| the Bukhan-san 북한산 Sub-Range the Guardians of Seoul, North of the Han River |
The name "Bukhan-san" [North (of the) Han (river) Mountains] is often mis-used to refer to Mt. Samgak-san,
the prominent peaks directly to the north of Seoul's downtown. There is no mountain with that name!
It seems that Samgak-san was first casually referred to as "Bukhan-san" in the reign of Joseon King Sukjong
1674-1720, as the mountain-fortress in its center was renovated/upgraded and named as the "Bukhan-
sanseong". It seems that the Japanese colonialists first officially designated Samgak-san on maps as
"Bukhan-san" in ignorance of Korean traditions. Ever since the ROK national government designated Samgak-
san and Dobong-san together as the "Bukhan-san National Park", this mistaken labeling has become common
and even seems to be increasing. The three highest peaks of Mt. Samgak, or one of them, are often labeled
"Mt. Bukhan" (or the older spelling Pukhan) on some maps. This should be corrected -- the name "Bukhan-
san" actually designates the entire sub-range of mountains that dominate Seoul City north of the Han River.
They form the effective end of a range of mountains called the Hanbuk-jeongmaek that branches off from the
Taebaek / Baekdu-daegan Range at Chuga Ridge and Baekam-san up in North Korea, goes south and then
southwest until it approaches the Yellow Sea north of the Han River. A set of ten major mountains and many
significant subsidiary hills, peaks and crags, the Bukhan Mountains were and are the spiritual and physical
guardians of historic Seoul, capital of Korea since 1392 CE. The Seoul City Wall built then still runs from
Nam-san up over Inwang-san to Samgak-san, cumulating in a gigantic fortress with massive gates (some
sections of the wall, including most of the eastern parts, no longer exist). Refer to this map:
the prominent peaks directly to the north of Seoul's downtown. There is no mountain with that name!
It seems that Samgak-san was first casually referred to as "Bukhan-san" in the reign of Joseon King Sukjong
1674-1720, as the mountain-fortress in its center was renovated/upgraded and named as the "Bukhan-
sanseong". It seems that the Japanese colonialists first officially designated Samgak-san on maps as
"Bukhan-san" in ignorance of Korean traditions. Ever since the ROK national government designated Samgak-
san and Dobong-san together as the "Bukhan-san National Park", this mistaken labeling has become common
and even seems to be increasing. The three highest peaks of Mt. Samgak, or one of them, are often labeled
"Mt. Bukhan" (or the older spelling Pukhan) on some maps. This should be corrected -- the name "Bukhan-
san" actually designates the entire sub-range of mountains that dominate Seoul City north of the Han River.
They form the effective end of a range of mountains called the Hanbuk-jeongmaek that branches off from the
Taebaek / Baekdu-daegan Range at Chuga Ridge and Baekam-san up in North Korea, goes south and then
southwest until it approaches the Yellow Sea north of the Han River. A set of ten major mountains and many
significant subsidiary hills, peaks and crags, the Bukhan Mountains were and are the spiritual and physical
guardians of historic Seoul, capital of Korea since 1392 CE. The Seoul City Wall built then still runs from
Nam-san up over Inwang-san to Samgak-san, cumulating in a gigantic fortress with massive gates (some
sections of the wall, including most of the eastern parts, no longer exist). Refer to this map:
1. An-san, with Bonghwa-sa
2. Inwang-san, with Seon-bawi and Guksa-dang
3. Bugak-san, above Gyeongbok Palace
4. Hyeongjae-bong Peak of Samgak-san,
with many temples
5. Bohyeon-bong, Munsu-bong and Bi-bong Peaks
of Samgak-san, with Hwagye-sa, Ilseon-sa, Seungga-sa etc
6. Samgak-san (main peaks), with Doseon-sa
