Buddhist Diet For A Clear Mind
by Ari Shapiro,
Sun Woo directs the visitor program at Jinkwansa, a Buddhist temple outside Seoul famous for preserving the art of Korean temple food. Behind her are giant jars filled with fermented soybeans. Ari Shapiro/NPR hide caption
Sun Woo directs the visitor program at Jinkwansa, a Buddhist temple outside Seoul famous for preserving the art of Korean temple food. Behind her are giant jars filled with fermented soybeans.
Detox diets come and go, like any other fad. In South Korea, one popular diet has staying power. It has been around for at least 1,600 years, ever since the founding of the Jinkwansa temple in the mountains outside of Seoul.
This Buddhist monastery sits at the convergence of two streams, amid twisting leafy trees and soaring peaks. It’s one of many temples in the countryside outside of South Korea’s capital. Each temple has its own specialty. Jinkwansa is famous for two reasons.
First, it’s run entirely by women. The day before our visit, Jill Biden, the wife of the U.S. vice president, was at the temple learning about Korean women’s education.
But we came here to learn about Jinkwansa’s second claim to fame. The place is renowned for preserving the ancient art of Korean temple cuisine. enlighten me some more…