Climbing Cheongnyangsan and Crossing the Sky Bridge | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Cheongnyangsa, located in Cheongnyangsan Provincial Park, is a temple founded by Monk Wonhyo in the 3rd year of King Munmu of Silla (663). At its founding, it was a large temple with 33 subsidiary buildings such as the seungdang. Cheongnyangsan, known for its beautiful natural scenery, has large and small hermitages including Yeondae and Mangseonam, ancient temples of Silla, forming a cradle of Silla Buddhism at that time. Cheongnyangsa preserves the Cheongnyangsa Yulribojun, a cultural heritage of Gyeongsangbuk-do. The Yulribojun is a hall dedicated to Yaksa Buddha, also called the Yaksa Hall. It houses the main Buddha, the Geonchil Yaksa Buddha statue (Treasure), and the Geonchil Bodhisattva statue (Gyeongsangbuk-do Cultural Asset). Additionally, the newly built Jijangjeon enshrines the wooden Jijang Bodhisattva Triad statue (Treasure). If Cheongnyangsa is Naecheongnyang, Eungjinjeon is Oecheongnyang. Eungjinjeon, a hermitage where Monk Wonhyo stayed, was founded in 663 and is located in the most scenic spot on Cheongnyangsan. It can be reached by hiking about 30 minutes from Ipseok along the trail. Behind it, a massive Geumtap Peak surrounds like a folding screen, and below is a steep cliff. The rocks resemble a nine-story golden pagoda, with pine trees rooted on each layer like a frame on the cliff. In autumn, the red burning foliage below the cliff is a spectacular sight.

Cheongnyangsan in Bonghwa, Gyeongbuk, designated a scenic site in 2007, is considered one of Korea's three great scenic mountains along with Juwangsan in Cheongsong, Gyeongbuk, and Wolchulsan in Jeonnam. Each of its 12 peaks features rocky cliffs, showing off exquisite beauty. True to its name, Cheongnyangsan has a refreshing atmosphere and has long been frequented by scholars, poets, and ink artists of their times. It boasts numerous tourist resources including 12 beautiful peaks such as Geumtapbong, 8 caves, 12 terraces, temple sites and hermitages including Cheongnyangsa founded by Wonhyo Daesa in the 3rd year of King Munmu of Silla (663), and Gwanchang Waterfall. Behind the plaque stands Toegye’s 'Cheongnyangsan-ga' poetic monument, the first to be encountered on the way up the mountain. Cheongnyangsan was a mountain where not only Toegye but also notable figures like Wonhyo, Uisang, Kim Saeng, and Choi Chi-won came to cultivate themselves, and their stories remain throughout as legends. The 6.6 peaks in Toegye’s 'Cheongnyangsan-ga' include the main peak Janginbong and 12 peaks: Janginbong, Seonhakbong, Jaranbong, Jasobong, Tagpilbong, Yeonjeokbong, Yeonhwabong, Hyangrobong, Gyeongilbong, Taklibbong, Geumtapbong, and Chugyungbong, all towering with rock formations like a stone screen on the mountain. There are also 8 caves including Kimsaenggul, where the renowned calligrapher Kim Saeng practiced calligraphy in the west, as well as Geumganggul, Wonhyogul, Uisanggul, Bangyagul, Bangjanggul, Goungul, and Gam Saenggul. In addition, there are 12 terraces such as Dokseodae where Choi Chi-won read, Eopungdae, and Pungheoldae, and medicinal springs like Chongmyeongsu and Gamnosu, known for their sweet and refreshing taste, said to have enhanced Choi Chi-won’s clarity of mind. Historic relics include Cheongnyangsa Temple, Eungjinjeon Hall, Osandang, and Cheongnyangsan Fortress. Osandang, in front of Kimsaenggul, was built by later scholars at the place where Toegye lectured with disciples. On the southern Chugyungbong peak of Cheongnyangsan remains the old fortress site called Cheongnyangsan Fortress, reportedly built by King Gongmin to evade the Hong Geon-jeok rebellion. Within the park, there are Cheongnyangsan Museum, Agricultural Culture Exhibition Hall, and Tourist Information Center.