| Cultural Geography of Jiri-san the Exquisite-Wisdom Mountain |
Jiri-san is one of the most famous, and probably the most-sacred, group of mountains in all of
Korea. It is highly worth a visit in itself during any season, and a rewarding hiking destination
for pilgrims and explorers. It is the terminus of the Baekdu-daegan Mountain system, and for
most trekkers the great trail begins here at the eastern slopes. The Jiri Mountains are a
great national treasure, holding a vast natural, cultural and spiritual wealth.
Most of this sprawling alpine region is a National Park -- Korea's oldest and still the largest
mountain-based one, covering just a little over 470 square kilometers. It was designated at
the end of December 1967 by President Park Chung-hee, inaugurating South Korea's bold
and innovative National Parks program. It was chosen for this honor due to its outstanding
natural features and cultural sites, its prominent role in national history, its continuing high
reputation among all Koreans and in order to relieve the poverty of its rural residents.
The ridgelines extend outside the Park boundaries into various districts of Gurye County of
South Jeolla Province, Namwon City of North Jeolla Province, and Hadong County,
Samcheong County and Hamyang County of South Gyeongsang Province. This is the only
mountain in Korea included in five different counties and cities.
These gigantic and prominent mountains dominate the entire southern quarter of the Korean
Peninsula and divide it into separate provinces. It has served as both the military and
spiritual "guardian" mountain of the entire south-coast region between Jinju City and
Gwangju City, with several sites of former military fortresses on its slopes. It creates both the
scenic Seomjin-gang River that flows to the south coast, and the Imcheon-gang River to its
north. It holds a primary position in what we might call the "sacred geography of Korea".
The Jiri Mountains feature three main summits, named Cheonwang-bong, Banya-bong and
Nogo-dan, all considered highly sacred – and a total of more than three dozen peaks over
1000m high, over 21 of them crossed by the Baekdu-daegan trail. Many of these peaks have
their own distinct cultural character and reputation, with associated myths or legends.
People talk about Jiri-san as if it's just one mountain, but it's really a massive cluster of
mountains under one name, with seven distinct sets of ridgelines and peaks:
• the Eastern Main Ridge with Cheonwang-bong (1915m) as its summit, and many lesser
but still substantial and mighty peaks along it, beginning the Baekdu-daegan;
• the Central Main Ridge with Banya-bong as its summit (1751m) and Nogo-dan Peak
(1507m) forming its western end, with Samdo-bong (1530m) connecting it to the Eastern
Main Ridge and continuing the Baekdu-daegan;
• the Northwestern Main Ridge starting at Nogo-dan Peak and running north through
Manbok-dae Peak (1433m) and then bringing the Baekdu-daegan out of Jiri-san and on to
the north through Namwon City territories;
• the Southeastern Spur starting from the center of the Eastern Main Ridge, led by
Samshin-bong (1284m) and then starting the Naknam-jeongmaek Range, and defining the
topography of Hadong County;
• three parallel Southwestern Spurs originating from the Central Main Ridge from Samdo-
bong to Nogo-dan, creating the deep distinctive valleys of Gurye County;
• two small Northeastern Spurs starting near Cheonwang-bong and running through high
but little-visited wilderness peaks down to the Imcheon-gang River, creating beautiful gorges
in southern Hamyang County;
• the Northern Central Spur starting from the west part of the Eastern Main Ridge,
climaxing at Samjeong-bong (1225m) and then ending at Mansu-cheon Stream.
These clusters of ridges and peaks form dozens of valleys, gorges and slopes, each with
their own distinctive character, containing over a hundred temples, shrines and historic sites.
These form 12 Major Sectors of valleys, gorges, ridges, slopes, temples & shrines (below).
Korea. It is highly worth a visit in itself during any season, and a rewarding hiking destination
for pilgrims and explorers. It is the terminus of the Baekdu-daegan Mountain system, and for
most trekkers the great trail begins here at the eastern slopes. The Jiri Mountains are a
great national treasure, holding a vast natural, cultural and spiritual wealth.
Most of this sprawling alpine region is a National Park -- Korea's oldest and still the largest
mountain-based one, covering just a little over 470 square kilometers. It was designated at
the end of December 1967 by President Park Chung-hee, inaugurating South Korea's bold
and innovative National Parks program. It was chosen for this honor due to its outstanding
natural features and cultural sites, its prominent role in national history, its continuing high
reputation among all Koreans and in order to relieve the poverty of its rural residents.
The ridgelines extend outside the Park boundaries into various districts of Gurye County of
South Jeolla Province, Namwon City of North Jeolla Province, and Hadong County,
Samcheong County and Hamyang County of South Gyeongsang Province. This is the only
mountain in Korea included in five different counties and cities.
These gigantic and prominent mountains dominate the entire southern quarter of the Korean
Peninsula and divide it into separate provinces. It has served as both the military and
spiritual "guardian" mountain of the entire south-coast region between Jinju City and
Gwangju City, with several sites of former military fortresses on its slopes. It creates both the
scenic Seomjin-gang River that flows to the south coast, and the Imcheon-gang River to its
north. It holds a primary position in what we might call the "sacred geography of Korea".
The Jiri Mountains feature three main summits, named Cheonwang-bong, Banya-bong and
Nogo-dan, all considered highly sacred – and a total of more than three dozen peaks over
1000m high, over 21 of them crossed by the Baekdu-daegan trail. Many of these peaks have
their own distinct cultural character and reputation, with associated myths or legends.
