Saseongam Hermitage, Gurye

Saseongam is a hermitage built into a sheer rock face near the top of Osan, across the Seomjin River south of Gurye town. The red-pillared hall clinging to the cliff and the view from its terrace over the Seomjin River, the Gurye plain and the ridges of Jirisan together earned the area Scenic Site status in 2014. A local gazetteer of 1800 notes that the rocks were so fine that the mountain had long been called "Little Geumgang".

History and name

According to tradition, the monk Yeongi founded it in 544, the 22nd year of King Seong of Baekje, under the name Osanam after the mountain. Because four eminent monks, Uisang, Wonhyo, Doseon and Jingak, are said to have practised here, it became Saseongam, "hermitage of the four saints". No records confirm the founding date, but it is thought to have been a sizeable place of practice between the 8th and 13th centuries. The main halls standing today are recent reconstructions.

Why it is a Scenic Site

The way the hermitage buildings and rocks of the summit fit together, and the chance to see from one spot the winding Seomjin River wrapping around Gurye town, seven surrounding townships and the Jirisan peaks, were the reasons for its designation. It was a provincial cultural heritage material from 1984 and was raised to Scenic Site in 2014. Many oddly shaped rocks surround the mountain, one of them carved with a standing Buddha.

What to see

• Yaksajeon (Yuri Gwangjeon): The hall seems wedged between rocks about 20 m high, propped up on thick red pillars and reached by stone steps and a small bridge.
• Rock-carved standing Buddha: A 3.9 m figure carved into the cliff inside Yaksajeon, visible through the glass back wall of the hall. Its simple incised lines suggest a date in the late 9th or early 10th century, and legend says Wonhyo carved it with his fingernails.
• Jijangjeon and Sanwangjeon: Further stone steps west of Yaksajeon lead to small shrines set on the rocky crest.
• Doseongul: A narrow passage between huge boulders, where Wonhyo and Doseon are said to have meditated.
• The view: The winding Seomjin River, Gurye town and the peaks of Jirisan all from one spot. The drama "The King: Eternal Monarch" and the film "Kundo" were shot here.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: You can drive almost to the hermitage, but parking at the top is very limited. Most visitors take the village bus from the car park below, KRW 3,400 return or KRW 2,800 for children 13 and under. There is also a walking path.
• Hours: 09:00–18:00, open every day.
• Time needed: 1 to 2 hours including the bus. It pairs well with Hwaeomsa Temple in one day.
• When to go: Go on a clear day to see the Jirisan ridges and the river sharply. Autumn colours make it especially attractive.
• Watch out: The stone stairs between the halls are steep, so take them slowly.