1541
Within the lifespan of the universe, these twelve months were not even measurable as a fraction on the scale of what had come before and what still was to come ahead of it. But from the perspective of Earth and its current population of five hundred million inhabitants, the very boundaries of their world were beginning to change.
King Henry the Eighth of England was currently on his fifth out of six wives whilst the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto had just become the first European explorer to cross the Mississippi River in what would become the modern-day southern states of North America. The future capital city of Chile, Santiago, was in its infancy after being founded by Pedro de Valvidia just as Michelangelo drew closer to the completion of The Last Judgement painting that covered the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
But at the Naksan Temple in South Korea, time and the changes it brought simply stood still.
Perched on the slopes of the Obongsan Mountains, the small cluster of religiously significant buildings seemed destined to be forevermore unchanged by the outside world and all of its newly discovered lands and ideas. Instead, the temple and its few dozen guardians seemed content enough to remain unnoticed and tucked away between the rocky hills and the sparkling blue waters of the East Sea.
To find land again in this direction, any sailor would have to journey all the way over to Japan some six hundred miles away.
The biggest of the seven structures that made up the Naksan Temple was no bigger than a small bungalow house, and yet no home built of brick and mortar could have ever matched any of them for their intricately beautiful designs. Each one was a piece of artwork in its own right, including the Uisangdae Pavilion that sat on the edge of the clifftops right next to a straight drop of twenty meters down to the deep ocean below it.
Rose Tyler gazed up at the underbelly of its jade green roof and smiled.
Like the other buildings which made up the temple, it was six-sided and had too many carvings to count. Even the TARDIS seemed to be struggling to translate some of the symbols for her, although she did suspect that the time machine was for once letting her enjoy the mystery of the foreign aesthetics without wanting to know what they actually said.
"Wow, Doctor." She breathed. "This isn't a bad spot for breakfast at all."
Unable to tear her eyes away from the magnificent roof above her, she sensed the Time Lord moving around as he continued to lay out a meal worthy of greeting the new day in such a spectacular setting. It was a sight that had definitely been worth getting up at five o'clock in the morning for and was something not to be forgotten in a hurry.
"Bet you're glad I woke you up now, aren't you?" The Doctor remarked, smiling. "Told you it was a marvel to behold."
Rose hummed in hesitant agreement.
Being shaken awake under the cover of the cold grey light of dawn had been anything but to behold. Still, the promise of a sunrise she'd never forget and a delicious breakfast had eventually roused her from her dozing slumber and managed to persuade her to leave her bed.
Together, she and the Doctor had watched the dim orange glow on the horizon transform into a fiery burst of light as the sun emerged from beneath the line where the sky met the sea.
As they sat together under the roof of the Uisangdae Pavilion, the Time Lord had begun to recite the words of a poet who had witnessed and chosen to document such a sight in the form of a haiku. He had a name that Rose didn't even want to try and pronounce, but she was surprised to learn that he had gone on to describe the sun looking as though it were being held up by six dragons.
"Dragons?" She questioned. "Really?"
"The clouds that day were described as dragons, yes." The Doctor stated. "Then as the sun rose majestically from the sea to the sky, the whole world shook and the sun rose swiftly, shining more brightly than a thousand candles."
"That's beautiful."
"Yes, it is." The Doctor agreed. "So is this, Rose."
Though she was unsure whether he meant the sunrise or enjoying it with her and the breakfast he had prepared for them, Rose felt her cheeks go red as she smiled back at him. It was so nice to be able to spend time alone with the Doctor like this, with no monsters or life and death situations that came with a life travelling in the TARDIS. Reaching out for the Time Lord's hand, she was glad when he gladly wrapped his fingers around hers and gave them a gentle squeeze.
"Me too." She admitted. "I love it."
Her heart skipped a beat as the Doctor leaned forward.
The possibility of what might have happened next was interrupted as the Doctor's exceptionally stimulated brain prevented any further thoughts of this moment together with Rose from coming through as he chose instead to dwell on who else might have enjoyed seeing six dragons made of clouds lift up the sun from below the horizon.
"It's a shame some of us decided to sleep in this morning, isn't it?"
Rose couldn't help but laugh back at this.
Even in her bleary-eyed state as her body fought against the interruption of its much-needed rest, she hadn't failed to notice that Peter Argent had not been accompanying them on the trek up the dark path towards the pavilion. Waiting outside their sleeping quarters as the Doctor had tried and failed to rouse him, she couldn't blame the soldier for deciding to choose to sleep in over sun an early morning picnic.
The events of Coldstar and the ice warriors they had encountered had taken a lot out of them all.
Coming here had been a way for them all to rest and recuperate after what had been quite a draining couple of trips. In the last week alone they had encountered hordes of artificially grown humans that could kill with a single touch, saved Queen Victoria from a werewolf and had prevented the ice warriors from destroying an entire planet in a quest for half a millennia's worth of vengeance.
