South Korea
Maisan Tapsa
Eighty stone towers stacked by a single hermit without mortar beneath horse-ear-shaped peaks.
Eighty stone towers stand in a mountain clearing, the tallest exceeding thirteen metres. None use mortar. All were built by one man, working alone, over thirty years. They have survived earthquakes and typhoons. Nobody has satisfactorily explained how.
Maisan Tapsa is a collection of 80 stone pagodas hand-stacked by Buddhist hermit Yi Gap-yong over a 30-year period beginning in the late 19th century. The towers stand without mortar, cement, or binding of any kind — and have survived seismic activity, typhoon winds, and over a century of weathering. The tallest exceeds 13 metres. The towers occupy a clearing between the twin Maisan peaks (Horse Ear Mountain), a registered Natural Monument whose distinctive twin-peak silhouette gives them their name. The site's inexplicable structural resilience has made it a pilgrimage point for both Buddhist practitioners and engineering curiosity-seekers. The mountain approach passes through temple gates and forest, creating a gradual reveal — the towers are hidden until you are among them.
Solo
The story of a single hermit building 80 towers alone resonates with solitary travellers. The site rewards quiet contemplation over group chatter.
Couple
The walk through the forest approach, the reveal of the towers, and the contemplative atmosphere create a shared experience of genuine wonder.
- A single Buddhist hermit named Yi Gap-yong stacked all 80 towers by hand over 30 years
- The stone towers have survived earthquakes and typhoons without mortar
- The twin Maisan peaks (Horse Ear Mountain) are a registered Natural Monument
- The tallest stone tower reaches over 13 metres
Black pork grilled over oak wood smoke at restaurants lining the mountain approach.
Deodeok roots pounded flat and coated in red chilli paste.
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