Temple story · Traditional attribution
The Turtle Swimming Out to Sea
The landform tradition of Hyangiram
Encyclopedia of Korean Culture: 'Hyangiram on Geumosan'; Korea Heritage Service portal: 'Area of Hyangiram on Geumosan, Yeosu'
This is a place to enjoy the sunrise over the sea to the full, and its site, it is said, takes the shape of a turtle paddling its arms as it heads out into the sea.
The site of Hyangiram on Geumosan in Yeosu is said to take the shape of a turtle paddling its arms as it heads out to sea. In modern times, Gyeongbong named the hermitage Yeonggu-am (靈龜庵), 'Hermitage of the Spirit Turtle,' because the rock on the hill behind it looked like a turtle's back. Its present name, Hyangiram (向日庵), means 'hermitage facing the sun,' given because the sunrise seen from here is said to be beautiful. The Korea Heritage Service has designated the area a scenic site, and its description singles out the turtle-shaped landform, rocks patterned like turtle shells and stone gateways formed by natural rock, such as the Haetalmun, set among dense camellia woods. Look for turtle-shell patterns on the rocks of the Hyangiram area, and pass through a stone gateway such as the Haetalmun.