Toham Mountain
Encyclopedia
Toham Mountain, or Toham-san, is a mountain with a height of 745m in Gyeongju
City in southeastern South Korea
. It is part of the minor Dongdae Mountains
range. The mountain lies within Gyeongju National Park
and is the site of a large number of historic relics. The Silla
-era Buddhist shrines of Bulguksa
and Seokguram
are located on its slopes. The mountain stands at the intersection of three subdivisions of Gyeongju
: Bulguk-dong, Bodeok-dong, and Yangbuk-myeon. The Sea of Japan (East Sea)
can be seen from the peak, as can Gyeongju Basin
which includes the city center.
During the Silla
period, Toham mountain was referred to as Dongak (東嶽) literally meaning "East Big Mountain" and considered a guardian mountain of the country, so that major rituals were held.
Gyeongju
Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...
City in southeastern South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It is part of the minor Dongdae Mountains
Dongdae Mountains
The Dongdae Mountains are a small outlying range of the Taebaek Mountains. They run along the east coast of South Korea through the cities of Pohang, Gyeongju, and Ulsan. Notable peaks include Toham Mountain in Gyeongju National Park, as well as Dongdae Mountain itself in Ulsan...
range. The mountain lies within Gyeongju National Park
Gyeongju National Park
Gyeongju National Park is located in the providence of Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, and is the country's only historical national park. It was first designated a national park in 1968. The park covers many of the principal Silla historical sites in Gyeongju City...
and is the site of a large number of historic relics. The Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
-era Buddhist shrines of Bulguksa
Bulguksa
Bulguksa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in the North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is home to seven National treasures of South Korea, including Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongun-gyo , and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. The temple is classified as...
and Seokguram
Seokguram
The Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage and part of the Bulguksa temple complex. It lies four kilometers east of the temple on Mt. Tohamsan, in Gyeongju, South Korea. It is classified as National Treasure No. 24 by the South Korean government and is located at 994, Jinhyeon-dong, Gyeongju-si,...
are located on its slopes. The mountain stands at the intersection of three subdivisions of Gyeongju
Subdivisions of Gyeongju
The primary subdivisions of Gyeongju in South Korea consist of 4 eup, 8 myeon, and 11 dong. These units are the same into which all of the cities and counties of South Korea are divided. The dong units occupy the area of the city center, which was formerly occupied by Gyeongju-eup. Eup refers to...
: Bulguk-dong, Bodeok-dong, and Yangbuk-myeon. The Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
can be seen from the peak, as can Gyeongju Basin
Gyeongju Basin
The Gyeongju Basin is a landform in Gyeongju city, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea. It forms part of the watershed of the Hyeongsan River, which flows north through the basin where it is joined by the Bukcheon, Namcheon, Daecheon, and Sogyeon-cheon streams.The basin is surrounded by low...
which includes the city center.
During the Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
period, Toham mountain was referred to as Dongak (東嶽) literally meaning "East Big Mountain" and considered a guardian mountain of the country, so that major rituals were held.
See also
- List of mountains in Korea
- List of Korea-related topics
- Geography of South KoreaGeography of South KoreaSouth Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass. The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with of border running along the DMZ. South Korea is mostly surrounded by...
- Korean peninsulaKorean PeninsulaThe Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...