| Odaesan | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,563 m (5,128 ft) |
| Location | |
| Location | South Korea |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 오대산 |
| Hanja | 五臺山 |
| Revised Romanization | Odaesan |
| McCune–Reischauer | Otaesan |
Odaesan (1,563 m) is a mountain in Gangwon, South Korea, standing at the junction of the districts of Gangneung, Pyeongchang, and Hongcheon. A major national landmark, it is the centerpiece of Odaesan National Park. The name "Odaesan" means "mountain of five plains," which refers to the five high plains which stand between its five peaks.
Odaesan stands at the junction of the Taebaek Mountains and the Charyeong Mountains, a spur range stretching to the west. The chief of its five peaks is Birobong (비로봉/毘盧峰). It stands just to the south of Seoraksan along the Baekdudaegan, the legendary range of white peaks which make up the symbolic spine of the Korean Peninsula.
The Odaesan region is home to a variety of Korean cultural treasures. Buddhist temples in the area include Woljeongsa and Sangwonsa. In addition, a royal archive of the Joseon Dynasty is located there. It was founded in 1606 to house the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty after all but one of the previous archives were burned during the Japanese invasions of Korea. Although the Annals themselves were removed in the early 20th century and taken to Japan, where they were lost in the Great Kanto earthquake, the archive has been restored.