Chamseongdan, Manisan

Historic Site · Korea

Miscellaneous

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In short

A stone altar said to have been raised by Dangun for rites to heaven, used for state sacrifices under Goryeo and Joseon, and the site of a rite held every National Foundation Day.

The sosanamu tree growing on the stone terrace at Chamseongdan, on the summit ridge of Manisan. — Ssnm1015 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Quick facts

Address: Manisan, Hwado-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
Spiritual entities: Dangun (檀君)

About this place

Chamseongdan is a stone altar on the summit of Manisan in Ganghwa. It is transmitted as having been built by Dangun to offer rites to heaven, and is understood as a place where offerings were made to Dangun. Under Goryeo and Joseon it served as an altar of state sacrifice, and that sacrifice was a Daoist rite. It was designated a Historic Site in 1964, and a rite revived in 1955 is still held each year on National Foundation Day.

Origin and history

Chamseongdan is transmitted as an altar Dangun raised in order to offer rites to heaven, and is understood as a place where offerings were made to Dangun. It was designated a Historic Site in 1964.

Under Goryeo and Joseon it was used as an altar of state sacrifice, and the sacrifice performed here was a cho rite, a Daoist observance. It was rebuilt in 1639 and again in 1700, the later work marked with a stele.

What it is locally associated with

Origin
Said to have been raised by Dangun
So it is transmitted; it is understood as a place where offerings were made to Dangun.
folk tradition
Power spot
Round below, square above
The lower tier measures sixty cheok around; each side of the upper tier is six cheok six chi.
documented history
Origin
A state altar, and a Daoist rite
Used for state sacrifice under Goryeo and Joseon, and the sacrifice was a Daoist cho rite.
documented history
What people do here
Gaecheondaeje
Revived in 1955 with the lighting of the national sports festival flame, and held each 3 October.
local custom

What was asked for at this altar is not something the records say. What survives is who sacrificed here, when, and in what form. The state sacrifices of Goryeo and Joseon were performed here as a Daoist cho rite, and that tradition was revived in 1955 when the flame for the national sports festival was lit here; it continues as Gaecheondaeje, held each year on 3 October.

This site files the place under "miscellaneous" not for want of a better fit but because a rite offered to heaven cannot be transcribed into any of the ordinary categories of request.

Claims and evidence levels 4

Chamseongdan is transmitted as an altar raised by Dangun to offer rites to heaven, and is understood as a place where offerings were made to Dangun. folk tradition
Under Goryeo and Joseon it was used as an altar of state sacrifice, and the rite performed here was a cho rite, a Daoist observance. documented history
It was designated a Historic Site in 1964; it was rebuilt in 1639 and again in 1700, the later work marked with a stele. documented history
The rite was revived in 1955 in connection with lighting the national sports festival flame and continues as Gaecheondaeje each 3 October. local custom