Evaluation and Promotion of the Baekdu-daegan and ItsCultural Assets

Lecture to the Korea Forest Servicein Daejeon City, Korea 2011 / 01 / 03Professor David A. MasonCultural Tourism Department, College of TourismKyung Hee University, Seoul

The Baekdu-daeganWhite-Head Great-Ridge Ancient concept as the Spine of Korea Mountain-System running down the entire Peninsula, with a mildly-sacred character

The Baekdu-daeganWhite-Head Great-Ridge Now a 735-km-Long Hiking Trail is being created as within South Korea, by the Korea Forest Service, hikers and local governments

This has potential development as a fresh and unique multi-religious Pilgrimage-Route

Baekdu-daeganCraggy PeaksMagnificent ScenerySpring-waters, HerbsBuddhist TemplesNeo-Confucian ShrinesShamanic ShrinesHistorical & Folk SitesPasses thru 7 National Parks, 4 Local Parks

Doseon-guksa Great 9th-Century Buddhist Master of GeomancyCreator of Korean Pungsu-jiri-seol [Feng-Shui] and the concept of the Baekdu-daegan

1000-year Evolution of theBaekdu-daegan ConceptDominant divider of the Korean Peninsula into its distinct cultural regions & KingdomsOrigin of all Koreas major RiversNoted by Goryeo / Joseon Dynasty scholarsShown on Joseon Dynasty maps since 1402Sungho-saseol and Taengni-jiSan-gyeong-pyo Mountain Genealogy Chart

Cultural Stakeholders in the Preservation and Development of the Baekdu-daegan AreasBuddhist Temples

Shaman Shrines

Neo-Confucians, Daoists and other Traditionalists

Traditional Artisans and Artists, Writers

2007 Baekdu-daegan Research Expedition

A walk from the Past, to the Future

Korean Religious History 4000 years ago ~ Today: NE Asian Shamanism

1700 years ago ~ Today: Mahayana Buddhism

1300 years ago ~ Today: Chinese Daoism

600 years ago ~ Today: Neo-Confucianism

300 years ago ~ Today: Catholic Christianity120 years ago ~ Today: Protestant Christianity

Most of the Baekdu-daeganss Tourism Sites are held sacred by three great Oriental Religious Traditions: Mahayana Buddhism

Shamanism mixed with Daoism (including Korean spiritual-nationalism)

Neo-ConfucianismGranting Rich Potential forMulti-Religious Pilgrimage Tourism

Strong Sacred-Mountain Traditionswww.san-shin.org

Table 1: The Most Sacred or Otherwise Famous Mountains along the Baekdu-daegan Range (listed from north to south along the line)

NameParkStatusHigh Peakon BDDGNotable FeaturesBaekdu-sanNational2850 mHighly sacred to Korean Shamanism and popular Nationalism, associated with Korea's foundation-mythology. Source of the Yalu and Tumen Rivers.Geumgang-sanNational1638 mHighly sacred to Korean Buddhism (esp. Munsu-bosal), with several important temple sites. Known as the most beautiful mountain-areas on the entire Korean Peninsula. Source of the North Han River.Seorak-sanNational1708mHighly sacred to Korean Buddhism, with several important temples. Popularly said to be the most beautiful mountains in South Korea; major tourism destination. A source of the North Han River.Odae-sanNational1434 mHighly Sacred to Buddhism, with several important temples; considered to be the Korean residence of Munsu-bosal (Bodhisattva of Wisdom).Duta-sanCounty1353 mFamous for lovely scenery in valleys.Cheong-ok-sanCounty1404 mOne ancient temple on east slopes.

Taebaek-sanProvincial1567 mHighly sacred to Korean Shamanism and Popular Nationalism, with several important shrines, because associated with Korea's foundation-mythology. Its Sanshin spirits are famous, believed to be very powerful. Primary source of the Nakdong River and a source of the South Han River. (Mother of Munsu-bosal found by Jajang).Sobaek-sanNational1440 mSacred to Korean Buddhism, with several important temples; considered to be the primary Korean residence of Biro-bul (Buddha of Cosmic Light).Worak-sanNational1115 mRemote mountain area, with main peaks and temples off but near the BDDG trail. Renown for scenery but only minor religious sites.Songni-sanNational1058 mSacred to Korean Buddhism, with one important temple and several others. Popularly said to be one of the most beautiful mountains.Hwangak-sanCounty1111 mOne very famous Buddhist temple Jikji-sa on east slope, many smaller temples.Deogyu-sanNational1507 mRemote mountain area, 1614-m peak off the BDDG. Renown for scenery but with only a few religious sites. Source of Geum River.Jiri-sanNational1915mHighly sacred to Korean Shamanism, Buddhism (esp. Munsu-bosal), and Nationalism, with many important temples and shrines. Its Sanshin Spirit is famous for its powers. Outstanding natural features and very popular with hikers. Source of the Seomjin River.

