Bukhansan Munsubong Hiking from the Samcheonsa Temple to the Same Temple via Munsubong Peak and Samobawie Rock at the Eunpyeong-gu District in Seoul

 1.     Preface for Bukhansan Mountain

The Bukhansan Mountain has been nominated by the Government in 1983 spreading at the 76.922 Km² as 15^th National Park in Korea which is worldwide not so common to see this kind of national park at the middle of huge civilian capital. This Bukhansan National Park is broadly divided into two areas from the Wuweiryeong Hill as North Area is the Dobongsan Mountain and South Area the Bukhansan Mountain. The Bukhansan Mountain was principally created with granite and eroded for long times which were accordingly appeared with steep peaks and valley streams flowing between these peaks. There are many historical and cultural heritages in this mountain like Bukhansan Seong Forts, 8Km distance which was constructed in Year 1,711, more than 100 temples or hermitage and many other natural attractions.

Bukhansan Mountain has been known to the people for long times as reputed mountain and alternatively called as Samgaksan Mountain or Hwasan Mountain. When the people were walking to the Hanyang Capital from the Songdo in Gaeseong City in old days and naturally saw three major peaks positioning as triangle in the Bukhansan Mountain namely as the Baekwundae Main Peak (836.5 m ASL), the Mangyeongdae Peak (799.5m ASL) and the Insubong Peak (810.5m ASL), they were calling Samgaksan Mountain which means triangle mountain and later changed to Bukhansan Mountain.

2.     The Guide Information for Bukhansan Munsubong Peal Hike

Whole Munsubong Hiking Course is consisting with following three different sections (Munsubong Peak Section, Samobawie Section and Back to the Samcheonsa Temple Section) which is estimated for total distance as 10 Km and for total 5 hours hike including 1 hour break. Please refer to liked https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nTRDZwTZKo .

2-1) From the Samcheonsa Temple to the Munsubong Peak : 1 hour 30 Minutes

We could start at the Samcheonsa Temple where you could look around for a while as shown at the Photo 01 through 06 and walk toward the First Junction along with Samcheonsa Valley that you could choose Bibong Peak Course at right, 2.1 Km or Munsubong Peak Course at left, 2.9Km which takes about 15 minutes from the Samcheonsa Temple. You should take left road at the First Junction and move forward the Second Junction taking about 15 minutes where you could take Daenammun Gate at right, 2.3 Km or Buwangdong Ammun at left, 900m. Please refer to the Photo 07 through 13. You should take right side road to the Daenammun Gate (Munsubong Peak less 300m distance) and keep hiking toward the Cheongsudong Ammun which takes about 50 minutes from the Second Junction where I took lunch break for about half an hour. Please refer to the Photo 14 through 38. You could continuously hike to the Munsubong Peak for about 10 minutes where you could look down Munsusa Temple just below and Bohyunbong Peak. Please refer to the Photo 39 through 46

2-2) From the Munsubong Peak to the Samobawie Rock : 1 hour 30 minutes

You should now pass the hardest and somewhat dangerous Munsubong Cliff Course to the bottom of the Cliff which takes about 40 minutes. Please refer to the Photo 51 through 55. Thereafter you could comparably easy to hike normal ridge road up to the Samobawie Rock junction via the Seunggabong Peak, 567m elevation which takes about 50 minutes from the bottom of the Munsubong Cliff and turn right to ward the Samcheonsa Temple. Please refer to the Phot 56 through 68.      

2-3) From the Samobawie Rock to the Samcheonsa Temple : 1 hour

You could hike back to the the Samcheonsa Temple along with Samodong Valley via  the First Junction and Samcheonsa Valley which takes about 1 hour. Please refer to the Photo 69 through 84.  

3.     Historic and Background Information

There are several places or spot where some cultural and historic background and which you may feel interest or useful for your better understanding. Please refer followings to brief explanation.

3-1) Samcheonsa Temple

Samcheonsa Temple was constructed by Wonhyo, the Great Monk at the Shilla Dynasty together with Heungguksa Temple which was not far away. Thereafter there were no records for the repair or renovation works at this temple. But it was only record the monks staying at this temple committed a violation against the Volstead Act in Goryeo Empire Period and were correspondingly punished according to the Goryeo Record. This temple was completely destroyed and burned out during the Korea War and later completely rebuilt the present Samcheonsa Temple in 1960. There is Seokga Yeoraeipsang Sculpture at 30m behind Samcheonsa Main Hall which was recorded as national Treasure No. 657 and sculptured the distinctive Standing Buddha, 3.02m high on the lotus shaped base on the big rock taking into consideration optimum harmonizing between embossed carving and intaglio engraving. This Buddha took a shape as left palm is lifted around navel and opened toward the sky and right hand is stretching and gently holding the cloth as see at the Photo 06.

3-2) Cheongsudong Ammun Gate

The Cheongsudong Ammun Gate was located between Nawolbong Peak and Munsubong Peak in the Bukhansan Mountain which was built during the construction of Bukhansan Castles in 1711 under the King Sukjeong at Joseon Dynasty and one of Ammun Gate out of total 8 Ammun Gates in the Bukhansan Castles mainly for controlling approaching route from Tangcheundae area and/or Bibong area. The Ammun Gate was made for principally transporting the artilleries and foods to the Castle under emergency situation and sometimes also for receiving the reinforces during the war or emergency instances. The rectangular stones were used for supporting the both gate column and door girder type different from the arch type girder as the same as other Ammun Gates

3-3) Munsubong Peak

The Munsubong Peak is situated at the triangle center point among Bibong Ridge, Euisang Ridge and Bukhansan Main Ridge which is at the 727m above sea level and calling as a King of Elegant Peaks in the Bukhansan Mountain in terms of spectacular, higher elevation and wonderful view. There is a rock at the Peak looks like toad’s back skin which has a legend as anybody could succeed to get the son in case they pray their wish for the son at the Peak Rock. As you climb up the Baewundae Peak, main peak at the Bukhansan Mountain, you could look down around Gangbuk-Gu District and Nowon-Gu District where North East in Seoul. While if you climb the Munsubong Peak, you could look down around Jongro-Gu District and Eunpyeong-Gu District where South West in Seoul. The Ambong Peak, rocky peak near to the Munsubong Peak is real highest peak at the Munsubong Peak which ordinary visitors could not climb due to sharp sloped and slippery rock. Therefore authority alternatively arranged Munsubong Peak at present location. There is outstanding gorgeous peak near around which is calling as Bohyunbong Peak, 722m elevation which we could not go due to no approach and visit course.

3-4) Seunggabong Peak

The Seunggabong Peak is not so high but good for widely observing around view like Gugi Valley, Seunggasa Temple, Samobawie Rock, Lion Ridge and Bohyunbong Peak. The name of Seunggabong was originated from Seunggasa Temple just below the Seunggabong Peak which was built by the Monk Sutae at the Nakjeoksa Temple in year 756. It was strange that Seungga Great Monk, foreign monk was enshrined at the this temple. The Maae Seokbul Buddha was engraved at the above Seunggasa Temple where most Royal Monk ware praying at this temple for national safe and peace and got corresponding reward against their pray whenever emergency during 1400 year time from the Shilla Dynasty to the Joseon Dynasty. It was also known this Buddha accept only one individual pray and reward against their single pray.