Jiri-san

 Jiri-san
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san

The “Exquisite Wisdom Mountain” is probably the very holiest of South Korea's mountains, as well as its first and largest National Park. It sprawls over five counties and three provinces, featuring its three sacred summits Cheonhwang-bong [Heavenly-King Peak] (1915m), Banya-bong [Enlightening-Wisdom Peak] (1733m) and Nogo-dan [Crone-Altar Peak] (1507m). Jiri-san is host to innumerable Shamanic shrines and many ancient and modern Buddhist temples which attract many pilgrims. This mountain is believed by some to be the secondary Korean residence of Munsu Bosal [Manjusri]. Among the most prominent of its grand monasteries is Hwaeom-sa [Flower-Garland-Sutra Temple], reconstructed in the 670s by Great Master Uisang to to serve as a center for the study of the Hwaeom [Hua-yen] doctrines.

Jiri-san
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san



Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri-san
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri-san
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri-san
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri-san
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri-san
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san

Jiri San
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri San
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri San
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri San
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


Jiri San
Hwaeom-sa temple, Mt. Jiri-san


More photos on page 2
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.

Jiri-san