Ask Shikibu – Discover Korean eight wisdom stories

询问 Shikibu

Shikibu Tsuku is a companion voice on Mantifang. She was born from a Korean and Japanese lineage, with a heart that leans toward Korea.
In these tiles you will find pathways into Korean culture, art and essays, the living book 韩国人和我, koi (treated modestly), and Baedagol.
Each section offers a longer introduction, an image placeholder, and a space where you can speak with Shikibu directly.

Korean culture — language, rituals, museums, villages

Korean Culture

Korea’s culture is not only visible in museums or festivals, but also in the daily rituals that shape life.
On Mantifang you can trace small gestures such as the way greetings are exchanged, the quiet respect at a table,
or the deep history of Hangul script. Shikibu can guide you through essays that show how urban neighborhoods preserve
their memory, and how countryside villages keep stories alive through seasonal food and family gatherings.
For readers who are new, she can explain the meaning behind words and point toward museums worth visiting.
For those who already know Korea, she adds context and nuance, drawing links between Mantifang’s essays and larger historical flows.

Explore Korean culture

when the buddha fell, I woke up.

Art & Essays

Art on Mantifang is not decoration, but part of the storytelling.
Drawings by Mickey Paulssen give Shikibu a face and give the essays a visual voice.
The essays themselves are written in short, fragmentary forms: one page may reflect on a butterfly,
another may connect a photograph to a temple visit, and a third may pause on a single Korean word.
Shikibu helps you link these fragments together, suggesting how a drawing speaks to a memory or how an essay resonates with a larger theme.
You can use this section to browse freely, or ask Shikibu for guidance: she can propose a reading order, highlight details in the images,
or explain why certain forms are repeated across Mantifang. Art and essays together make Mantifang feel alive and open-ended.

Read art & essays

My Korean Journey – Korea travel and culture

韩国人和我

韩国人和我 is both a book and an online space.
It combines memoir, cultural history, and fragments of personal encounters.
Here you find stories of meetings with monks, memories of family, descriptions of city streets, and philosophical reflections.
Shikibu can help navigate this book: she recalls which chapter a memory belongs to,
she can explain the meaning of a reference, or guide you to related essays.
For researchers, she can summarize key passages or compare themes across chapters.
For casual readers, she can highlight a single scene or suggest which essay to read first.
The Koreans and I is not linear; it is a living map. Shikibu is your companion in finding the path that makes sense for you.

Enter the book

高阳锦鲤养殖场

Koi (modestly)

Koi are part of Mantifang’s history, especially in earlier collaborations.
Today they appear more as symbols than as a technical hobby.
They represent patience, movement, and quiet companionship.
If you arrive here as a koi enthusiast, Shikibu can still provide clear answers about their place on Mantifang,
point to archived notes about koi farming, or explain the symbolism of koi in East Asian art.
But the main focus of Mantifang has widened to culture, history, and stories.
This section honors koi without letting them dominate: they remain a thread, gentle and continuous,
for readers who know that koi can be a metaphor as much as a living presence.

Discover koi

Chuseok 传统

韩国在您的遗愿清单上

A short path for travelers and dreamers: what to see, how to read the place, and where Mantifang’s essays meet real streets, valleys and museums.
Shikibu can outline first steps, suggest reading before you go, and point to moments that turn a trip into a memory.

Plan your path

The Red Lamp – original 1985 cover design by Dianne van Haver

红灯

A quiet marker in Mantifang: the red lamp as a sign of attention and care.
This path introduces the symbol, its places in the stories, and how it lights small scenes without taking the stage.

Read the sign

Baedagol logo

巴达戈尔

Baedagol is more than a name: it is a doorway into craft and community.
On Mantifang, Baedagol appears in stories of bakeries that shaped neighborhoods,
in notes on how people met across generations, and in reflections on compassion and age.
For Hugo J. Smal it also connects to conversations with Korean partners and to projects that give dignity to daily life.
Shikibu can tell you why Baedagol matters, explain how it became a theme in Mantifang,
or connect you to essays where it is mentioned.
If you want to understand how Mantifang blends memory with social reflection, Baedagol is the best place to start.
It is not only a theme; it is a promise of continuity between Korea and the wider world.

Learn more about Baedagol

Ask Shikibu directly

You can talk to Shikibu right here.
Ask her about koi, Korean rituals, 红灯, or anything Mantifang has touched.
She answers from within Mantifang’s knowledge and stories.

For researchers and curious readers

Mantifang also points outward. Shikibu can recommend timelines, glossaries, and background resources.
She may direct you to authoritative sources such as
UNESCO – Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Outbound links like this are part of Mantifang’s way of connecting personal memory with wider cultural frameworks.

