Cheoyongam Hermitage

Cheoyongam is a rock island about 150 m off the shore of Sejuk village in Hwangseong-dong, Nam-gu. The legend of its origin is recorded in the Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms). When King Heongang of Silla (r. 875–886) came here on an outing and stopped to rest, clouds and fog suddenly closed in so thickly that nothing could be seen ahead. A royal astrologer reported that this was the work of the dragon of the East Sea, and that a good deed should be performed to appease him. The king at once ordered that a temple be built nearby for the dragon, and as soon as he did so the clouds and fog lifted. The place was accordingly named Gaeunpo, meaning "the port where the clouds cleared". The temple built at that time still has its site preserved at Yul-ri, Cheongnyang-myeon, Ulju County — this is Manghaesa Temple. Delighted by the king's order, the dragon of the East Sea rose from the sea with his seven sons, appeared before the king, and danced and played music. One of the sons followed the king to the capital and assisted him with affairs of state — this was Cheoyong. The king had a beautiful woman take him as her husband so that he would stay on, and granted him the court rank of geupgan. His wife was so beautiful that the spirit of pestilence came to admire her, and, taking human form, went secretly to their house at night and lay with her. When Cheoyong returned home and saw the two lying together, he sang a song and danced. At this the spirit of pestilence revealed its true form, knelt before Cheoyong and said, "I coveted your wife and did wrong, yet you show no anger — I am moved and filled with admiration. From now on I vow never to enter any gate where a picture of your likeness is displayed." Because of this, people of the kingdom began pasting talismans painted with Cheoyong's likeness on their gates to ward off evil spirits and usher in good fortune. The Samguk yusa describes Cheoyong as the son of the dragon, but as to his actual identity there are theories that he was the son of a local Ulsan magnate, or even an Arab merchant.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Nam-gu, Ulsan

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물