Mount Kumgang

關於

Mount Kumgang (金剛山) is a mountain located across Kumgang County, Kosong County, and Tongchon County in North Korea, as well as Geojin-eup, Hyeonnae-myeon, and Sudong-myeon in Kosong County, Gangwon State, South Korea. Belonging to the Taebaek Mountains, this 1,638-meter-high mountain derives its name Kumgang from the Avatamsaka Sutra in Buddhism. In Buddhism, Kumgang signifies achala (不退轉), representing a firm, unyielding mind toward the ultimate truth. The word Kumgang is a semantic translation of the Sanskrit word vajra, which refers to both lightning and diamond. The mountain is located approximately 50 km away from Sokcho, South Korea. According to historical accounts from the Joseon Dynasty, when King Jeongjo granted Kim Man-deok a wish to reward her meritorious deeds, her ultimate wish was to travel and behold Mount Kumgang.

Mount Kumgang has been historically known both domestically and internationally for its scenery, serving as a frequent subject of expression for generations of artists. While it is known by several seasonal names, including its spring name Kumgang, it is currently most widely referred to as Mount Kumgang. Seasonally, it was called Bongraesan (蓬萊山, one of the mountains where Taoist immortals reside) in summer, Pungaksan (楓嶽山 or 楓岳山), meaning a great mountain or hill covered with autumn leaves) in autumn, and Gaegolsan (皆골山, meaning a mountain of bare bone-like rocks) in winter. Spanning 40 km from east to west and 60 km from north to south with a total area of 530 km², the region consists of numerous peaks, unique rock formations, and waterfalls created by long-term geological activities and weathering, all adjacent to the sea. The area is covered with both coniferous and broadleaf forests. It is commonly divided into Inner Kumgang, Outer Kumgang, and Sea Kumgang, and sometimes the southern region of Outer Kumgang is classified as New Kumgang.

Since 1998, three well-known courses have been opened to the public, with the number of accessible courses gradually expanding. It is currently being jointly managed and developed by South Korea's Hyundai Asan and North Korea. The annual number of foreign tourists had been increasing, which was interpreted as holding a greater significance for peaceful inter-Korean communication rather than merely serving as a tourist attraction. To travel to Mount Kumgang, tourists had to make a reservation through Hyundai Asan or its agencies and complete the necessary procedures at the Hwajinpo Asan Rest Area. Following the Mount Kumgang tourist shooting incident on July 11, 2008, tours to Mount Kumgang have been indefinitely suspended.

內容改寫自 Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。照片來自 Wikimedia Commons.