宝光寺五大圣像与慈悲分形

博格旺萨的五个圣像:神圣集会

雨果-J-斯马尔
图像 米奇-保尔森

第一部分
第二部分
第三部分
第四部分

博格旺萨的五个圣像:神圣集会

宝光寺大殿内还有第二个祭坛。里面供奉着一组五大佛教圣像:

观世音菩萨、观音菩萨、释迦牟尼佛
静止中的五种存在。五种存在的表现。在中心,Seokgamoni-bul 一触即握大地。在他的周围,慈悲、治愈、洞察力和光芒四射的光形成了。这个祭坛不是展示,而是一面镜子。

中心坐落着 释迦牟尼佛(석가모니불,Seokgamoni-bul)释迦牟尼佛,历史上的释迦牟尼佛,悟道并分享佛法。他坐在 布米斯巴沙咒-他的右手轻轻触地,这个动作象征着他在菩提树下的觉醒。他面容平静,双眼半闭,陷入沉思。

他的左边坐着 阿弥陀佛(아미불, Amita-bul)无量光佛是西方净土的主宰(《无量寿经》)。苏卡瓦蒂).他的右手举起 Vitarka Mudra这是一种教导和智慧的姿态。

韩国佛教艺术中阿弥陀佛三昧的一个引人注目的例子保存在克利夫兰的 艺术博物馆.

治愈与无知释迦牟尼佛前的一刻

释迦牟尼右边是 药师佛 (약사여래, Yaksa Yeorae)他也被称为 Bhaisajyaguru--治疗和精神健康的象征。在大乘佛教中,他被奉为抵御身心痛苦的保护神。他通常手持药罐或疗伤果,象征着为众生治愈因无知而产生的疾病的承诺。

我的心境让我意识到,药师佛不仅仅是一个治疗指南,更是一面镜子--一面揭示痛苦的图标,包括我自己因无知而遭受的痛苦。不仅是精神上的,还有肉体上的。无知不是罪过,而是形成性的。也许治疗就从这里开始:从认识到我还不了解的东西开始。

波士顿美术馆收藏的韩国药师佛就是一个很好的例子。

观世音菩萨、观音菩萨、释迦牟尼佛
眼睛半闭,仿佛在注视着今世和来世。右手召唤大地见证。左手没有命令,只有敞开。我没有说话,但他听到了。

👉 我们的 博格旺萨之旅

观世音菩萨的聆听存在

观世音菩萨的聆听存在

左外侧矗立着 观音菩萨(관세음보살,Gwanseum-bosal)观世音菩萨是大乘佛教中最受尊敬的菩萨之一,以倾听众生的呼声而闻名。观世音菩萨有各种形态和性别,通常手持莲花或圣水瓶,散发着祥和的恩典。

大都会艺术博物馆藏有一幅 14 世纪著名的水月观音画像,体现了观音菩萨的优雅与宁静。 菩萨.

最右边 大雄宝殿 (대세지보살, Daeseji-bosal)他是大智慧菩萨。他是阿弥陀佛三身中的关键人物,体现了通往解脱的精神力量和洞察力。观音菩萨表达的是慈悲,而大势至菩萨代表的是觉悟和智慧的力量。他的形象通常是手持莲花或器皿,平静而坚定。

在智慧与慈悲之间:宝光寺的五重愿景

观世音菩萨、观音菩萨、释迦牟尼佛
我坐在这里,不知道自己是否属于这里。但寂静并不要求凭证。只有存在。只有呼吸。这里适合静坐,无论你是谁。

圣像深深地打动了我。他们金色的躯体、沉思的面容和绚丽的色彩似乎都在俘获我的灵魂。我不知道这样做是否允许,但我还是在祭坛前坐下,试图与周围的环境融为一体。我闻到香炉里升腾的烟雾,就像飘向精神世界的祈祷。

不......我不确定我是否被允许坐在那里,或者我这样做是否冒昧。但我怀着对佛和菩萨的敬意和虔诚坐了下来。吉祥也许不在这个祭坛上 但也许他就在袅袅炊烟中驰骋

As part of the larger narrative “The Jijang Fractal,” this exploration weaves together place, memory, and spiritual inquiry. 👉 The Jijang Fractal – book hub

Murals, Memory, and Dialogue

释迦牟尼身后的壁画:宝光寺的愿景

人物背后是一幅生动的唐卡壁画。我相信这幅壁画表现的是释迦牟尼佛,周围围绕着菩萨和天人。
我说 认为因为作为一个在天主教传统中长大的人,区分这些人物并非易事。在我犯错的地方,我希望得到温和的纠正和原谅。

中心人物似乎是高高在上的释迦牟尼,坐在金色光环中。在他的周围是弟子、菩萨和守护神,象征着他的教义。这幅画采用了鲜艳的红色、蓝色和金色--这是韩国佛教艺术的标志。

这位来自鹿特丹的男孩仍然感受到天主教圣像的吸引力。我记得,当威尔第的《安魂曲》充满教堂时,我看着烟雾升腾。那时我是男生唱诗班的一员--尽管我几乎听不懂我们唱的是什么,但我还是被允许跟着唱。

