TEMPLE ADVENTURES Poroe, the dragon that adorns temple bells
A colorful Poroe dragon at Yongdeok Temple in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington
The Western idea of dragons is one of ferocity. Arguably, “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” have had a bit to do with this opinion in recent years. And with this being the Year of the Blue Dragon according to the lunar calendar, it would come to reason that this is a year of some fieriness, especially when one looks at the personality traits associated with people born in the Year of the Dragon. Traits such as confidence and intelligence come to mind.
In addition to this dominant idea of dragons being ferocious and independent in Western thinking, as well as the personality traits found within the Chinese zodiac, you’ll also find the pervasive idea in Korean society that dragons are a sign of good luck. This thought about dragons carries over to Korean Buddhism, as well.
In Korean Buddhism, you can find these mythological creatures everywhere including in paintings, statues, adornments, latticework, canopies, shaman deities and under bridges. They typically appear to have deer antlers, a snake belly, a fish tail, claws and whiskers. They can also be blue, red, yellow, green or brown. And 2024 is the Year of the Blue Dragon.
A blue dragon is depicted in a mural at Gimnyong Temple in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of Dale Quarrington
As to how dragons manifest in Korean Buddhism, they are typically guardians thought to be bearers of good fortune and spiritual clarity. Their voices clear away the corruption of thoughts and delusions. In Korea, dragons are said to have power over the seas, floods and storms. And more specifically in Buddhism, they are thought to be one of eight protective deities that help guard the teachings of the Buddha, which are known as the dharma.
With all this ferocity, independence and intelligence in mind, you’d think that all manifestations of dragons at Korean Buddhist temples would have one or all of all these traits. However, there is one very noticeable exception to this very pervading rule. This exception takes the form of Poroe, the dragon that adorns the top of temple bells.
Poroe at Buseok Temple in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington
One of the most common things you’ll see at a Korean Buddhist temple outside a pagoda or temple shrine hall is the Brahma Bell, which is a large, decorative bronze bell. During the day, there are two main times that the Brahma Bell is struck. The temple bell is struck 28 times in the morning and 33 times at night. The Brahma Bell, which is known as a “beomjong” in Korean, is well-crafted and is usually several centuries old. Typically, the outer walls of the bell are adorned with various Buddhist figures like Bicheon (Flying Heavenly Deities), Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. Joining these bell reliefs is a decorative metal hook that holds the bell to the rafters of the bell pavilion. This decorative metal hook that crowns the top of the bell is designed as a dragon. This dragon can be highly ornate in design or a little more simplistic. As a result, these metal hooks are known as the “dragon hook” in English.
Poroe, a dragon in Buddhist mythology, is seen on top of a bell at Seokbul Temple in Busan. Courtesy of Dale Quarrington
So who is this metal dragon hook crowning the top of the Brahma Bell? Well, this would be Poroe. Poroe, rather interestingly, is mentioned in the historic “Samguk Yusa,” or “Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms” in English. According to this myth found in the “Samguk Yusa,” Poroe is a mythological dragon that’s afraid of whales located in the East Sea. So whenever Poroe encounters a whale, Poroe lets out a great big scream.
So what exactly does this all have to do with Korean temple bells, you might be asking? Well, if you look at the wooden strikers that hit temple bells, they are traditionally whale-shaped. While not as common today, they can still be found at some Buddhist temples in Korea. So when the whale-shaped striker hits the Brahma Bell, coming in close contact with Poroe atop the temple bell, Poroe lets out a loud scream. This then allows the bell, according to this Poroe myth, to sound even louder. In Korean, that’s why the sound that a bell makes is known as the “whale sound.” And rather uniquely, Poroe exclusively adorns the top of Korean Brahma Bells. You won’t find this mythological creature on temple bells in neighboring China or Japan.
The historic bell of King Seongdeok at the Gyeongju National Museum / Courtesy of Dale Quarrington
So while dragons in Korea generally conjure up images of strength, ferocity, independence and good luck, especially in the Year of the Blue Dragon, there is one dragon in Korea that’s a bit more timid. So the next time you’re at a Korean Buddhist temple, take a look around the temple grounds for the Jong-ru (Bell Pavilion). Whether it’s big or small, the temple should have a Brahma Bell. And with this bell in your sights, look up towards the top of the bell to find Poroe to better understand this rather timid dragon with cetaphobia (fear of whales).
Dale Quarrington has visited over 500 temples throughout the Korean Peninsula and published three books on Korean Buddhism. He runs the website, Dale's Korean Temple Adventures.