On the right here, the "Benevolent (or Human-hearted, or Good; a Confucian term) King"
himself, manifesting in geological time up out of this mountain. Behind him is, most
unfortunately, a military base, because this most sacred peak overlooks the Gyeongbok
Palace (main royal seat 1392-1910) and Korea's Presidential Mansion (the "Blue House").
Much more on this Korean concept of spirits manifesting upwards in stone is here.
himself, manifesting in geological time up out of this mountain. Behind him is, most
unfortunately, a military base, because this most sacred peak overlooks the Gyeongbok
Palace (main royal seat 1392-1910) and Korea's Presidential Mansion (the "Blue House").
Much more on this Korean concept of spirits manifesting upwards in stone is here.
Another vaugely-humanoid peak just east of the main one.
Lourdes and I visited here on October 15th 2004,
with professional travel-writer Cynthia Barnes of
Missouri, who visted Korea for a week. We showed
her around a few rare highlights, for the day.
with professional travel-writer Cynthia Barnes of
Missouri, who visted Korea for a week. We showed
her around a few rare highlights, for the day.
We ascended to the spectacularly weird Seon-bawi [Meditation Outcropping], Korea's
most-worshipped rocks, just above the Guksa-dang [National Shaman-spirit Shrine].
most-worshipped rocks, just above the Guksa-dang [National Shaman-spirit Shrine].
The Seon-bawi [Meditation Outcroppings] are named for their resemblance to 2 Buddhist monks sitting in contemplation
of (and protection of) Seoul City. One is falling asleep with his head on his friend's shoulder, perhaps. They are usually
said to represent the great geomancer-monk Muhak-daesa (fl. 1400) who selected the site for Seoul (then called
Hanyang)'s main royal palace just east of here when it was chosen to be capital of the new Joseon Dynasty in 1390, and
either another great monk or King Yi Taejo himself (retired to a temple after abdicating to his son). Some people see
them as the great 7th-Cen Shilla monk-friends Wonhyo and Uisang, while others regard them as male & female Mireuk-bul
[Maitreya Buddhas] revealing themselves to this world. Whatever; they are thought to have great spiritual powers.
of (and protection of) Seoul City. One is falling asleep with his head on his friend's shoulder, perhaps. They are usually
said to represent the great geomancer-monk Muhak-daesa (fl. 1400) who selected the site for Seoul (then called
Hanyang)'s main royal palace just east of here when it was chosen to be capital of the new Joseon Dynasty in 1390, and
either another great monk or King Yi Taejo himself (retired to a temple after abdicating to his son). Some people see
them as the great 7th-Cen Shilla monk-friends Wonhyo and Uisang, while others regard them as male & female Mireuk-bul
[Maitreya Buddhas] revealing themselves to this world. Whatever; they are thought to have great spiritual powers.
The Seon-bawi from their rear, their humanoid shape even more distinct.
This is one of those "Korea, Old & New" photos so easy to take in Seoul.
This is one of those "Korea, Old & New" photos so easy to take in Seoul.
There is a San-shin-gak [Mountain-Spirit Shrine] just
behind the Seon-bawi, small and independent-of-any-
temple but always busy. Its San-shin painting is above,
and the companion Lonely Saint and Seven Statrs
paintings are below. All 3 are quite standard & ordinary.
behind the Seon-bawi, small and independent-of-any-
temple but always busy. Its San-shin painting is above,
and the companion Lonely Saint and Seven Statrs
paintings are below. All 3 are quite standard & ordinary.
The Seon-bawi from their rear again, on a hazy day in November 1988, from another
mountain-worship cliff-altar way back up the mountain. Note how less-developed the
landscape is; there's now a highway and huge apartment-complex at that 'blank space'.
The long grey roof to their left is the Guksa-dang. A section of the old Seoul city wall can
be seen upper-right. It ran on the east ridge of Inwang-san, so that the Seon-bawi were
left outside of Hanyang (Joseon's capital fortress-city, now known as Seoul). It is said
that Master Muhak advised that should Seon-bawi be included within the walls, the new
dynasty would last for 1000 years; if excluded then only 500. But that era's leading Neo-
and royal advisor Jeong Do-jeon advocated excluding them (symbolically excluding
Korea's native Shamanic culture), and Founding King Yi Taejo followed that advice.
mountain-worship cliff-altar way back up the mountain. Note how less-developed the
landscape is; there's now a highway and huge apartment-complex at that 'blank space'.
The long grey roof to their left is the Guksa-dang. A section of the old Seoul city wall can
be seen upper-right. It ran on the east ridge of Inwang-san, so that the Seon-bawi were
left outside of Hanyang (Joseon's capital fortress-city, now known as Seoul). It is said
that Master Muhak advised that should Seon-bawi be included within the walls, the new
dynasty would last for 1000 years; if excluded then only 500. But that era's leading Neo-
and royal advisor Jeong Do-jeon advocated excluding them (symbolically excluding
Korea's native Shamanic culture), and Founding King Yi Taejo followed that advice.
In a gully next to the Seon-bawi,
a Shaman prays at a Yong-wang
[Dragon-King of the Waters]
Shrine built over one of this
mountain's many springs. Note
the drum & gong on the ritual-
platform and the offerings on the
roof (red things are water-dippers).
a Shaman prays at a Yong-wang
[Dragon-King of the Waters]
Shrine built over one of this
mountain's many springs. Note
the drum & gong on the ritual-
platform and the offerings on the
roof (red things are water-dippers).
| Seoul's Inwang-san the sacred 'Benevolent King' Mountain Shamanic center of Korea's Capital |