgrims it brought in, and thus tax revenues) he named Kukai his new religious advisor. This was contraversial because the head Lama would be the de-facto religious advisor, as many considered him the only one worthy of conducting prayer and meditation rituals with the Emperor. However the Emperor realized that a younger, and more vibrant representative would be needed now to spread the Buddhist faith and thus increase the glory and wealth of the Empire. Gojong, determined to take advantage over the flood of citizens into his capital, announced plans to make Buddhism a worldwide religion, citing that Japan had agreed centuries ago to accept the faith and that the Empires of Piercia and Greece had already begun to do so. He was confident that by spreading it throughout Terra he would gain more influence, as well as money, and of course the love and admiration of his people.Lama Ji Gong was named the head Lama (now known as Dalai Lama) of the Buddhist religion, and praised the Emperor for his choice of the young monk. Lama Ji Gong would also be the first to bring Buddhism to international affairs by asking the Emperor to send Kukai north to Rome in order to ask Princeps Augustus for clemency upon the Piercians. While the Emperor did not necessarily think that the Romans were obligated to show clemency, he did want the conflict to finally end so Korea could commence commerce without worrying about political results. It wasn't long ago that the Greeks and Koreans nearly came to blows over Korea's refusal to close borders with Rome, and the Emperor saw the continuation of the conflict as a great distraction from his foreign policy goals. So Kukai was sent to Rome...
With the Emperor away on a trip to Sparta, the nobility of the Korean court breathed a sigh of relief. Already word of new forms of government had reached Korea and there was a strange tension in the air. The peasants of Korea, while supportive of their new Emperor, murmured of new autonomy and the rule of the population. Trade between the Mayan and Korean Empire resulted in this trend. While there were no movements established to begin this the seeds were being planted. Bojong of Wonsan called upon Bak Moon to come to the Imperial Palace to discuss his thoughts on foreign affairs, the Emperor wanted him to become the new Minister of Foreign affairs after, only months prior, being imprisoned in a dungeon as part of Gojong's purging of the nobility. Bak Moon was quite nervous for this meeting, he had feared for his life the past few months and wondered why he was spared...
"You see Bak, the Emperor wanted to ensure that you would live. With the purgings it was hightly likely you would be targeted, but if he saved you publicly, openly, and without imprisonment Sejong's murder would have looked like a coup, and the people may have suspected the Emperor." Bojong explained.
For the first time in centuries a Korean ambassador of any kind, let alone an Emperor, was visiting Greek lands. It had been hundreds of years since the fallout between the Spartan and Korean royal families had seen eachother as friends, and Emperor Gojong wanted to re-establish the relationship between these old civilizations. He was travelling with his personal entourage as well as a small division of soldiers to guard him (but mostly to impart a feeling of Korean power, although it was relatively weak, upon the Greeks). He ordered his men to dress drably, with simple leather armor, for he knew the Spartans preferred simple dress and simple speak as opposed to the pomp and circumstance that had defined the Korean Imperial Court. In Gojong's mind re-establishing this friendship was crucial to the future of Korea.
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