Mani-san, Ganghwa-do Island

Chamseong-dan altar, Mt. Mani-san, Ganghwa-do Island
Chamseong-dan altar, Mt. Mani-san, Ganghwa-do Island

The “Demon Expelling Mountain” is the most sacred site on Ganghwa Island of Incheon City, relatively quite famous throughout the nation. There is an ancient stone shrine on its highest peak (469m, the Chamseong-dan [Truly Holy Altar], that commands a wide view of the Yellow Sea. Many Koreans believe it to be connected to ancient nationalistic myths; below it on the slopes a shrine for the national heroes has been built. Just east of this mountain is the historically important Buddhist temple Jeondeung-sa.

Taoist officials at ceremony on Mani San sacred mountain, Korea
Taoist officials at ceremony on Mani San sacred mountain, South Korea


mani san dancers
Dancers at ceremony on Mani San sacred mountain, South Korea
Martin Gray is a cultural anthropologist, writer and photographer specializing in the study of pilgrimage traditions and sacred sites around the world. During a 40 year period he has visited more than 2000 pilgrimage places in 165 countries. The World Pilgrimage Guide at sacredsites.com is the most comprehensive source of information on this subject.
For additional information by Professor David Mason, visit san-shin.net.

For information about traveling to Korean sacred sites, contact Roger Shepherd.  

Mani-san