Jiri-san Cheonhwang-bongSeongmo-halmae Sanshin [Exquisite-Wisdom Mountain Heavenly-King PeakHoly-Mother Grandma Mountain-spirit]

Shamanic Shrines

Buddhist Monasteries

Special Holy Sites:Jeokmyeol-bogung(Hambaek-san Jeongam-sa)

Master Jajangs 7th-CenturyJeokmyeol-bogung (Seorak-san)

Taoist Shrines

Neo-Confucian Shrines

National-Shamanic Shrines

Historical and Folk-tale Sites

Baekun-san Sangyeon-dae

12 () () 1(924) ( ) () , () () . , () .Since then, this temple was called Sangyeon-dae, and in the last period of Silla, they moved to here Silsang-seonmun, one of the Gusan-seonmun Temples, so this temple became the last stronghold of Seon-mun. Since then, high priests of successive generations and priests of high virtue have practiced spiritual discipline and religious purification at this temple. It was a miraculous and a divine spirit place for spiritual discipline.This Buddhist temple was constructed by Go-un Choe Chi-won in 924, Shilla King Gyeongaes 1st year . They say that Choe constructed this temple upon his mother's praying-for-conception place. While praying to Gwanse-eum the Bodhisattva of Compassion, he appeared here.

Jiri-san Ssanggye-sa Biseok

Jiri-san Daeseong-gyegok

Daeseong-gyegok Se-i-am

Baekdu-daegan Shinseon Traditions

Along the Baekdu-daegan Range within South Korea, within 5 km of the hiking trail along its crest on either side, this research has found:More than 100 religious sites, including:

dozens of significant shamanic shrines, some with buildings and some consisting only of stone altars, most of which are dedicated to Daoist-flavored veneration of the Sanshin spirits of the mountains they are on.

three major Neo-Confucian Shrines, and several minor

two major Daoist-Nationalist shrines, and several minor

a few Christian churches

many other nationally-significant historical sites.

Ten of the most famous and religiously-important Buddhist temples in the nation, and dozens of smaller temples or hermitages.

Some of these monasteries offer travelers South Korea's increasingly-popular Temple-Stay tourism program, in which hikers of the Baekdu-daegan can stay over at the temple for up to 24 hours for a low fee, experiencing monastic life and viewing the local treasures.

these are spaced apart so that in most sectors it is possible to stay overnight at one major temple and then hike 2-5 days on to the next one.

Successful Korean Religious-Pilgrimage Tourism Program:Temple-StayStarted in Spring 2002, as a Visit Korea Year project before the World Cup FinalsFully functioning nationwide in 2004Now operated by the national Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, as missionary workMore than 70 temples involved, most with individualized characteristic programs

Temple-Stay

the first Temple-Stay EventApril 2002Ambassadors toKorea as Guests

Conclusions 1:Effective leadership is needed for an integrated national strategy of managing Preservation and Development of the Cultural Assets of the Baekdu-daegan Areas as our new paradigm of sustainable ecotourism.Due to the nation-spanning size of the Baekdu-daegan region, and the sacred sites, including those involved in the Temple-Stay program;and the deep historical and cultural significance it holds for all Korean citizens, and the Global Heritage;and the strong potential it represents for boosting the national tourism reputation, and the amount of potential tourist visitors;the numbers & proportion of the residents of, authorities of and visitors to the peninsula who must be considered to be stakeholders involved are remarkably large in scale.

Conclusions 2:Only the national government operating from its highest levels of power will be able to set policies and insure their long-term implementation in such a way that all these stakeholders interests and concerns are recognized and managed in proper harmony.

Korea Forest Service should take the lead, gaining cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, National Parks, other relevant Ministries and etc, in order to properly recognize the Cultural assets of the Baekdu-daegan as a religious-pilgrimage tourism attraction, as well as zones of natural preservation.This has high potential to boost both Korea's domestic and international tourism industries, as well as general national reputation as a beautiful and fascinating place to visit.

Policy Proposal #1Recognize the roles of Doseon-guksa, the Pungsu-jiri theories, the association with Choi Chi-won, Jajang-yulsa, Uisang-josa and other cultural heroes, and the value of the hundreds of sacred and historical cultural sites as an integral part of the identity of the Baekdu-Daegan. Appropriately Designate their Sites.

Policy Proposal #2Recognize the Sacred Mountains of the Baekdu-Daegan as also fundamental to its identity. Designate the greatest of them with consistent labels and logos.Strive to have them recognized as official Sacred Mountains by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites system, while waiting for the entire Range to become eligible.

Policy Proposal #3Work together with National Parks Authority in order to create a consistent network of Baekdu-Daegan trails, including the jongju crest trail as far as possible. When crest trails must be closed for preservation, alternative Baekdu-Daegan trails should be created and designated, especially those going past sacred and cultural sites.

Policy Proposal #4Recognize the value and traditional roles of Koreas Sanshin Mountain-Spirits, not as shamanic deities but rather as symbols of traditional Korean culture, evocative guardians of the forest and its sacred and historical cultural sites. Employ colorful Sanshin images / rituals to boost public consciousness of natural and cultural preservation along the Baekdu-Daegan.

Policy Proposal #5-1Institute a national Baekdu-Daegan Day to celebrate all its valuable aspects and assets. Hold commemorations at a different locality along it every year, hosted by the local governments. Inclusively invite related officials, celebrities, religious and cultural VIPs, international resident VIPs, mountain-hiking associations, NGOs and local residents.

Policy Proposal #5-2Hold the national Baekdu-Daegan Day on the Last Saturday of every April.This can be seen as the launch of hiking season and could involve a Sanshin-je.

Alternative date: Third Saturday of October

New SloganBaekdu-daegan San-wang Dae-shin Kingly spirits of the White-head Main-line Mountains are great spirits! The White-head Great-ridge Mountain-Kings are truly great spirits!