A large crowd of orange-robed monks had gathered to watch as the time machine landed in the middle of the Buddhist settlement.
Unlike the Brethren of St Catherine, however, these religious men were more than happy to accommodate their new guests and had greeted the large wooden box and its three peculiarly dressed occupants with smiles and excited chatter as though they had long since been expected to arrive.
"At least they're not trying to kill us this time," Peter whispered. "Or are in possession of a wolf hellbent on taking over the world."
"Not unless you fancy giving world domination a go?" Rose joked back. "How come you decided to bring us here, Doctor?"
It was just as the Doctor opened up his mouth to give his answer that the gathered crowd of monks parted in order to allow one of their number to approach the temple's new arrivals.
Though he was near identical in appearance to most of his congregation with his bald head and orange robes, he was older than most of them and gave off the distinct impression that if there was to be leader found here then they needn't look to anyone else. Respectfully bowing from the waist so low that Rose feared he might not be able to stand up straight again, he threw his arms out in a welcoming gesture.
"Doctor! You have reincarnated once more."
"Hello Bou," the Time Lord replied, smiling. "Quite a few times since we last met."
This at least explained why none of the monks had reacted with any great surprise to either the TARDIS or the three of them so suddenly arriving in this untouched part of a world that mostly still believed itself to be flat rather than round. In all of his nine hundred years, the Doctor rarely visited anywhere twice. But the Naksan Temple seemed to be an exception to this rule.
After the introductions of Rose and Peter had been made to Bou and his fellow monks, the trio of time travellers were then treated to the sixteenth century's equivalent of sushi.
Severed cold, the rolls of rice and fish that had been caught within the waters surrounding the temple that morning had been presented to them along with vegetables grown from a garden that all of the monks maintained and shared from in equal measure. It was a surprisingly delicious and filling meal despite the small portions, and they had barely time to digest it before Bou insisted on providing them with more suitable clothing for their stay.
Rose gasped at the beauty of the dress that Bou presented her with.
It was almost entirely made out of silk and the brightness of its colour was truly dazzling. Light pink at the top with very long and elaborate sleeves, the powdered blue skirt which sat high around her waist billowed out from beneath a black and gold sash. The whole thing must have taken an entire team of seamstresses a very long time to create given the sheer mass of fabric and the elegant flowers that had been embroidered throughout the garment.
"It's beautiful!" She said, beaming at him. "Wherever did you get it from?"
Even if there were any other women around to borrow such a garment from, she doubted very much that this was something readily available to purchase from the local shop. No, this had been handmade for someone very special and here she was being permitted to wear it from a religious order that really didn't look as though their simple existence could afford to lose it.
"Queen Munjeong herself, my lady," Bou told her, bowing to her once again. "She visited here not many moons ago and neglected to leave with this. I am sure she will not object to her dress being used to clothe such an equally distinguished lady such as yourself."
Rose had no idea who Queen Munjeong was, but she was really starting to like Bou and his temple.
Retreating into the TARDIS to change, she felt like a princess as she put on the magnificent dress and examined herself in the mirror of the ship's colossal wardrobe. Running her hands up and down the soft silk of the skirt a few more times, she managed to tear herself away from her own reflection and venture back outside.
The Doctor and Peter were waiting for her and both men also had a brand new look.
Wearing white shirts with black trousers that were plain and simple, the two long overcoats of colour which reached the top of their ankles had the same large sleeves that Rose's dress had and they were both as equally beautiful in their design and intricate detailing. The Time Lord's deep red coat and Peter's oceanic blue counterpart were fastened up to the neck by several toggles, but the garment opened up below the sashes of black silk around their waists to allow their legs to move freely beneath the stunning piece of clothing.
"Why are you still wearing your trainers?" Rose quickly noted. "That's cheating, Peter."
Peter smiled back at her mischievously and winked.
Whilst the Doctor had opted in for complete authenticity by completing his new outfit with a wide-brimmed bamboo hat and the sandals worn by all of the monks, the younger man had been a little more rebellious by keeping on his distinctly twenty-first-century black Nike trainers. The white ticked logo of the shoes was extremely visible even from beneath the folds of his blue overcoat.
"Yes, I don't think they had those knocking around in the fifteen hundreds." The Doctor added with a tut of disapproval. "Honestly, you'll wear a full Scots Guard uniform but not a pair of sandals?"
"I don't do sandals," Peter replied nonchalantly. "Still, you never know. I might start a fashion trend and get trainers invented a couple of centuries early?"
Shaking his head, the Doctor decided it wasn't worth continuing with the argument.
"Yes, Xiaolin warrior indeed."
