Size: 18.5×11.5cm./7.2×4.5inch.
Weight: 207gr./7.3oz.
Year: 1990
Pages: 314
 
Book made in North Korea, 1990 about Mt. Paekdu. Author Wakabayashi Hiroshi Describes a trip to Mt Paekdu, the legendery birthplace of Koreans. Includes 16 pages of pictures. Pages 1-90: Preface and description of Korea in 4 seasons. Pages 90-240: Trip to Mt Paekdu recounting of history of Anti-Japanese Struggle, including reminiscences of guerilla life by former fighter. Pages 240-319: Development of Korea after war, visit to film studio, renovation of art and music, construction of streets, advances in health care and education and much more.
The mountain plays an important mythological and cultural role in both Korean states. For instance, it is mentioned in both of their national anthems and is depicted on the National Emblem of North Korea.
Both Koreans assign a mythical quality to the volcano and its caldera lake, considering it to be their country’s spiritual home. With 2744m./9003ft. it is the highest mountain in North Korea, the Korean Peninsula and Northeast China. The mountain’s caldera was created in 946 by the colossal Tianchi eruption, one of the most violent eruptions in the last 5,000 years.
The founder of the first Korean Empire, King Tangun, was born on this mountain 3000 years ago. According to legend his father, Godly King Hwanung, was decended on this mountain, married a bear wich was turned into a woman and out of that Tangun was born. Tangun is not the first leader to be born on Mt. Paektu. Also Kim Jong Il (father of the current leader Kim Jong Un) was born in a cabin on Mt. Paektu. This would have happened during the Korean War.
Kim Il Sung set up secret bases around Mt. Paektuto lead the Korean revolution as a whole from the latter half of the 1930’s to the first half of the 1940’s during the anti Japanese armed struggle.