Taebaeksan and the Dangun myth

Taebaeksan and Munsubong are two striking peaks of Taebaek Mountains. On Taebaeksan a stone altar, most likely from the Silla period, is still being used for prayer and ceremonies. Taebaeksan is linked to the Dangun myth. Hwan-in 桓因,  the King of Heaven, sent down his son Hwan-ung to earth on Mount Taebaek-san 太白山 to benefit humanity. The myth does not describe modern Taebaek-san. Hwan-ung mated with a bear transformed into a woman and their son was named Dangun. 

Although according to modern scholars Hwan-ung descended onto Baekdu Mountain on the border of current China en North Korea, Dangun is revered on Taebaeksan in South Korea by groups of local nationalists and shamans. David Mason describes the story in more detail: The Myth of Gojoseon's Founding-King Dan-gun. 

Cheonjedan 천제단  - Altar for Offering to Heaven.

Cheonjedan 천제단 on Taebaeksan.

Dang-gol - Munsubong - Taebaeksan

I walked up to Munsubong an hour before sunrise. Along the way just after leaving Dang-gol (Shrine Valley) you will find a stone altar in the forest with offerings - a dried fish and alcoholic beverages; soju and makgeolli.

View of Munsubong just after sunrise with Manggyeongsa  - All-encompassing-View
Temple - in the far distance.

The path between Munsubong and Taebaeksan.

Dangun painting inside Manggyeong-sa's San-shin-gak.

After my hike up to Taebaeksan in the morning I returned to the altar the same day. The weather had changed dramatically. The alter was almost hidden in the clouds. A strong wind was blowing. 

Dangun painting in Dangun Seongjeon - Altar-King Sage-Hall - at the start of the trail just above Dang-gol

Golden Dangun statue at the Buddhist Buljeong-Am temple in Dang-gol.