The Ahobiryong Mountains is a mountain range stretching from north to south in central North Korea. The range straddles the border between North Hwanghae and Kangwon provinces. The most famous part of the range is located near Kaesong, the ancient capital of the Koryo dynasty, located in North Hwanghae.

Etymology

The name "Ahobiryong" means "Tiger Leaping Peak" in Korean.

Historical and tourism significance

This region is a tourist attraction, and the valley between Mts. Chonma (天摩山) and Songgo (聖居山) is home to the Pakyon Falls[1],which is considered as one of the three famous falls of Korea,[2] as well as the Koryo-era Taehungsan Fortress,[3] which in turn encompasses two ancient Buddhist temples (Kwanumsa and Taehungsa).[4] The Ryongtongsa Buddhist temple, which was the origin place of the Chontae sect, is also located in the mountains at the foot of Mt. Ogwan (五關山). It was once a place of pilgrimage, as it contained the ashes of Uichon, founder of the Chontae sect, but burned down in the 17th century. It was reconstructed between 2001 and 2005 as an inter-Korean project.[5]

References

  1. ^ "박연폭포". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
  2. ^ "한폭의 산수화 같은 한국의 3대 폭포 설악산 '대승폭포'". kado.
  3. ^ "천마산". cybernk.net.
  4. ^ "[사진으로 만나는 북한 문화유산] ⑱ 천마산 대흥산성과 개성의 사찰유적". news1.
  5. ^ "개성 영통사 발굴, 복원사업". cheontae.org.