然而,我还记得我的心犹豫不决的那一刻:我的手指敲打着胸口,低声说:"主啊,我不配让你进入我的屋檐下,只要你说一句话,我就会得到医治。"

在这里,在悉达多的殿堂里,我意识到:耶稣邀请人们敞开心扉,而佛陀则邀请人们静下心来。它们不会相互抵消。

它们共存,就像这幅壁画上的图标一样。

天花板在低声祈祷

祭坛上方悬挂着莲花灯笼 (Yeondeung, 연등),每个都有一个名字或祈祷词。它们象征着启迪和精神保护。在背景中,我看到了一排排金色的小佛像--可能是朝圣者或家人为纪念已故亲人而献上的。

当偶像成为我们的镜子洞察博格旺萨

观世音菩萨、观音菩萨、释迦牟尼佛
从这个角度,我看到了他们的轮廓--深思熟虑、脚踏实地、倾听。他们的手在说话,虽然从未动过。如果我能回答他们,我会说什么呢?
观世音菩萨、观音菩萨、释迦牟尼佛
从侧面看,它们就像一条金色的河流。每个人都只是微微转身,仿佛在与对方交谈。这不是等级制度。这是和谐。

在这寂静中,一个梦又回来了。

我又一次发现自己坐在首尔的广场上,坐在两位韩国历史巨人中间:一位是用剑保护人民的李舜臣将军,一位是用言语启迪人民的世宗大王。一位屹立不倒,坚定不移。另一个坐着,沉浸在思考中。在他们之间,一张简单的垫子上,地藏菩萨和观世音菩萨共饮一杯茶。

谈话就这样开始了。

Jijang-bosal 喝了一口,看着 Gwanseum-bosal。

"你倾听那些在这个世界上受苦受难的人的呼喊。我指引那些寻求超脱的人。但他们的悲伤仍会回来我们该如何帮助他们释怀?"

Gwanseum-bosal 微笑着轻轻转动茶杯。

"苦难就像这杯茶。温暖、苦涩,但转瞬即逝。茶味不存。然而许多人却执着于它,仿佛它是永恒的。"

Jijang-bosal 点点头。

"我给他们指明了道路,但很少有人敢走。他们害怕必须留下的东西 或者等待他们的东西但事实上......" Gwanseum-bosal 结束了他的思考: "......没有什么可留恋的"。
Jijang-bosal 看着杯中冒出的蒸汽。
"没错。就像茶曾经是水,很快又会蒸发,我们也一直在运动。苦难不是用来承载的,而是用来流淌的"。

Gwanseum-bosal 举起杯子。

"当他们意识到这一点,就没有什么可以释放了"
The tea is gone. The cups are placed down. No longer full—but not empty either.

城市消逝。梦境消散。剩下的只有香火的气息、吉祥的影子,以及这里没有一个独立的标志。它们相互映衬。它们映照着我们。

我再次看向祭坛。也许重要的不是我看到了什么,而是它在我心中激起了什么。正如 机张分形 洞察力也不是从确定中产生,而是从静止中产生。

但这座寺庙还有更多层次。在这座殿堂之外,还有其他空间、其他声音、其他仪式。故事并未就此结束。它在深化。

我站起来。空气寂静无声。我的脚步声在石板地上轻轻回响,仿佛寺庙自己在说:你还没有完成。

Meditation and Closing

五行冥想

释迦牟尼教书的地方

阿米塔不接受。

然而,在我心中,Yaksa Yeorae 能治愈一切。

观世音菩萨的慈悲成为可能

只有当我为自己

完成 Daeseji-bosal 的智慧

And carry forth Jijang’s fractal.

当我离开大厅时,圣像的回声仍在回荡--不是作为教义,而是作为存在。它们不是答案,而是伴侣。虽然这座祭坛提供了深邃而宁静的智慧,但我知道,博格旺萨还没有说出最后一句话。

还有其他大厅要进入。还有其他监护人要见。还有其他的寂静

在下一段旅程中,我将重返寺庙--用眼睛观察细节,用心学习如何鞠躬。

我邀请你们跟随我 雨果-J-斯马尔, 姬庄分形东亚精神

免责声明

我已尽我所能,谨慎而准确地描述了 Bogwangsa 的圣像、殿堂和仪式。不过,任何错误的识别或符号解读都完全是我个人的观点。如果您发现任何此类错误,欢迎提出宝贵意见。但最重要的是,我希望能引起共鸣的是这个故事的精神--它所营造的氛围、它所激发的开放性以及它所表达的真诚。

- 雨果-J-斯马尔

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