37 wonderful sights - Okkye Valley.

The mountains are nice, the rocks are nice and so is the water. His discovery of Okkye-ri was truly impressive. He built a pavilion here and called it Chimsujeong. Then he climbed the steep rocky mountain behind and carved 'owner of this mountain and water, Son Seongeul' in red and declared this land his.

Chimsujeong
In 1784, Son Seongeul built an amazing pavilion in Gyeongju. After that, a large tiger came down from the mountain and cried for 3 days by the pavilion. Son Seongeul thought this site couldn't be his. He got on a horse and rode from mountain to mountain to find a new site for his house. He found a place with nice mountains, rocks and water. He was impressed when he discovered Okkye-ri. He built another pavilion here and called it Chimsujeong, chim meaning pillow and su meaning gargling. Then he climbed the rocky mountain behind and carved 'owner of this mountain and water, Son Seongeul' in red and declared this land his. The red writing is still clear reminding his descendants who the owner of the pavilion is. It is famous because it was built in a location with the best scenery in Okkye Valley.

37 sights of Okkye
Sitting at the pavilion and looking down, Son Seongeul saw many marvelous sights. With his wisdom, he named them according to their form. The mountain ridge to the left was called Samcheungdae. Bongryongam was named so for looking like a dragon. An oddly-shaped rock that looks carved, Samguam. The peak straight ahead that looks like an incense burner, Hyangnobong. Rocks that stand like a folding screen, Byeongpungam. Chottaeam looks like a candle. Majaeseok looks like a horseshoe. Haksodae where cranes played. Irwolbong, Jinjuam, etc. He named all the oddly-shaped rocks. The pools below were also given pretty and cute names like Madangso, Hobakso, Gwangwangso, Gamaeso, and Gwiiso. All in all, he named thirty-seven. That's how the 37 sights of Okkye came to be.

Okkye Valley
To the left is Mt. Palgaksan and to the right is Mt. Dongdaesan. Okkye Valley extends between with fabulous sights. The water in the valley flows from Mt. Palgaksan, Mt. Dongdaesan and Mt. Badesan and is also called Dalsancheon. The road to Okkye Valley has flowers, orchards and rice paddies. You wouldn't imagine such wonderful sights to be hidden in the valley. A hanging bridge of Mt. Palgaksan is at the entrance of the valley. Pass Geumhwangsa Temple surrounded with sharp cliffs and trees to arrive at Okkye Pleasure Ground. The deep water below Chimsujeong has a green color that is darker than jade. It's almost as if fairies would come and play. It's mysterious like that, but it's also cozy like a family bath. Whether it's big or small, stone or wood, the mountains, rocks and water meet to present the sounds and scenery of nature. It is a mysterious masterpiece. No matter how great the scenery is, nature would be ashamed if people didn't see it. All we as people have to do is enjoy the stage presented by nature.

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