Chamseongdan, Ganghwa江华摩尼山参星坛
- Type
- Overseas Daoist Temples
- Location
- South Korea · Incheon Metropolitan City · Hwado-myeon, Ganghwa County · San 42-1, Heungwang-ri, atop Mount Mani; covers 5,603 square meters
- Coordinates
- 37.6158, 126.4281 Map ↗
- First built
- Traditionally built by Dangun (high antiquity) · Documentary records note restorations in 1270 under Goryeo, and in 1639, 1700 and 1716 under Joseon; designated Historic Site No. 136 of the Republic of Korea on 11 July 1964.
- Heritage status
- Historic Site No. 136 of the Republic of Korea (1964)
Overview
The Chamseongdan ("Star-Observing Altar") stands atop Mount Mani on Ganghwa Island, traditionally said to have been built by Dangun as an altar for sacrificing to Heaven; documentary records note restorations in 1270 under Goryeo and again in 1639, 1700 and 1716 under Joseon. The altar has a structure of a round lower tier and a square upper tier: the lower, circular tier is about 4.5 meters in diameter, the upper, square tier has sides of 1.98 meters, and the whole stands about 6 meters high, with a flight of twenty-one stone steps on each of the east and west sides — embodying the cosmology of "round Heaven, square Earth." This form resembles the sacrificial altars of China's Hongshan culture, an instance of the shared features of East Asian traditions of sacrifice to Heaven. Kings of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, and successive rulers of Goryeo and Joseon, performed rites of sacrifice to Heaven here. After Korea's liberation, Gaecheonjeol (National Foundation Day) was instituted, and a state ceremony is held here every year; since 1956 it has served as the site where the flame is kindled for the National Sports Festival of Korea. It was designated Historic Site No. 136 of the Republic of Korea on 11 July 1964. In nature it belongs to Korea's own indigenous tradition of sacrifice to Heaven, containing elements of a Daoist-style cosmology, rather than being a facility of any Daoist religious body.
Highlights
- Round-and-square altar embodying "round Heaven, square Earth"
- Legend of Dangun's sacrifice to Heaven
- State ceremony for Gaecheonjeol (National Foundation Day)
- Flame-kindling site for the National Sports Festival