Mt Kumgang is famous not only for its natural scenery but also for its rich historical and cultural heritage elements created and developed by the Korean ancestors for thousands of years.

Many historical sites and architectural heritage elements are preserved in the mountain, and there are innumerable stone inscriptions, poems and landscape paintings, as well as rich intangible cultural heritage elements like legends, anecdotes and folk songs.

There were nearly 200 temples and hermitages in the Mt Kumgang area, and six of them are still preserved.

Singye Temple (built in 519), Jongyang Temple (600), Podok Hermitage (627), Pulji Hermitage (666) and Phyohun Temple (670) are Buddhist temples on the mountain belonging to the representative architectural heritage.

The mountain also has many sites of temples and hermitages, including that of Yujom Temple, the main temple that controlled others in the area, and those of Jangan Temple, Anyang, Jijang and Mongchon hermitages and the Myogil statue. And pavilion structures like Ryonhwa Rock and Kwanphok Pavilion built in excellent spots for observation are also preserved.

The old structures on Mt Kumgang clearly show the distinguished architectural skills of the Korean ancestors.

What is characteristic of the architectural style of the temples is that the decorated headspace and tanchong (colourful painting) on the roofs are more splendid than temples in other areas.

In particular, Podok Hermitage supported by only one 7.3-metre-high copper pillar is a combination of Podok Cave located halfway up a precipitous cliff and a wooden building. Originally built in the period of Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668), the structure never fails to fill visitors with admiration.

Besides, stone lanterns, stupas, steles, stone bridges and stone walls are preserved intact. Among them are the three-storey pagodas of Jongyang, Singye and Jangyon temples, the three-storey lion pagoda of Kumjang Hermitage dating back to the 10th century, the Myogil statue and Sambul (three Buddhas) Rock from the 14th century and the stele for Abbot Sosan and stupa created in the first half of the 17th century and other big and excellent steles and stupas with a long history.

There are a great number of stone inscriptions carved by people on the natural rocks in the period from before the 9th century to the early 20th century.

Among the inscriptions are many precious handwritings left by the most famous calligraphers and writers of the country.

Such well-known calligraphers as Yang Sa On (1517-1584) and Han Sok Bong (1543-1605) also left their handwritings on Mt Kumgang.

The abundance of stone inscriptions written in different styles makes Mt Kumgang an outstanding stone calligraphic heritage area incomparable with other heritage elements.

For this reason, the mountain can be called a grand open-air calligraphy exhibition rare in the world and a calligraphic museum with a history of well over a thousand years.

Mt Kumgang has been a subject of worship and love among the Korean people since ancient times.

Poems and songs praising it have been written and popularized since the late 6th century and early 7th century.

In particular, Jong Chol (1536-1593), a distinguished writer in the period of the feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910), looked round Mt Kumgang in 1580 and wrote Kwandongbyolgok, a typical hymn to a famous mountain.

According to basis statistics, over 500 poems about Mt Kumgang were created until the 19th century and more than 300 writers were known to have composed such poems in the collections of poems “Kumgangsungnam” and “Anthology of Poetry on Mt Kumgang”.

The mountain is associated with the largest number of legends and anecdotes in the history of the country.

Some of them are based on historical facts and others are related to scenic spots, mysteriously-shaped rocks and fantastic figures. There are some humorous and edifying stories showing the people’s clear conscience and beautiful manners and customs.

There are also many folk songs and proverbs related to Mt Kumgang. Among them are the folk song “Ballad of Mt Kumgang” beloved of everyone, and such proverbs as “Don’t talk about natural beauty of the world before you see Mt Kumgang” and “It takes a full stomach to appreciate even the beauty of Mt Kumgang”.

The mountain has long been an object of admiration among many painters. Jong Son (1676-1795), Choe Puk (1720-1770), Kwan Ho Ja (1725-?) and Kim Hong Do (1745-?) who were celebrated painters of their times, among many others, created landscapes depicting Mt Kumgang.

After all, Mt Kumgang is a typical celebrated mountain that shows in a special way the human culture in harmony with the outstanding natural scenery.