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In history of stories related to Baekdusan, Baekdusan is not simply a natural geographical space. Baekdusan is a sacred object of worship—a space of "imagined geography." Myths played an important role in cultivation of such imagined geography. According to ancient myths of national founding, Baekdusan does not stand out as a sacred mountain for the whole of Korean peoples—itwas considered sacred only by the peoples of Gojoseon and Goguryeo who lived around it. A critical change in perception of Baekdusan occurred in Goryeo, with the recorded myth of Goryeo national founding in Pyeonnyeon tongrok being a definite example of such transformation. The myth of Goryeo national founding places the royal family’s origins in Baekdusan, opening up a possibility of it becoming a sacred site for all Korean people. Such perception continued into Joseon, and its fusion with modern nationalism reinforced Baekdusan as a sacred place for the modern Korean nation. Choe Namseon’s Bulham munhwaron of the 1920s is a strong example of its modern transformation.
