Yeongjusan (ˈjʌŋ.dʑu.san)

"When you pass by Gyeongseong, you must always take a moment to pray to Yeongmang. She is the west wind, and lives upon the volcano they call Yeongjusan." - Sailor lore

Yeongjusan is a volcano on the island of Gyeongseong, in the Seom Islands. It is the highest point in the island group, and so massive that the mountain and the island are often considered one and the same.

Notable Spirits

There are many temples and shrines located on the slopes of Yeongjusan, dedicated to the major and minor gods of the Ryeong, but most especially to Yeongmang, dragon goddess of the west wind. The Imperial administrators, following the principles laid out in the Teikoku Nintei-sho, have required that there be separate shrines for the use by each of the Bunrui who have populations upon the island. In practice, this means that each of the gods has three shrines, one for the Yanjin of the Ippanmin bunrui, another for the Rengo who are in the Zokumin bunrui, and a third for the Chilseongsin, who are in the Jūjin bunrui. The shrines themselves are constructed to be as similar to each other as possible, but the offerings made by each bunrui reflect their status in society and the resources they have access to. Near the peak, a temple to Yeongman sits on the shores of the lake Cheonmyeongji. The lake is the personal preserve of the goddess, and all creatures who live in or near it are hers as well. Because of this, hunting or fishing near Cheonmyeongji is strictly forbidden, and even drinking from the lake's waters is only permitted during certain ritual observances.

Geography

Yeongjusan is a shield volcano and makes up the bulk of the island of Gyeongseong. The soil along the mountainside is rich with volcanic ash and is extremely fertile, and much of the island's agriculture is grown on the slopes. The volcano has not erupted in living memory, but occasionally smokes and grumbles, indicating that it is still active.

Near the summit is the lake Cheonmyeongji, filling the crater from a previous eruption. It is known for being exceptionally still and reflecting the sky overhead perfectly, so much so that those standing on the shore often feel as though they are on the edge of the sky itself. It is oval-shaped, and stretches for nearly five miles across its longest dimension.

Climbing Yeongjusan is not difficult. There are many paths which wind up the mountainside, gradually ascending to the top. During the ascent, travelers pass through forests and meadows as the ecosystem shifts with altitude and temperature. The uppermost regions are often covered in snow, even during the summer.

Type

Volcano

Location under

Gyeongseong

Characters in Location

• Yeongmang

Geographic Details

Location: Southwestern Region
Latitude: 37.36 degrees North
Longitude: 61.41 degrees West
Elevation: 6,309 ft

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