If you lot've ever wanted more information almost some statue, artistic work or just the compages of a Buddhist temple you lot passed forth the mode in Korea, chances are KoreanTemples.com is the site y'all were led to. It's one of the few sites with such information available in English language. Dale Quarrington, the site's owner and operator, recently published his second volume on the religious sites that take captured his curiosity and intrigue while living on the peninsula. Much like his website, the book aims to provide information piddling known to English speaking foreigners and hopefully will give people the oomph to go upward and out and see the religious relics and sites that have caught his attention.

For any traveler, new or erstwhile to Korea, Korean Temples: Art, Compages, and History is a book worth a good sit down in a cozy nook or that quiet bus to read and possibly a fascinating temple is what will lead you to program your adjacent run a risk in the Land of the Morning Calm.

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Take a read over the contempo interview I had with Dale to acquire more about his new book and what he'south up to here in Korea.

Can you lot introduce yourself a bit. Where are you from, how long have you been in Korea, what you lot practise here?

Howdy, my proper noun is Dale Quarrington, and I'm originally from nigh Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I'chiliad from a small town chosen Tottenham, which has a population of about 5,000 people. I originally came to Korea back in August, 2003. I've been living in the Busan/Gyeongsangnam-do Province area ever since. I started off working at hagwons for the first four years in Korea. Since so, I've been working in the Korean public school system either as an uncomplicated or middle school teacher.

Your website and books focus on Korean Buddhism and temples, where did the original interest come from? Were you ever interested those topics?

I guess my original passion for Korean Buddhism came after my first visit to Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju in the fall of 2003. Before that, I didn't accept the slightest clue as to what religion, either historically or currently, Koreans worshipped. But what originally hooked me was the beautiful artwork, the link betwixt Korea'southward religious and historical by, as well as the vast differences and similarities between the Christianity I was raised on and what Korean Buddhism offered. Before I came to Korea, I had always found art, religion, and history to exist fascinating. And at a Korean Buddhist temple, I could find all three in i place.

Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do
Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do

You've just written and published your second volume, can you lot tell me what it's virtually and why readers would be interested in purchasing it?

This book, Korean Temples: Art, Compages, and History, is well-nigh the xx-five most prominent temples throughout Korea. In fact, all 9 Korean provinces are represented in the volume. The focus of the book deals with the art, architecture, and history of each of these major temples like Tongdosa Temple, Bulguksa Temple, and Haeinsa Temple. I retrieve this book helps explain the intricacies of Korean Buddhism that might non be all that well known to the expat community in Korea. And by focusing on the xx-five near prominent temples in Korea, my book introduces ideas and places that are yet to be known.

Do your offset and 2nd books go together like a set, should readers purchase both together?

While non necessarily part of a set, I think Korean Temples: Art, Architecture, and History is a continuation of my first, Korean Temples: From Korea's Southeast Corner. What I mean by that is that I'm introducing material, in English, that has never been published before. By doing this, I hope to introduce Korean Buddhism to a greater audition.

Did you do all of the writing and photography for your volume? Was there anyone that helped y'all with this try?

Like all endeavours, you never truly do a project lone. While I did take all the pictures and wrote the entire book on my ain, I have had several contributors that have helped me through the procedure either by joining me on my temple trips, editing before drafts, or helping me with unknown iconography. While I was the master on all the material inside the ii covers, I accept an astonishing back up system in place.

Tapsa Temple in Jinan, Jeollabuk-do
Tapsa Temple in Jinan, Jeollabuk-do

Where tin your book be purchased?

For now, people can either pick upward Korean Temples: Fine art, Architecture, and History through Amazon.com in either paperback or e-volume class. Another option is to get a signed paperback copy past emailing me personally through my site: Koreantemples.com  In the future, I hope that my volume will be picked up like the first through expanded distribution similar at What the Book?

Is in that location annihilation you'd like to add together about your site, book or annihilation else?

I guess what I would like to say is that if people are interested in Korean art, history, or religion, (even in the slightest); a good start would be to selection up Korean Temples: Art, Compages, and History. Even if you're non really interested in whatever of these three, but enjoy travelling around the Korean peninsula and don't know all that much well-nigh Korean Buddhism, which plays such a central role in Korean tourism, I retrieve my book would exist a great introduction to assist support your adventures.

Facebook: Dale'due south Korean Temple Adventures Web log

Electronic mail for people to guild a signed copy: [email protected]

*All photos in this post provided past and posted with the permission of Dale Quarrington of KoreanTemples.com