Bells and Trees (This week's Photo Hunt entry)

 

Back in the fall of 2009, I visited South Korea. Among the highlights of my week long vacation in the Land of the Morning Calm was a day spent in the city of Suwon that included time spent walking along atop the walls of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Hwaseong Fortress.

My trek around the 5.5 kilometer long wall of the Hwaseong Fortress began at its east gate, located close to the city's Hwaseong Haeng-gung Palace (which, incidentally, has a tree in its grounds whose photo was one I used for a previous Trees-themed Photo Hunt organized by tnchick (as opposed to either Sandi or Gattina)!), and involved a steep ascent up the hill along a stretch that was flanked on one side by trees galore. Shortly after ascending to the top of Mount Paldalsan (as the hill is called), I came across a large bell that, even if it was not exactly the mother of all bells, still was mighty impressive as far as I was concerned.

A sign near the bell (on which was engraved a beautiful representation of portions of Hwaseong Fortress) informed me that it was known as the Bell of Filial Piety and, among other things, "expresses the best wishes of the citizens of Suwon for your family and the nation. We hope you meditate upon the meaning of each toll..."  More specifically, one can pay a nominal fee -- as I did -- to strike this large bell three times, with: the first toll of the bell being "to show gratitude and respect to your parents"; the second toll being "to wish for your family's health and harmony"; and the third toll being "to wish for the realization of your [own] dreams".

In all honesty, I can't remember what I actually wished for myself in Suwon that day -- so can't say if those dreams got realized.  However, thanks to at least one photo I took of that bell, I can recall not only its existence but also its prime location atop a hill and flanked by trees in a setting that was pretty attractive indeed. :)