Koi Pond — Relax Watching Koi at an Online Temple
The Koi Pond is a square pond at Goyosa in Hapjang (합장), the browser-based online temple, with a round island, a hexagonal pavilion, a wooden bridge and 104 koi swimming in it. Its Korean name, Mulmeong Yeonji, comes from mulmeong, "zoning out while gazing at water," and that is the idea: watch the koi, rest, and rub the belly of Budai (the Laughing Monk).
- Where
- The pond garden at Goyosa
- Layout
- Square pond, round island, hexagonal pavilion, wooden bridge
- What to see
- 104 koi, a child-monk stone statue, Budai, a sleeping white puppy
- What you can do
- Watch the koi, rub Budai's belly
Why a round island in a square pond?
Traditional Korean gardens often place a round island in the middle of a square pond. This is commonly explained by the old idea that heaven is round and the earth is square (cheonwon jibang). The same layout appears in ponds at palaces, Confucian academies and old houses, often with a pavilion at the water's edge for resting.
Who is Budai, the Laughing Monk?
Budai (布袋和尙, Podae Hwasang in Korean) is known as a smiling monk with a big bare belly, carrying a cloth sack over his shoulder. He is said to come from a monk in old China, and he is loved across East Asia as a figure of generosity and good fortune. A common saying goes with him: rub his belly and good luck will come.
The scenery at the Goyosa Koi Pond
Goyosa's Koi Pond brings together a square pond, a round island, a hexagonal pavilion and a wooden bridge, with 104 koi swimming in the water. There is a child-monk stone statue and a Budai statue, and on one side a white puppy lies asleep. Like the rest of Goyosa, it was built new, inspired by many Korean gardens and mountain temples.
How to gaze at the water, and where to go next
There is nothing you have to do. Stand by the water, pick one koi and slowly follow it with your eyes. More ways to take a short rest are collected in Take a 5- or 10-minute break. After the pond you can visit the Whispering Bamboo Grove, thick with bamboo.
Try it in Hapjang
Get close to the pond and a button for watching the koi appears (on a PC you can also press E or F). Go up to Budai and you can rub his belly. Please don't wake the sleeping white puppy; just pass by quietly. If you want to gaze for a long time, it's fine to put in earphones and simply leave the screen as it is.
Frequently asked questions
What does mulmeong mean?
It is a recent Korean slang word for zoning out while gazing at water. The Koi Pond in Hapjang is a place to rest while watching koi swim in a pond.
Why do people rub Budai's belly?
Budai is a smiling monk figure who stands for generosity and good fortune, so a common saying is that rubbing his belly brings luck. You can rub Budai's belly at the Koi Pond in Hapjang too.
How many koi are in the Hapjang pond?
There are 104. They swim slowly around the square pond.
Related pages
- A 5- or 10-Minute Break: How to Rest Your Mind QuicklyFive minutes at work, ten before bed. Short ways to breathe, walk and simply watch at Hapjang, Goyosa, an online temple you open in your browser.
- Whispering Bamboo Grove: Shout Your Secret AnonymouslyIn Hapjang's Whispering Bamboo Grove, shout what you can't tell anyone, anonymously. It echoes for about 70 seconds and stays on a board for 1 hour.
- Smiling Cliff Buddha: A Buddha Carved into RockA maaebul is a Buddha carved into a rock face. At Goyosa in Hapjang, offer incense and bow before a Smiling Cliff Buddha on an 85 m cliff.
- Meditation for Beginners: Where to Start and How LongNew to meditation? Start by noticing your breath for 3–5 minutes. Posture, what to do when your mind wanders, and how to breathe with others in Hapjang.
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