People talk about Jiri-san as if it's just one mountain, but it's really a massive cluster of
mountains under one name, with seven distinct sets of ridgelines and peaks:
• the Eastern Main Ridge with Cheonwang-bong (1915m) as its summit, and many lesser
but still substantial and mighty peaks along it, beginning the Baekdu-daegan;
• the Central Main Ridge with Banya-bong as its summit (1751m) and Nogo-dan Peak
(1507m) forming its western end, with Samdo-bong (1530m) connecting it to the Eastern
Main Ridge and continuing the Baekdu-daegan;
• the Northwestern Main Ridge starting at Nogo-dan Peak and running north through
Manbok-dae Peak (1433m) and then bringing the Baekdu-daegan out of Jiri-san and on to
the north through Namwon City territories;
• the Southeastern Spur starting from the center of the Eastern Main Ridge, led by
Samshin-bong (1284m) and then starting the Naknam-jeongmaek Range, and defining the
topography of Hadong County;
• three parallel Southwestern Spurs originating from the Central Main Ridge from Samdo-
bong to Nogo-dan, creating the deep distinctive valleys of Gurye County;
• two small Northeastern Spurs starting near Cheonwang-bong and running through high
but little-visited wilderness peaks down to the Imcheon-gang River, creating beautiful gorges
in southern Hamyang County;
• the Northern Central Spur starting from the west part of the Eastern Main Ridge,
climaxing at Samjeong-bong (1225m) and then ending at Mansu-cheon Stream.
These clusters of ridges and peaks form dozens of valleys, gorges and slopes, each with
their own distinctive character, containing over a hundred temples, shrines and historic sites.
These form 12 Major Sectors of valleys, gorges, ridges, slopes, temples & shrines (below).
| Jiri-san's location at the bottom of the Korean peninsula, on a satellite photo -- its lofty peaks are the brown spots clearly visible in the upper center of this picture. The white areas indicate civilization, not snow... |
| The 3 Greatest Ancient Buddhist Temples of Jiri-san (within all South Korea's "Top-20 Monasteries", each with a cluster of Hermitages): Nogo-dan Hwaeom-sa Samshin-bong Ssanggye-sa Samjeong-bong Shilsang-sa |
| Dongri-san Taean-sa Gurye O-san Saseong-am Nogo-dan Cheoneun-sa Cheoneun-sa's Sudo-am Cheoneun-sa's Sangseon-am Hwaeom-sa's Namak-sa Shrine Hwaeom-sa's Jijang-am Hwaeom-sa's Geumjeong-am Samdo-bong Yeongok-sa Toggi-bong Chilbul-sa Ssanggye-sa's Guksa-am Ssanggye-sa's Bulil-am Cheonghak-dong Samseong-gung |
| 20 Major "new" Temples, Shrines or around Jiri-san: Cheoneun-sa's Dogye-am Cheoneun-sa's Samil-am Hwaeom-sa's Yeongi-am Gurye's South Munsu-sa Yeongok-sa's Bullak-sa Yeongok-sa's Hansan-sa Yeongok-sa's Cheonwang-sa Cheonghak-dong Jinju-am Naedae-gol Sanshin-halmae-dang Naedae-gol Gilsang-am Naedae-gol Seokcheon-sa Beobgye-sa's Cheonwang-sa Ju-san Jeonggak-sa Byeoksong-sa's Seo-am South Beobhwa-sa Hamyang's North Munsu-sa Hamyang-gun Gyeonbul-sa Hamyang-gun Sambul-sa Hamyang-gun Muju-am Banya-bong's Myohyang-am |
See the Sector listings below, or the Map, for links to these places, if I
have pages about them up yet. What are called "Ancient" in these
listings means temples that were founded before 1900 CE, according to
information contained in The Dictionary of Korean Buddhist Temples, If
it's not listed in that book, I list it here as "new".
have pages about them up yet. What are called "Ancient" in these
listings means temples that were founded before 1900 CE, according to
information contained in The Dictionary of Korean Buddhist Temples, If
it's not listed in that book, I list it here as "new".
Cheonhwang-bong Beopgye-sa Cheonhwang-bong Naewon-sa Cheonhwang-bong Daewon-sa Cheonhwang-bong Byeoksong-sa Beophwa-san North Beophwa-sa Samjeong-bong Yeongwon-sa Yeongwon-sa's Godam-sa Yeongwon-sa's Sangmuju-am Yeongwon-sa's Dosol-am Shilsang-sa's Yaksu-am Shilsang-sa's Seojin-am Shilsang-sa's Baekjang-am Namwon City Yongdam-sa |
| The 26 other Great Ancient Temples and Hermitages encircling the Jiri Mountains (listed counter-clockwise, starting from the SW): |
Alpine springs of very high-quality water flow down into two-dozen dramatic valleys and famous scenic gorges.
Twelve great Buddhist temples and more than 30 smaller ones are found around the slopes, with several
Twelve great Buddhist temples and more than 30 smaller ones are found around the slopes, with several
| From Google Earth: |
<---Cheonwang-bong
| Banya-bong--> |
| Naknam-Jeongmaek --> |
Directly south of Jiri-san's central peaks and the Southeastern Spur, across the Seomjin River
and therefore disconnected, but otherwise seeming to be an extension, is another mighty and
sacred mountain-complex -- Baekun-san [White Clouds Mtn, a.k.a. Baegunsan] of Gwangyang City.
and therefore disconnected, but otherwise seeming to be an extension, is another mighty and
sacred mountain-complex -- Baekun-san [White Clouds Mtn, a.k.a. Baegunsan] of Gwangyang City.