Circular Hike – Hwangmaesan Mountain, South Korea
Hwangmaesan (황매산) is a mountain 1,113 meters high located in South Gyeongsang Province (Gyeongsangnam-do), South Korea.
It is believed to be the place where the great Buddhist monk Muhak of the Goryeo Dynasty was born and practiced asceticism. He lived during the transition from the Goryeo Dynasty to the Joseon Dynasty.
Muhak (무학, 1327–1405) was a Buddhist monk and an advisor to Yi Seong-gye who became King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Muhak was his Buddhist name (meaning “the uneducated”), while his real name was Jacho (자초).
It is thought that Muhak’s reputation as a geomancer influenced Yi Seong-gye’s decision to move the capital from Gaeseong to Hanyang (present-day Seoul).
According to a historical account dating from 14th century, Yi Seong-gye asked Muhak to find a site for the new capital. After conducting a search for a suitable place, the monk stopped and saw an old farmer passing by on his ox.
The farmer pointed toward the northwest and said to him, wangsimni (往十里), literally meaning ‘go ten more ri.’ The startled Muhak went to the northwest as he was told and ended up at the southern foot of Mt. Bugak, where Gyeongbokgung now stands. Wangsimni Station on the Seoul Subway is named according to this record.
Hwangmaesan Mountain is the place where you can see royal azaleas. From the top of the mountain you can see Lake Hapcheon and Jirisan Mountain.
Video Source: [DS196] 합천 황매산 철쭉군락지_8km “봄철 철쭉 관광지입니다. 주차에 유의해야 할 듯” from 생계형 트레커 on Youtube ⁄ CC BY
