In Harmony with Nature of Chilgok | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Chilgok Gasan Fortress is a Joseon Dynasty stone fortress built utilizing a mountain valley. The inner fortress was completed in 1640, the outer fortress in 1700, and the middle fortress in 1741, with the establishment of Chilgok Dohobu. Inside the fortress, there are official buildings including a guesthouse and Inhwagwan, as well as government offices, military offices, turrets, and command posts, suggesting it was built more for military than administrative purposes. Chilgok Gasan Rock, located northwest of Gasan Fortress, is also called Gaam or Gaesanam. It is a towering rock with steep sides, featuring a wide flat area at the top with an open view in all directions, offering a panoramic view of Daegu. On the summit, there is a deep hole where during the Unified Silla period, the monk Doseon supposedly buried iron figures of a cow and a horse to capture the earth's energy, but these were reportedly removed by Joseon Governor Lee Myung-woong during fortress construction. The Chilgok Gasan Fortress hiking course climbs Gasan Peak and Gasan Rock, starting from the Palgongsan Gasan Fortress District Exploration Support Center, passing through the east gate, Gasan Peak, the middle gate, and arriving at Gasan Rock.

Songlimsa Temple is a temple founded by the Silla monk Myeonggwan during the Three Kingdoms period, located in Gasan, Chilgok-gun. It was established in 544 by Myeonggwan, who returned from the Jin Dynasty, to enshrine the sarira (Buddha's relics) brought from China. In 1092, the temple was renovated by Daegakguksa Uicheon, but it was ruined by Mongol troops in 1235. It was rebuilt later but was destroyed by arson from Japanese troops in 1597. In 1858, Yeongchu rebuilt it again, and it has continued to the present. Existing buildings include Daeungjeon, Myeongbujeon, and the monks' quarters. In front of Daeungjeon stands the five-story stone pagoda of Songlimsa, designated as a treasure. This pagoda is a rare brick pagoda typical of the Silla period. During its dismantling and repair in 1959, important relics were discovered inside the pagoda. These included a pure gold Buddhist reliquary, a Bodhi tree-shaped craft made with an jade stem and gold leaves, and various beads, all believed to be relics from the Silla era.

Ipseok, also called Seondol, is an artifact that reveals the lifestyle of people who lived during the Bronze Age along with dolmens. It generally takes the form of one or several large stone pillars erected on the ground, serving as boundary markers between tribes or as monuments of religious significance. This Seondol located at San 103, Changpyeong-ri, Jicheon-myeon, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do is known to be the largest remaining in Korea, standing 4.5 meters tall with a base circumference of 2 meters. The Seondol is inscribed with the phrase 'Namu Amitabul,' which appears to have been added after Buddhism entered Korea, though the Seondol itself is much older. When the area east of the Seondol was cleared, plain pottery and stone bowls were discovered, suggesting it was erected during the Bronze Age.