Bamboo Grove Shout: Say It Like "The King Has Donkey Ears"
The bamboo grove shout lets you say something you've never told anyone into a bamboo forest. It comes from an old Korean tale about a man who, unable to keep a secret any longer, ran into a bamboo grove and shouted "The king has donkey ears!" In the Whispering Bamboo Grove of the online temple Hapjang (합장) you can shout one line without your name; it echoes for about 70 seconds and then stays on a note board for an hour.
- Where
- Inside the Whispering Bamboo Grove (about 3,600 bamboo stalks)
- Name
- Not shown (anonymous)
- Echo
- About 70 seconds
- Note board
- Stays for 1 hour; you can take yours down
- Care
- Words that signal a crisis aren't posted; helpline numbers are shown instead
The tale of "The King Has Donkey Ears"
King Gyeongmun of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla had ears as long as a donkey's. The one man who knew kept the secret all his life, until at last he went into a bamboo grove and shouted it out; afterward, whenever the wind blew, the bamboo repeated the same words. The story is known from the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), and it captures how much people sometimes need to let out what they've been holding inside.
Please keep in mind when you shout
- Your name isn't shown, but the note board can be read by other visitors.
- Don't write names, contact details or addresses that could identify anyone.
- Words that honestly describe your own heart suit the grove better than words that hurt others.
If it's too heavy to carry alone
The grove is only a place to set words down for a moment; it can't help someone in crisis. Words that signal a crisis aren't posted in the grove; instead, the person who wrote them is shown the Korean helplines 109 (24 hours) and 1577-0199. If things are very hard right now, please read When things feel too hard first.
Try it in Hapjang
Step inside the Whispering Bamboo Grove to open the shout window. You can't shout from outside the grove, and your name is never shown. Your words echo through the bamboo for about 70 seconds, then stay on the note board for an hour; you can take down your own note before then. It's also fine to quietly read other people's notes and walk on.
Frequently asked questions
Is my name shown with what I shout in the bamboo grove?
No. Shouts inside the grove are anonymous, and they appear on the note board without a name.
Can I delete what I shouted?
Yes. During the hour it stays on the note board you can take down your own note, and after an hour it disappears by itself.
Where does "The king has donkey ears" come from?
It's known as a story about King Gyeongmun of Silla recorded in the Samguk Yusa: a man who had kept the secret went into a bamboo grove and shouted it out.
Related pages
- 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.
- How to Hang a Wish Lantern and What to Write on ItWhat a temple wish lantern means and tips for writing one. Hang a private lantern or a shared one in Hapjang's Lantern Courtyard, an online temple.
- When It Feels Too Hard: Where to Get Help Right NowToo hard to bear alone? Reach out now. US: call or text 988. UK & Ireland: Samaritans 116 123. Australia: 13 11 14. Korea: 109. Or your emergency number.
- Together Without Words: Being With Others in HapjangThere's no chat on Hapjang's temple grounds. How to keep others company with half bows, breathing together, and the shared courtyard, incense and cairns.
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