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DATE: Tuesday, April 28, 2026. 7:20PM (Seoul)
VENUE: Seoul Public Activities Center (SPAC, 서울시공익활동지원센터). ‘다목적홀’
(ADDRESS: Basement Floor, 40 Baekbeomro 99-gil, Yongsan Verdium Friends(용산베르디움프렌즈) #101, Yongsan-gu, Seoul), 2-3 minutes walking from Exit 8 of Samgakji-Station (Line 6 & Line 4)
ADMISSION (Online & In-person): Free for RAS Korea Lifetime and Annual Members; W10,000 for Non-members; W5,000 for Non-member students (Student ID requested)
SUMMARY:
One does not usually think of dragons been associated with mercy, sympathy, empathy and love — but there is a very old tradition in Korea’s Buddhist artworks of the Yong-wang Dragon-King appearing as a key figure in popular formal icons of Gwanse-eum Bosal, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and also of that bodhisattva being depicted as riding upon a dragon. Professor Mason will explain the complex relationship at work here, in a way that deepens our understanding of how Korean Buddhist iconography developed as an integration of Shamanic/Daoist folk-deities into it, and will attempt to enhance our spiritual inspiration that can be derived from viewing these artworks. He is publishing a landmark new book this spring: K-Dragons: DaeHanYong — Korea’s Dragon Traditions and their Yong-wang Monarchs. This lecture is based upon one of its many chapters, and the book will be introduced at the event and made available for order.
BIO:
David A. Mason has recently retired as Professor of Korean Cultural Tourism at Seoul universities, and researcher on the religious characteristics of Korea’s mountains and the pilgrimage traditions associated with them. Prior to this 18-year professorship, he spent five years as a Consultant for the national Ministry of Culture and Tourism, assisting development of the famous TempleStay program, and 15 years before that in academic work. He has authored ten books on Korean culture and tourism, including Spirit of the Mountains: Korea’s San-shin and Traditions of Mountain-Worship, Lonely Planet’s 1997 Korea Travel-Guide, Solitary Sage, and the official Encyclopedia of Korean Buddhism. He has extensive experience of exploring and tour-guiding Korean sites, and is a skilled lecturer on their interesting aspects both in-person and online. He was born & raised in Michigan in the USA. This is his 18th lecture for RAS Korea.
VENUE:
The Seoul Public Activities Center(SPAC, 서울시공익활동지원센터) is located at Yongsan Verdium Friends #101 (용산베르디움프렌즈 101동) B1, 40 Baekbeomro 99-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Walk 2-3 minutes from ‘Exit 8’ of Samgakji Station (LINE 6 & 4) and take the elevator down to the B1 Floor.
