SANGWONSA TEMPLE

It is the highest temple in Korea, at an altitude of 1,000 m. A legend related to this temple gave its name to Mount Chiaksan, "the mount of the pheasant peak". A young man was travelling when he saw a snake strangling a pheasant. He killed the snake and sought shelter for the night. A woman offered him hospitality, but tried to kill him. She was the snake's wife and she told the young man that he would only be safe if the Sangwonsa bell rang 3 times before sunrise. The pheasant then struck the bell 3 times with his head, saving the young man.