Provided is a method for managing dormant nodes in a wireless sensor network. The method includes the steps of: a) acquiring and storing information on distance and location of sensor nodes registered in a corresponding cluster among at least one cluster managed by a managing node; b) selecting a dormant object node among the sensor nodes by the managing node; c) transmitting dormant information that the dormant object node should go into a dormant state for a predetermined period through a beacon message to the dormant object node and creating a dormant node management table; and d) updating a dormant time of the dormant node management table every beacon cycle by the managing node according to setup of a dormant time central managing function and notifying dormancy expiration to the corresponding dormant node.