Inwang-san [Benevolent King Mountain] looms above downtown Seoul as one of Korea's most significant
sacred mountains, serving as the nation's most active center of Shamanism and folk-religious traditions.
Above, the peak at the center is the Benevolent* King himself (in a seated position seen in left profile), or the San-shin if you
will. To his right (the other rocky peak) is his accompanying Tiger (pet / servant / guardian / mount / enforcer / alter-ego). They
are both "manifesting" up out of this mountain in geological time. Much more on this Korean concept of spirits manifesting
upwards in stone is here. Between and behind them is, most unfortunately, a military base, because this most sacred peak
overlooks the Gyeongbok-gung Palace (main royal seat 1392-1910) and Korea's Presidential Mansion (the "Blue House").
These unique rocky outcroppings on the southern cliff face of this mountain, along with other striking natural features such
as the Seon-bawi (see below) have attracted shamanic worship to this place since before recorded history. The main
figure can be seen as a Benevolent King that will rule humankind (or at least Koreans) in a utopian state when he finally
finishes manifesting, or as a kind of natural Buddha statue, or as Mireuk-bul (the Buddha who will come in the future for
universal enlightenment and salvation), or the best interpretation, in my opinion) as the very powerful San-shin [Mountain-
spirit] of these crags manifesting into the world in stone, in his role as King of the Mountain (as he is usually painted, wearing
distinctly royal clothing), extended to national significance (could even be seen as the return of Founding-King Dan-gun, who is
sort of San-shin of all Korea). The fact that he (or she?) is side-by-side with a crouching tiger certainly lends weight to the San-
shin interpretation -- as that deity is always dictated and icons accompanied by a tiger (Korea's national animal).
*The Chinese character pronounced In is one of the most important in Oriental philosophy; it is often translated benevolence, or
maybe human-hearted, or simply Good / goodness; it's a key Confucian and Neo-Confucian term, as the master himself repeatedly
used it to describe how rulers ought to act towards those under them (if they do not they are not to be considered legitimate rulers).
It is also heavily used by Buddhists due Inwang-gyeong [Benevolent King Sutra] which was very influential in the early centuries CE
when Mahayana Buddhism became established in China and spread to the Korean Peninsula.
Somewhere in the 1970s the authorities designated the entire cluster of Shamanic Shrines here as a single "Buddhist
Temple" named "Inwang-sa", with its own single "one-pillar" entrance-gate and a central Bell in a pavilion. On these items
they changed, for reasons unknown to me, the second Chinese character in the name from the "wang" = king to another 旺
"wang" which means "prosper, flourish; or pretty, beautiful". It is made from the radicals for "sun" and "king" to give a
simple and direct idea of "prosperity" -- so therefore they were attempting to re-name this area "Benevolent-Prosperity"...
an auspicious name, but not the original one.
sacred mountains, serving as the nation's most active center of Shamanism and folk-religious traditions.
Above, the peak at the center is the Benevolent* King himself (in a seated position seen in left profile), or the San-shin if you
will. To his right (the other rocky peak) is his accompanying Tiger (pet / servant / guardian / mount / enforcer / alter-ego). They
are both "manifesting" up out of this mountain in geological time. Much more on this Korean concept of spirits manifesting
upwards in stone is here. Between and behind them is, most unfortunately, a military base, because this most sacred peak
overlooks the Gyeongbok-gung Palace (main royal seat 1392-1910) and Korea's Presidential Mansion (the "Blue House").
These unique rocky outcroppings on the southern cliff face of this mountain, along with other striking natural features such
as the Seon-bawi (see below) have attracted shamanic worship to this place since before recorded history. The main
figure can be seen as a Benevolent King that will rule humankind (or at least Koreans) in a utopian state when he finally
finishes manifesting, or as a kind of natural Buddha statue, or as Mireuk-bul (the Buddha who will come in the future for
universal enlightenment and salvation), or the best interpretation, in my opinion) as the very powerful San-shin [Mountain-
spirit] of these crags manifesting into the world in stone, in his role as King of the Mountain (as he is usually painted, wearing
distinctly royal clothing), extended to national significance (could even be seen as the return of Founding-King Dan-gun, who is
sort of San-shin of all Korea). The fact that he (or she?) is side-by-side with a crouching tiger certainly lends weight to the San-
shin interpretation -- as that deity is always dictated and icons accompanied by a tiger (Korea's national animal).
*The Chinese character pronounced In is one of the most important in Oriental philosophy; it is often translated benevolence, or
maybe human-hearted, or simply Good / goodness; it's a key Confucian and Neo-Confucian term, as the master himself repeatedly
used it to describe how rulers ought to act towards those under them (if they do not they are not to be considered legitimate rulers).
It is also heavily used by Buddhists due Inwang-gyeong [Benevolent King Sutra] which was very influential in the early centuries CE
when Mahayana Buddhism became established in China and spread to the Korean Peninsula.
