Evaluation and Promotion of the Baekdu-daegan and Its Cultural Assets Lecture to the Korea Forest...
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Evaluation and Promotion of the Baekdu-daegan and Its Cultural Assets Lecture to the Korea Forest Service in Daejeon City, Korea 2011 / 01 / 03 Professor David A. Mason Cultural Tourism Department, College of Tourism Kyung Hee University, Seoul
Evaluation and Promotion of the Baekdu-daegan and Its Cultural Assets Lecture to the Korea Forest Service in Daejeon City, Korea 2011 / 01 / 03 Professor
Evaluation and Promotion of the Baekdu-daegan and Its Cultural
Assets Lecture to the Korea Forest Service in Daejeon City, Korea
2011 / 01 / 03 Professor David A. Mason Cultural Tourism
Department, College of Tourism Kyung Hee University, Seoul
Slide 2
The Baekdu-daegan White-Head Great-Ridge Ancient concept as the
Spine of Korea Mountain-System running down the entire Peninsula,
with a mildly-sacred character
Slide 3
The Baekdu-daegan White-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
Slide 4
Baekdu-daegan Craggy Peaks Magnificent Scenery Spring-waters,
Herbs Buddhist Temples Neo-Confucian Shrines Shamanic Shrines
Historical & Folk Sites Passes thru 7 National Parks, 4 Local
Parks
Slide 5
Doseon-guksa Great 9th-Century Buddhist Master of Geomancy
Creator of Korean Pungsu-jiri-seol [Feng-Shui] and the concept of
the Baekdu-daegan
Slide 6
1000-year Evolution of the Baekdu-daegan Concept Dominant
divider of the Korean Peninsula into its distinct cultural regions
& Kingdoms Origin of all Koreas major Rivers Noted by Goryeo /
Joseon Dynasty scholars Shown on Joseon Dynasty maps since 1402
Sungho-saseol and Taengni-ji San-gyeong-pyo Mountain Genealogy
Chart
Slide 7
Cultural Stakeholders in the Preservation and Development of
the Baekdu-daegan Areas Buddhist Temples Shaman Shrines
Neo-Confucians, Daoists and other Traditionalists Traditional
Artisans and Artists, Writers
Slide 8
2007 Baekdu-daegan Research Expedition
Slide 9
A walk from the Past, to the Future
Slide 10
Slide 11
Slide 12
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 Christianity 120 years ago ~ Today:
Protestant Christianity
Slide 13
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-Confucianism Granting Rich Potential for
Multi-Religious Pilgrimage Tourism
Table 1: The Most Sacred or Otherwise Famous Mountains along
the Baekdu-daegan Range (listed from north to south along the line)
Name Park Status High Peak on BDDG Notable Features Baekdu-san
National2850 mHighly sacred to Korean Shamanism and popular
Nationalism, associated with Korea's foundation- mythology. Source
of the Yalu and Tumen Rivers. Geumgang- san National1638 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-san National1708mHighly 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-san National1434 mHighly Sacred to
Buddhism, with several important temples; considered to be the
Korean residence of Munsu-bosal (Bodhisattva of Wisdom). Duta-san
County1353 mFamous for lovely scenery in valleys. Cheong-ok-san
County1404 mOne ancient temple on east slopes.
Slide 16
Taebaek-san Provincial1567 m Highly 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-san National1440 m Sacred to
Korean Buddhism, with several important temples; considered to be
the primary Korean residence of Biro-bul (Buddha of Cosmic Light).
Worak-san National1115 mRemote mountain area, with main peaks and
temples off but near the BDDG trail. Renown for scenery but only
minor religious sites. Songni-san National1058 m Sacred to Korean
Buddhism, with one important temple and several others. Popularly
said to be one of the most beautiful mountains. Hwangak- san
County1111 mOne very famous Buddhist temple Jikji-sa on east slope,
many smaller temples. Deogyu-san National1507 m Remote mountain
area, 1614-m peak off the BDDG. Renown for scenery but with only a
few religious sites. Source of Geum River. Jiri-san National1915m
Highly 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.
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.
Slide 31
Slide 32
Jiri-san Ssanggye-sa Biseok
Slide 33
Jiri-san Daeseong-gyegok
Slide 34
Daeseong-gyegok Se-i-am
Slide 35
Baekdu-daegan Shinseon Traditions
Slide 36
Slide 37
Slide 38
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.
Slide 39
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.
Slide 40
Successful Korean Religious-Pilgrimage Tourism Program:
Temple-Stay Started in Spring 2002, as a Visit Korea Year project
before the World Cup Finals Fully functioning nationwide in 2004
Now operated by the national Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, as
missionary work More than 70 temples involved, most with
individualized characteristic programs
Slide 41
Temple-Stay
Slide 42
the first Temple-Stay Event April 2002 Ambassadors to Korea as
Guests
Slide 43
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.
Slide 44
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.
Slide 45
Policy Proposal #1 Recognize 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.
Slide 46
Policy Proposal #2 Recognize 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.
Slide 47
Policy Proposal #3 Work 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.
Slide 48
Policy Proposal #4 Recognize 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.
Slide 49
Policy Proposal #5 -1 Institute 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.
Slide 50
Policy Proposal #5 -2 Hold 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
Slide 51
New Slogan Baekdu-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!
