| Taebaek-san 태백산 太白山 the Grand White Mountain one of South Korea's Top-12 Sacred Mountains |
| Cheonje-dan 천제단 [Altar for Offering to Heaven] Peak on the left, Janggun-bong [Guardian General Peak] behind it, and Manggyeong-sa [All-encompassing-View Temple] lined up below them, as seen from Munsu-bong in 1993. MAP |
| Neo-Confucian officiants in royal robes stand in front of the famous Taebaek-san name-pillar, just after the 1993 Gyecheon-jeol cermony at the Cheonje-dan Altar. |
The small Seonghwang-dang [Sagely King Shrine] in its
sacred grove, now stuck in the middle of the Dang-gol
[Shrine Valley] parking lots! on its right side a line of
modernized Jang-seung statues have been erected.
sacred grove, now stuck in the middle of the Dang-gol
[Shrine Valley] parking lots! on its right side a line of
modernized Jang-seung statues have been erected.
The Taebaek-je Festival on Gyecheon-jeol 2005 was curiously downsized, compared
with previous years. Apart from the formal Sanshin-je and the Dangun-je, there wasn't
much going on. In the main plaza of Dang-gol, there was only this Baduk tournament.
with previous years. Apart from the formal Sanshin-je and the Dangun-je, there wasn't
much going on. In the main plaza of Dang-gol, there was only this Baduk tournament.
From a recounting of the Goryeo-sa [royal history of the Goryeo Dynasty]:
When the mystical Buddhist/Daoist monk Myocheong raised a significant
rebellion around 1130 (mostly based on his advocacy of moving the capital northwards to
achieve a superior position according to his Pungsu-jiri readings) and had a new palace
built in Pyeongyang, some Confucian scholars supporting him approved of his
constructing eight shrines for nation-protecting/benefiting "Immortals", and
advocated that the Spirits of Baekdu-san and Taebaek-san be the first ones
enshrined - demonstrating their primary status.
When the mystical Buddhist/Daoist monk Myocheong raised a significant
rebellion around 1130 (mostly based on his advocacy of moving the capital northwards to
achieve a superior position according to his Pungsu-jiri readings) and had a new palace
built in Pyeongyang, some Confucian scholars supporting him approved of his
constructing eight shrines for nation-protecting/benefiting "Immortals", and
advocated that the Spirits of Baekdu-san and Taebaek-san be the first ones
enshrined - demonstrating their primary status.
the Gang of Seven on the trip there October 2-3 2005, sitting in the doorway of the
excellent Yu-jeong Motel in Dang-gol, flanked by neo-traditionalist stone jang-seung
poles. clockwise from upper left is Prof. John Dougill of Kyoto, Yana Kim (translator,
yoga-teacher & Buddhist), Dr. Anne Hilty (a cultural psychologist working in Seoul),
David A. Mason (slacker & tour-guide), "Freebird" Min Jae-ki (ceo of Buddhist
website-design company), So-youn (student) and Tyler S (film-maker & teacher in Daegu).
excellent Yu-jeong Motel in Dang-gol, flanked by neo-traditionalist stone jang-seung
poles. clockwise from upper left is Prof. John Dougill of Kyoto, Yana Kim (translator,
yoga-teacher & Buddhist), Dr. Anne Hilty (a cultural psychologist working in Seoul),
David A. Mason (slacker & tour-guide), "Freebird" Min Jae-ki (ceo of Buddhist
website-design company), So-youn (student) and Tyler S (film-maker & teacher in Daegu).
Anne Hilty's 121 excellent photos from this trip can be viewed HERE.
and her literary essay describing the trip is posted HERE.
and her literary essay describing the trip is posted HERE.