and many other temples
7. Dobong-san, with Mangwol-sa, Cheonchuk-sa
and many other temples
8. Sapae-san, with Hoeryong-sa and others
9. Surak-san, with Heungguk-sa & many others
10. Bulam-san, with Bulam-sa and other temples
11. Acha-san, with a few temples
12. Seoul Nam-san, with Tower, Waryong-myo,
Minsok-chon & many others
13. Sadong-san, the Four Eastern Ridge-Hills
(These Pages are Still Under Construction)
2. Inwang-san, with Seon-bawi and Guksa-dang
3. Bugak-san, above Gyeongbok Palace
4. Hyeongjae-bong Peak of Samgak-san,
with many temples
5. Bohyeon-bong, Munsu-bong and Bi-bong Peaks
of Samgak-san, with Hwagye-sa, Ilseon-sa, Seungga-sa etc
6. Samgak-san (main peaks), with Doseon-sa
and many other temples
7. Dobong-san, with Mangwol-sa, Cheonchuk-sa
and many other temples
8. Sapae-san, with Hoeryong-sa and others
9. Surak-san, with Heungguk-sa & many others
10. Bulam-san, with Bulam-sa and other temples
11. Acha-san, with a few temples
12. Seoul Nam-san, with Tower, Waryong-myo,
Minsok-chon & many others
13. Sadong-san, the Four Eastern Ridge-Hills
(These Pages are Still Under Construction)
| significant parts of Bukhan-san as seen from Gwanak-san to the south |
The Bukhan Mountains form an oval-shape circuit with a few significant gaps in it -- the
mightiest mountains are in a half-circle to the north of central and eastern Seoul (with a gap
that leads up to Uijeonbu City), and some lesser peaks scattered in a southern loop just
above the river. There are a few other non-important small mountains not indicated here.
The Buddhist temples, Confucian shrines, Shamanic shrines, historical sites and hiking
trails found on the slopes of the Bukhan Mountains are almost innumerable. On the pages
linked to this one, I have focused on the Mountain-spirit Shrines [Sanshin-gak] of the most
significant ones. Much more good information can be found on other websites.
Considered collectively, the Bukhan Mountains count as
one of the Top-12 Most-Sacred Mountains of South Korea.
mightiest mountains are in a half-circle to the north of central and eastern Seoul (with a gap
that leads up to Uijeonbu City), and some lesser peaks scattered in a southern loop just
above the river. There are a few other non-important small mountains not indicated here.
The Buddhist temples, Confucian shrines, Shamanic shrines, historical sites and hiking
trails found on the slopes of the Bukhan Mountains are almost innumerable. On the pages
linked to this one, I have focused on the Mountain-spirit Shrines [Sanshin-gak] of the most
significant ones. Much more good information can be found on other websites.
Considered collectively, the Bukhan Mountains count as
one of the Top-12 Most-Sacred Mountains of South Korea.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12
Inwang-san
Bugak-san
Samgak-san
Dobong-san
Nam-san
Surak-san
Bulam-san
Han River
Han River
An-san
Dongjak-san
downtown
Nam-san
Acha
-san
-san
| 13. |
Historical note that the correct name of the
central mountain of the Bukhan-subrange is
actually Samgak-san, from a tourist map put
out by Gangbuk-gu District in 2004.
central mountain of the Bukhan-subrange is
actually Samgak-san, from a tourist map put
out by Gangbuk-gu District in 2004.
Detail sections of the 1861 Daedong-yeoji-do Map by "Gosanja"
Kim Jeong-ho, showing the mountain-ranges north of Seoul
Kim Jeong-ho, showing the mountain-ranges north of Seoul
Signature-gathering Campaign advocating
restoration of Samgak-san's traditional
name, urging the national and Seoul
governments to stop using "Bukhan-san"
for it, with my friend Mr. Cho from
Gangbuk-gu District Office, in April 2007.
restoration of Samgak-san's traditional
name, urging the national and Seoul
governments to stop using "Bukhan-san"
for it, with my friend Mr. Cho from
Gangbuk-gu District Office, in April 2007.