As a famous scenic spot, Moran Hill stands beside the Taedong River which flows through the heart of Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. The hill was named so as a chain of rolling peaks of the hill with the Choesung Pavilion, the highest place 95 metres above sea level, at the centre looks like a peony blossom just in bloom.
Unusual landform, evergreen pine trees and all sorts of flowers blooming in different seasons unfold stunning views on the hill. And the hill is associated with many legends along with its long history.
The legends include tales about the mystery and beauty of the hill and stories about nobleness and kindheartedness of Pyongyang people and the patriotic spirit of the Korean people.
A typical of them is a tale of Ulmil, a famous patriotic general in the period of Koguryo, the first feudal state of Korea that existed between 277 BC and AD 668.
Endowed with outstanding martial art skills, bravery and tactics, General Ulmil performed distinguished feats in the fight to defend Pyongyang and Moran Hill. He, in his senior years, taught martial arts to his son and young people in the Walled City of Pyongyang.
Then one day foreign invaders poured into Pyongyang. Ulmil immediately led forces against them.
While hacking enemy troops to death, he was severely wounded.
The enemies desperately attacked on after being told by a spy that Ulmil got bedridden with the wound. The general had to fight a do-or-die battle on Moran Hill. While in fight day after day, he fell unconscious with another fatal wound. Upon hearing the news about the invasion of the enemies, his son and young fellows who had gone far away to practise martial arts returned to join the fight.
After winning the fight, they went up the hill to see the general. “The general already died two days ago,” an old man sobbed. “But he told his last words that he should be kept standing here till the enemies were repelled.”
Afterwards, his fellow countrymen built a pavilion on the hilltop where he had commanded the fight to honour his feats and named it Ulmil Pavilion. Now the pavilion preserves its original appearance and serves as a cultural resort for holidaymakers.
The legends of Moran Hill are on the national intangible cultural heritage list.
Han Chol Ryong
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