Sanbangsan
{{Short description|Mountain in Seogwipo, South Korea}}
{{For|mountain in Gyeonggi Province|Sambangsan}}
{{Infobox mountain
|name=Sanbangsan
|photo=KOCIS Jeju Island (5982744003).jpg
|photo_caption=The mountain, with traditional village in front (2011)
|coordinates={{Coord|33|14|30|N|126|18|47|E|display=inline,title}}
|country=South Korea
|region_type=Province
|region=Jeju Province
|settlement_type=City
|settlement=Seogwipo
|mapframe-zoom=11
|module={{Infobox Korean name
|hangul=산방산
|hanja=山房山
|rr=Sanbangsan
|mr=Sanbangsan
|child=yes}}
}}
Sanbangsan ({{Korean|hangul=산방산|lit=Mountain Room Mountain}}) is a volcano located on the southwest coast of Jeju Island, in {{Ill|Andeok-myeon (Seogwipo)|lt=Andeok-myeon|ko|안덕면 (서귀포시)}}, Seogwipo, Jeju Province, South Korea. It is a trachytic lava dome that is {{Convert|395|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall.
Part of the Jeju Island UNESCO Global Geopark, the mountain is a popular tourist site and one of Jeju Island's main scenic geological features, alongside Hallasan and Seongsan Ilchulbong.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Sanbangsan Mountain in Seogwipo, Jeju |url=https://english.cha.go.kr/chaen/search/selectGeneralSearchDetail.do?mn=EN_02_02&sCcebKdcd=15&ccebAsno=00770000&sCcebCtcd=50&pageIndex=8®ion=&canAsset=&ccebPcd1=&searchWrd=&startNum=&endNum=&stCcebAsdt=&enCcebAsdt=&canceled=&ccebKdcd=15&ccebCtcd= |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Cultural Heritage Administration - English Site |language=en}}{{Citation |last=강 |first=상배 |title=산방산 (山房山) |work=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0026233 |access-date=2024-06-25 |publisher=Academy of Korean Studies |language=ko}}
Etymology and mythology
Sanbangsan means "mountain with a cave". This name refers to the cave Sanbanggul ({{Korean|hangul=산방굴|hanja=山房窟|labels=no}}), which is located on the mountain. Water that falls from the ceiling of the cave is said to be the tears of Sanbangdeok ({{Korean|hangul=산방덕|hanja=山房德|labels=no}}), a goddess that protects the mountain.
According to legend, the grandmother deity Seolmundae Halmang plucked Hallasan's peak and fashioned it into Sanbangsan's current form.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Sanbangsan Mountain (Jeju) |url=https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/whereToGo/locIntrdn/rgnContentsView.do?vcontsId=94909 |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=VisitKorea.or.kr |language=en}}
Description
The mountain is a lava dome made of trachyte, and is largely a light gray color.{{Cite web |last=강 |first=만익 |title=제주 서귀포 산방산 - 디지털서귀포문화대전 |url=https://www.grandculture.net/seogwipo/toc/GC04600070 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture}} It is 395 m tall. It is roughly circular, occupies {{Convert|988.332|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} of space, has a circumference of {{Convert|3780|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and has a diameter of {{Convert|1200|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Unlike many other oreum on Jeju Island, it does not have a volcanic crater at the top.{{Cite web |title=산방굴사(제주) |url=https://access.visitkorea.or.kr/ms/detail.do?cotId=8aced65f-f037-4b4c-be2d-b5287a7119ef |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=VisitKorea.or.kr |language=ko}} It is visible from across much of southern Jeju.
Sanbangsan has columnar jointing stone structures, particularly on its southwestern slope, giving it a honeycomb appearance.
The mountain has many plants on it, including many species of trees. Plants grow even on some of its sheer cliff faces. In 1993, around {{Convert|247935|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} of the cliff walls with plantlife were designated a Natural Monument of Jeju Province.
= Sanbanggul =
File:Sanbanggulsa Temple 03.jpg
Sanbanggul is a cave that is around 145 to 150 meters up the mountain, on its south side. It is around {{Convert|10x5x5|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The cave is possibly a sea cave from when the volcano was at a lower height, although it is possibly more likely tafoni (a cavity caused by other geological conditions).
The cave has been used as a Buddhist temple called Sanbanggulsa ({{Korean|hangul=산방굴|hanja=山房窟|labels=no}}) from since at latest the 918–1392 Goryeo period. Names of Joseon-era (1392–1897) officials are carved into the rocks of the cave.{{Cite web |last=한 |first=금실 |title=산방굴사 터 - 디지털서귀포문화대전 |url=https://www.grandculture.net/seogwipo/toc/GC04600676 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture}}
A Goryeo-era stone Buddha statue has sat in the cave since 1985. That statue is said to have been taken by the Japanese during the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period, and was returned in 1960.
Tourism
Tourists are able to access Sanbanggul via a staircase.
Since January 1, 2022 and until December 31, 2031, access to much of the upper parts of the mountain is restricted for the sake of environmental protection. Summiting the mountain is currently not allowed.{{Cite web |title=Sanbangsan Mountain |url=https://www.visitjeju.net/en/detail/view?contentsid=CONT_000000000500285 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=www.visitjeju.net |language=ko}} Previously, a path to summit the mountain was accessible from the northern side. The views from the top of the mountain are said to be breathtaking, and considered among the area's finest sights.
= Immediate surroundings =
Each spring, the fields surrounding the mountain has vibrant canola flowers. The mountain has a prominent view of the nearby volcanic Yongmeori Coast.
Various Buddhist temples exist around the base of the mountain, including the temple Bomunsa ({{Korean|hangul=보문사|hanja=普門寺|labels=no}}).{{Cite web |last=한 |first=금실 |title=보문사 - 디지털서귀포문화대전 |url=https://www.grandculture.net/seogwipo/toc/GC04601221 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture}}
South of the mountain is a theme park called Sanbangsan Land ({{Korean|hangul=산방산 랜드|labels=no}}). It has a pirate ship ride, a carousel, a 4D theater, and various carnival games.{{Cite web |title=산방산 랜드 |url=https://www.visitjeju.net/kr/detail/view?contentsid=CONT_000000000500286 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=www.visitjeju.net |language=ko}}
Gallery
File:Sanbangsan (5983281424).jpg|Sanbangsan, with nearby flower field in view (2011)
File:Jeju Sangbangsan Seaside.jpg|The mountain from a distance (2009)
File:Bomunsa Temple 01.jpg|Bomunsa, on the slopes of the mountain (2022)
File:Yongmeori Coast.jpg|Yongmeori Coast, as seen from the mountain (2022)
File:Sanbangsan Mountain 02.jpg|Pathways on the mountain (2022)
File:Sanbangsan and a field 02.jpg|Sanbangsan as seen from a laneway in a nearby town
References
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Sanbangsan}}
- [https://www.visitjeju.net/en/detail/view?contentsid=CONT_000000000500285 Sanbangsan Mountain (visitjeju.net)] (in English)
Category:Mountains of Jeju Province