O-san Saseong-am, Doseon-gul Cave

O-san is a very small mountain across the river from the Western area of grand Jiri-san, but it features a very dramatically situated and interesting temple named Saseong-am, which means the Four Sages Hermitage. According to historical records and legends, four of Korea's greatest Buddhist masters studied and practiced meditation at this site along their path to enlightenment. One of them was National Master Doseon, founder of Korea's Pungsu-jiri geomancy, and so a small cave here next to the Mountain-spirit shrine is named Doseon-gul after him.

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Exterior of the main hall of Saseong-am, enshrining a carving of Amita Buddha

Entrance-way of Saseong-am

Buddha carving on stone wall at Four Sages Hermitage, Saseong-amn

The Sanshin-gak or Mountain-spirit Shrine of Saseong-am, with entrance to Doseon-gul Cave on its left

Four Sages Hermitage, Saseong-am, Jiri-san

Interior of Doseon-gul, a cave said to have been used by National Master Doseon for meditation practices in the 9th century

For additional information by Professor David Mason, visit san-shin.org.

Martin Gray is a cultural anthropologist, writer and photographer specializing in the study of pilgrimage traditions and sacred sites around the world. During a 40 year period he has visited more than 2000 pilgrimage places in 165 countries. The World Pilgrimage Guide at sacredsites.com is the most comprehensive source of information on this subject.