In an overall sense Mountain Culture can be seen and felt anywhere in the mountains and valleys. It is plainly obvious in its temples, shrines, and hermitages and at shaman and other religious ceremonies. It can also be seen in its mountain steles, calligraphy, forests and streams. It is less so obvious in other places, but does exist. These places are the mountain villages and their farms and their respective harvest festivals, village guardian trees and rocks. It is also in the abodes of the artisans and writers. It is in the people who visit the mountains to clean their descendant’s tombs, to forage for mountain herbs and food, and hikers whom expel their stress and pent energy on mountain tops with bursts of relief and celebrations with food and makoli (rice wine). Some say hiking in Korea is a national sport or recreation, this is true, but it is its Mountain Culture that makes mountains the true identity of the Korean people.
