Saseongam Hermitage (사성암)
Believed to have been constructed in 544 A.D. on the eastern frontier of the Kingdom of Baekje, Saseongam Hermitage remains today a must-see example of early Medieval Korean Buddhist architecture. Built on huge wooden pillars, the main buildings of the hermitage cling to the sheer cliffs of Mt. Osan in most dramatic fashion, overlooking the scenic Seomjin River far below. Originally named Osanam, in honor of the location, after stays by four preeminent monks—Wonhyo-daesa (617-686 A.D.), Uisang-daesa (625-702 A.D.), Doseon-guksa (827-898 A.D.), and Hyesim (1178-1234)—it was renamed Saseongam, literally “Four Sages Hermitage”. It remains an active hermitage today.
It’s easy to see why the site was originally chosen by those monks desiring to get away from civilization and focus on their meditations. Saseongam is quite remote. You can reach the site by a wicked climb or take a small village bus that departs roughly every 15 minutes. Don’t judge us—we are getting old, after all—but in this case we chose the bus…and endured/enjoyed the most perilous roller coaster ride of our lives! The 70 year-old bus driver, who’s no doubt made thousands of trips up and down the mountain, accelerated into the most perilous of hairpin curves, mere feet from sheer, hundred foot drop-offs and left us all holding on for dear life!!
Our first sight of Saseongam. The last stretch, starting from where the bus stops, is really steep and I can only imagine how we would have felt if we’d climbed up…and then faced this!
The main hall of Saseongam is pretty awe-inspiring, and instantly reminded me of how I’d always imagined the High Elves living in Lord of the Rings.
What we initially took to be just an adjunct building on “the next cliff over” turned out to be so much more, the graceful stone staircase leading to several additional halls, shrines, caves, and scenic overlooks.
The Seongjin River runs down the valley far below. The view from Saseongam is simply incredible!
Saseongam remains an active hermitage and visitors are not allowed past this gate. The signs politely indicate that the monks were meditating within.
Mt. Osan and its surroundings are gorgeous and we stumbled across innumerable scenes of dynamic cliffs, framed with summer foliage throughout this trip, all of which would make lovely computer wallpaper!
We found this miniature scene in a crevice as we ascended the stairs to the main hall.