Index of Taebaek-san Pages:
MAP of Taebaeksan
02 Cheonje-dan and Janggun-bong Peaks, and the Lower Altar
03 Jumok-namu Trees
04 Munsu-bong Peak with its towers and shrines -- and my June 2003 Hike
05 Manggyeong-sa Temple, the highest-altitude monastery in South Korea
06 King Danjong as a Taebaek-sanshin: the alpine Danjong-wang Bi-gak
07 the 2005 Sanshin-je Ceremony above Dang-gol
08 Dangun-Seonjeong Shrine in Dang-gol and the 2005 Dan-gun-je Ceremony
09 2006 Lunar-Gaecheon-jeol Ceremony at the Dangun-Seonjeong Shrine
10 Cheongwon-sa Temple in Dang-gol -- Shrine for the Dragon of the Nakdong River
11 the Buljeong-Sandang Shamanic Shrine in Dang-gol
12 Mandeok-sa in Dang-gol -- "Ten-thousand Virtues" Temple with a great Sanshin-do
13 Bae-ssi-Sandang Shamanic Shrine and Daejinju-am Temple in western Dang-gol
14 Other Shamanic Shrines in eastern Dang-gol
15 Baekdan-sa Temple, and the Shamanic Shrines in its Valley
16 Dan-gun Seongjeon Shamanic Shrines in western Baekdan-sa-gol
17 other Shamanic Shrines on the northern slopes of Taebaek-san
18 Yu-il-sa, one of Korea's least accessible temples, but on the BDDG
19 Munsu-sa and other temples of southeastern Taebaek-san
20 Wolam-sa and Climbing Wolam-bong (Dal-bawi-bong) October 2005
21 "Taebaek-san Jeong-am-sa" Temple on Hambaek-san, founded by Jajang-yulsa
22 other temples and shrines of the Taebaek City area
23 Other Temples considered "of" Taebaek-san, although farther away
24 Cheonje Ceremony of 1989 and 1993
25 Cheonje Ceremony of 1999
24 Cheonje Ceremony of 2001
25 Cheonje Ceremony of 2004
26 Gakwha-sa and other temples of southwestern Taebaek-san
27 Kkoldu-bawi of Sang-dong Village
28 Cheongryong-am, Azure Dragon Hermitage -- Sanshin Site on the SE slope
29 Shamans using the Taebaek San-shin Spirit
Buseok-sa, the grand Floating-Rock Monastery in the far SW
02 Cheonje-dan and Janggun-bong Peaks, and the Lower Altar
03 Jumok-namu Trees
04 Munsu-bong Peak with its towers and shrines -- and my June 2003 Hike
05 Manggyeong-sa Temple, the highest-altitude monastery in South Korea
06 King Danjong as a Taebaek-sanshin: the alpine Danjong-wang Bi-gak
07 the 2005 Sanshin-je Ceremony above Dang-gol
08 Dangun-Seonjeong Shrine in Dang-gol and the 2005 Dan-gun-je Ceremony
09 2006 Lunar-Gaecheon-jeol Ceremony at the Dangun-Seonjeong Shrine
10 Cheongwon-sa Temple in Dang-gol -- Shrine for the Dragon of the Nakdong River
11 the Buljeong-Sandang Shamanic Shrine in Dang-gol
12 Mandeok-sa in Dang-gol -- "Ten-thousand Virtues" Temple with a great Sanshin-do
13 Bae-ssi-Sandang Shamanic Shrine and Daejinju-am Temple in western Dang-gol
14 Other Shamanic Shrines in eastern Dang-gol
15 Baekdan-sa Temple, and the Shamanic Shrines in its Valley
16 Dan-gun Seongjeon Shamanic Shrines in western Baekdan-sa-gol
17 other Shamanic Shrines on the northern slopes of Taebaek-san
18 Yu-il-sa, one of Korea's least accessible temples, but on the BDDG
19 Munsu-sa and other temples of southeastern Taebaek-san
20 Wolam-sa and Climbing Wolam-bong (Dal-bawi-bong) October 2005
21 "Taebaek-san Jeong-am-sa" Temple on Hambaek-san, founded by Jajang-yulsa
22 other temples and shrines of the Taebaek City area
23 Other Temples considered "of" Taebaek-san, although farther away
24 Cheonje Ceremony of 1989 and 1993
25 Cheonje Ceremony of 1999
24 Cheonje Ceremony of 2001
25 Cheonje Ceremony of 2004
26 Gakwha-sa and other temples of southwestern Taebaek-san
27 Kkoldu-bawi of Sang-dong Village
28 Cheongryong-am, Azure Dragon Hermitage -- Sanshin Site on the SE slope
29 Shamans using the Taebaek San-shin Spirit
Buseok-sa, the grand Floating-Rock Monastery in the far SW
Also of interest in Dang-gol Valley is the Taebaek Coal Museum
Taebaek-san is listed as one of Korea's most sacred
places on Martin Gray's excellent Sacred Sites of
the World website, on this page about Korea.
For plenty of information and beautiful photos
of the world's holy pilgrimage destinations,
get his excellent new 275-page book:
Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power.
places on Martin Gray's excellent Sacred Sites of
the World website, on this page about Korea.
For plenty of information and beautiful photos
of the world's holy pilgrimage destinations,
get his excellent new 275-page book:
Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power.
| People greet 2009's first sunrise and make their New Year’s wishes on top of Taebaek-san photo by Kim Myung-sub of The Korea Herald |