Somewhere in the 1970s the authorities designated the entire cluster of Shamanic Shrines here as a single "Buddhist
Temple" named "Inwang-sa", with its own single "one-pillar" entrance-gate and a central Bell in a pavilion. On these items
they changed, for reasons unknown to me, the second Chinese character in the name from the "wang" = king to another 旺
"wang" which means "prosper, flourish; or pretty, beautiful". It is made from the radicals for "sun" and "king" to give a
simple and direct idea of "prosperity" -- so therefore they were attempting to re-name this area "Benevolent-Prosperity"...
an auspicious name, but not the original one.
| close-ups of the crouching Tiger (left) and his seated master, the Benevolent King (right) -- clearly a head-with-crown on shoulders... |
Closer look at the main temple area of the Inwang-san -- indicated are features that are shown / explained in
detail on the following pages: the "view crags" are gigantic boulders that visitors can climb up on for one of the best
views of Seoul City from anywhere; the Seon-bawi is a weird humanish formation that just may be the
most-worshiped rocks in the world; the Guksa-dang is Korea's National Spirit Shrine (not actually visible in this shot
because it is hidden behind those big trees); the "Main Hall" is a Shamanic/Buddhist temple that calls itself the
central worship-building of the entire complex; the sextagonal roof of the Bell Pavilion built by the government in the
1980s; and Seonam-jeongsa, the largest and most prominent out of the many Shamanic/Buddhist temples here.
detail on the following pages: the "view crags" are gigantic boulders that visitors can climb up on for one of the best
views of Seoul City from anywhere; the Seon-bawi is a weird humanish formation that just may be the
most-worshiped rocks in the world; the Guksa-dang is Korea's National Spirit Shrine (not actually visible in this shot
because it is hidden behind those big trees); the "Main Hall" is a Shamanic/Buddhist temple that calls itself the
central worship-building of the entire complex; the sextagonal roof of the Bell Pavilion built by the government in the
1980s; and Seonam-jeongsa, the largest and most prominent out of the many Shamanic/Buddhist temples here.
There is a Sam-shin-gak [Three Spirits Shrine] just behind the
Seon-bawi, small and independent-of-any- temple but always
busy. Its San-shin [Mountain-Spirit] painting is above, and the
companion Lonely Saint and Seven Stars paintings are below.
All 3 are quite standard & ordinary.
Seon-bawi, small and independent-of-any- temple but always
busy. Its San-shin [Mountain-Spirit] painting is above, and the
companion Lonely Saint and Seven Stars 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 highly-sacred "Benevolent King" Mountain Shamanic center of Korea's Capital an important part of the Bukhan-san Sub-Range |
Seon-bawi--->
Guksa-dang--->
View Crags--->
<--Seonam-sa
<--Bell
"Main Hall"-->
2008 Lunar 3.3 Inwang-san Sanshin-je Ceremony
Korean Magazine Articles about that Event and my Research
2009 Lunar 3.8 Inwang-san Sanshin-je Ceremony
Seon-bawi, the Immortal Meditation Rock
Tour of Inwang-san Sites for a Visiting Class of German Geography Students, Sept 2008
Tour of Inwang-san with Photos and video of a Shamanic Gut Ritual
at the Guksa-dang, April 2010
Guksa-dang -- the National Shamanic Spirit Shrine
the Sam-shin-gak and View-Rocks
Temples of Inwang-san
Upper Natural Altars of Inwang-san
The Shrine for Founding-King Dan-gun
Hwanghak-jeong, the Korean Archery Pavilion / Range
Sajik Park, the Altars of the Earth and the Grain-Harvest
(most of these Pages Still Under Construction. Someday...)
Korean Magazine Articles about that Event and my Research
2009 Lunar 3.8 Inwang-san Sanshin-je Ceremony
Seon-bawi, the Immortal Meditation Rock
Tour of Inwang-san Sites for a Visiting Class of German Geography Students, Sept 2008
Tour of Inwang-san with Photos and video of a Shamanic Gut Ritual
at the Guksa-dang, April 2010
Guksa-dang -- the National Shamanic Spirit Shrine
the Sam-shin-gak and View-Rocks
Temples of Inwang-san
Upper Natural Altars of Inwang-san
The Shrine for Founding-King Dan-gun
Hwanghak-jeong, the Korean Archery Pavilion / Range
Sajik Park, the Altars of the Earth and the Grain-Harvest
(most of these Pages Still Under Construction. Someday...)
One of the largest shines in the nation to Founding-King Dan-gun is located just above Sajik Park, which besides
the old Altars to the Earth and Grain / Harvest features statues of Yulgok Yi I and his mother Shin Sa-imdang.
Just above Sajik Park is the Hwanghak-jeong, the best-preserved traditional Korean Archery pavilion and range,
one of the few remaining ones out of the 48 that once were in and around Seoul.
the old Altars to the Earth and Grain / Harvest features statues of Yulgok Yi I and his mother Shin Sa-imdang.
Just above Sajik Park is the Hwanghak-jeong, the best-preserved traditional Korean Archery pavilion and range,
one of the few remaining ones out of the 48 that once were in and around Seoul.