Sammuk Shrine, Chonburi

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The Tragic Love Story of the Goddess of Khao Sam Muk: From Legend to Sacred Shrine in Chonburi

Anyone who has visited Chonburi is likely familiar with the tourist attraction "Khao Sam Muk," a small hill not far from Bang Saen Beach, home to the renowned monkey troop and home to the sacred Goddess of Khao Sam Muk Shrine!
But did you know that in addition to the beautiful mountain scenery, this scenic spot also boasts a legendary story told in Chonburi Province, a tragic love story comparable to Romeo and Juliet?

If you're curious about the story, read on.
Long ago, in Ban Ang Hin (now Ang Sila Subdistrict), there lived a grandmother and granddaughter. The granddaughter was named "Muk," or as the locals called her, "Sao Muk." She was an orphan, and had to live with her grandmother and grandfather until she grew up.
One day, Sao Muk, who liked to relax at the foot of the hill near Ang Sila, happened to see a kite floating right where she was sitting. This kite... It wasn't anyone else's, but it belonged to "Nai Saen," the son of the village headman. Nai Saen ran after her to retrieve the kite, and when he met Muk, he gave her the kite as a token of his love.
The two met frequently, and their bond grew. They decided to make a vow at the foot of the mountain: "We will love each other forever. If we break our vow, we will jump off this cliff and die together."
Of course, the story didn't end there. Later, when Saen's father, the village headman, found out about the situation, he was displeased that his son was in love with a woman without a home. He prevented them from meeting and arranged a marriage for Saen to the daughter of the person who had made the offering.

Muk's ears heard the news of the marriage. She believed it was true and believed Saen had betrayed her. Heartbroken, she decided to keep her vow and jump off a cliff to her death. When Saen learned of this tragic event, he too jumped off the cliff to follow her in her oath.

The village headman, feeling remorseful, brought various pottery and chinaware to a cave at the foot of the mountain as a reminder of their love. The villagers later named the mountain where Muk had jumped to her death "The Mountain of the Dead." "Khao Sao Muk" (Sao Muk) was coined in memory of Muk, the steadfast love she held. This name was later corrupted to "Sam Muk."
The cave is believed to be a secret cave, containing various pottery items brought there by Saen's father, the headman. Villagers could borrow them for religious ceremonies. The cave entrance was later closed during the construction of a road during the government of Field Marshal P. Phibunsongkhram. The beach where the bodies of the couple were found after jumping off a cliff are now known as "Bang Saen Beach" in memory of Saen.

Today, the legend of the Goddess of Khao Sam Muk continues to live strong, thanks to a shrine dedicated to her worship. The Goddess of Khao Sam Muk is divided into two shrines: the Thai Shrine of the Goddess of Khao Sam Muk (the Thai shrine) and the Chinese Shrine of the Goddess of Khao Sam Muk (the Chinese shrine). The Thai shrine is an ancient shrine, using the local legend of the love story of Sao Muk and Nai Saen to spread the story of the Goddess of Khao Sam Muk. The Chinese shrine is an ancient shrine within the Chinese community, using the story of "Goddess Tubtim" to spread the story of the Goddess of Khao Sam Muk. This is because the Chinese in Ang Sila brought a Hai Tang Ma incense burner on a boat from China when they settled in Chonburi. Therefore, the Haitangma Shrine was established next to the original Sammuk Mountain Goddess Shrine and the shrine has been called Sammuk Mountain Goddess Shrine (Chinese) until today.

Post by MarkTid | Sep 17, 2025