가을비를 맞은 단풍나뭇잎이 화엄사 한편을 붉은 빛으로 물들이고 있다. 지리산에 자리잡은 화엄사는 가을 단풍으로도 유명하다.

Maple leaves covered by an autumn rain color one corner of Hwaeomsa Temple. Located near Jirisan Mountain, the temple is known for its red, orange and yellow autumn leaves.

A late autumn rain blew off the leaves and hurried winter’s arrival. Visitors to the forested temple realized that autumn was fading before their eyes as they saw the leaves, blown about in the wind and the rain, fall to the ground.

On Oct. 13, rain blew across the nation and Jirisan Mountain was no exception.

The precipitation washed the roofs of Hwaeomsa Temple and Cheoneunsa Temple, two old religious sites located on the lower slopes of the mountain, and rhythmically dripped from temple eaves. Other raindrops hovered on empty tree branches where the leaves had all already fallen.

As if they didn’t want autumn to fade, visitors to the two ancient temples, despite the autumn rain, took pictures of the calm and quiet temple grounds, with autumn leaves in the background whose color had been deepened by the rain.

By Jeon Han, Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Jeon Han
hanjeon@korea.kr

828년 창건된 천은사는 화엄사, 쌍계사와 함께 지리산 3대 사찰이다.

Cheoneunsa Temple, founded in 828, is one of the three temples near Jirisan Mountain, along with Hwaeomsa Temple and Ssanggyesa Temple.

쌀쌀한 날씨 속에 하루 종일 비가 내렸지만 적지 않은 사람들이 화엄사를 찾아 지나가는 가을을 즐겼다.

Pairs of hearty individuals visit Hwaeomsa Temple despite the cold, wet weather, and enjoy the last few days of autumn.

천은사에 자리잡은 단풍나무들이 가을비를 맞고 더욱 선명한 색을 뽐내고 있다.

The rain at Cheoneunsa Temple deepens the red, orange and yellow of the autumn leaves.

가을비가 내리는 가운데 떨어진 나뭇잎의 빈자리를 물방울이 채우고 있다.

As the rain falls, raindrops perch on the bare branches where the leaves used to be.

화엄사 처마끝에 지붕을 타고 내려온 빗물이 쉼 없이 떨어지고 있다.

The dripping rain is never ending as it falls from the eaves at Hwaeomsa Temple.

천은사 옆 자리잡은 계곡에서는 지리산에서 흘러내린 맑은 물이 흐른다.

Clean and clear water flows from Jirisan Mountain down through the valley near Cheoneunsa Temple.