Having arrived in the late afternoon, the remaining hours of daylight had quickly passed by as Bou personally guided them around the temple and summarised as best he could the centuries of history and culture that had led to the creation of the religious site. Showing his three guests some of the monks most sacred artefacts, the Doctor, in particular, had taken great delight in examining the beautifully crafted scrolls which chronicled the already ancient history of the temple and surrounding area.
However, it was the ceremonies that always brought the Time Lord back to this time and place over and over again, and he was keen on Rose and Peter being able to experience them too.
As evening drew in, they were treated to a marvellous dance performed by the monks that was accompanied with crash cymbals and wooden instruments as the Buddhists chanted away in their native Korean that the TARDIS was choosing not to translate for them, and only added to the mystery and wonder of the experience.
A small clustering of cherry blossom trees that were almost beginning to reach full bloom had been attracting Peter's attention all day.
The sound of a large booming drum emerged from somewhere within the sheltered and remote part of the temple just after supper. Beating like the chimes of Big Ben in the heart of London, the rhythmical series of banging bongs were announcing more than just the time of day.
"What are those drums for, Bou?" He asked the monk. "In those woods over there?"
Bou smiled back and indicated that they should follow him over towards the blossoming trees with a wave of his arm.
"Please, allow me to show you."
As they neared the shelter provided by the overhanging branches that were starting to sprout tiny buds of bright pink petals, they were joined by several of the monks in making their way through the darkening forest until they reached a clearing where one lone man was sat crossed legged in front of a bamboo mat. Spread across it in equal intervals were a dozen unlit incense sticks that were balanced individually in wooden holders about the width and length of a ruler.
Unlike Bou and every other monk present, the man conducting this ceremony had a small beard and a patch of hair leading into a ponytail towards the back of his head.
Gathering in front of him, all of the monks that had been summoned to the forest were taking their place as each man sat down on the grass with their legs crossed just as he was. Gently resting their arms against the tops of their knees, all of them did this without a single spoken word being exchanged between them. As the Doctor, Rose and Peter watched with Bou from the boundary of the clearing, a sudden stillness seemed to inhabit the woods that not even the branches of the tree bouncing in the early spring evening breeze seemed capable of breaking.
"Now this is something you don't see every day." The Doctor quietly explained. "Mediation is the key to all knowledge for Buddhists."
"It is not enough to merely fall silent," Bou added. "We must listen to what our minds wish to tell us."
The bearded monk had not moved a muscle until now, and it was only once all of his gathered Buddhists had prepared their bodies and minds for the practice which they were perhaps best known for did he begin the proceedings as he used a small candle to set alight each of the incense sticks.
Soon the air around the clearing became sweet and heavy as the smoke trails wafted away from the thin strips of scent infused wood.
"Oh, that's strong stuff." Peter hissed, his nose wrinkling up. "It's making my nose itch."
Using his arm to cover the noise of the blast of sneezes which followed, he already knew he wouldn't be able to stay much longer and really didn't want to accidentally ruin the ceremony by doing so. Covering his mouth and nose with his hand, his eyes were beginning to burn just as much as his nostrils were against the artificial smells sweeping across the clearing.
"You okay?" Rose whispered. "Is it the..."
Peter sneezed again and nodded.
"I'm going to have to go." He replied through his hand. "I'm getting dizzy."
Not failing to spot the Nimarian's discomfort as his sterling grey eyes began to water, the Doctor had quickly prevented any awkwardnesses by mentioning to Bou that the hour was late and they were all quite tired from their journey and the day's events.
Smiling and nodded understandingly, the monk did not encroach upon the tranquillity of his fellow Buddhists meditation further by giving a vocal response as he guided his guests away with a silent wave of his arm.
By the time they reached the main part of the temple, only a few well-placed steel fire pits were illuminating the gravel paths between the buildings. Wrapping her arm around the Doctor's so that she wouldn't trip over her long dress in the darkness, Rose hadn't realised how tired she was. Perhaps the incense had affected her too because all of a sudden she just wanted to lie down and pass out.
The small hut that Bou had set aside for them to sleep in had no walls. Instead, heavy cotton drapes hung down between the green pillars to provide shelter and privacy. Weighted at the bottom by wooden poles so that they wouldn't sway around too much in the wind, the weather was thankfully still warm enough to make the almost outdoor sleeping arrangements bearable.
Three narrow bamboo mats had greeted them inside, laid upon thin mattresses padded with straw judging by the stalks Rose could see poking out of the white material. An additional tube-shaped piece lay on top to serve as a pillow and they had only been given one blanket each.
But despite initial reservations and the low proximity to the floor, the beds were deceivingly comfortable.
With the sound of the ocean crashing against the rocks flowing through her ears as she laid back and stared up at the shadowy roof above her, Rose felt as though she had barely just closed her eyes before the Doctor was shaking her awake for their sunrise rendezvous.