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LocationByeonsan-myeon, Jinseo-myeon, Boan-myeon, Sangseo-myeon, Haseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryCultural Heritage / Tangible Cultural Heritage
- Korean보안 입석
- Chinese保安立石
- FieldGeography / Natural Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Name of Natural Place
- Current LocationSan 35, Sangipseok-gil Boan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- A large rectangular natural stone, located at the entrance to the Sangipseok Village in Ipseok-ri, Boan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, which has long been an object of worship among the local community.
- Summary
- The Boan Menhir is a large standing stone that was erected by the inhabitants of Sangipseok and worshipped as the village guardian (dangsan) who repels evil from the village, or as a “water mouth cover” to protect the energy of the village according to the principles of traditional Pungsu (or Feng Shui). Since ancient times, folk communities across Korea have maintained the tradition of erecting one or two vertical stones at the entrance or border of their village to protect it from evil forces or natural disasters, and to invite supernatural intervention for fertility and abundance. No one knows exactly when or by whom this stone was erected, but it is known that annual rites have been held here on the first day of the second month on the lunar calendar to honor the tutelary deity represented by the stone for several hundred years at least.
- Location
- The Boan Menhir stands in the hilly area behind Sangipseok, and is covered by a protective shelter.
- Form
- The Boan Menhir is a rectangular natural stone measuring 240㎝ in height, 770㎝ and 55cm in breadth. The stone was located on a hill behind the village of Boan until the 1950s. The stone began to be worshipped as the Maitreya Buddha after an image of Maitreya Buddha was engraved on its surface in the 1960s. The form of the standing stone bears an inscription of long ear, white tiger, etc, representing the figure of Lord Maitreya. The stone also bears an inscription in Chinese characters of “Ibsokhwasangjangjabu○Gabulsudosajuryongbiminsunsuduk(立石和像長者婦○家佛遂道師住靈俾民善修德)“ stressing the importance of leading a virtuous life.
- Ritual
- The Boan Menhir is locally referred to by two honorific names, Biseok Halmeoni (Stone Grandma) and Mireungnim (Lord Maitreya), and has been honored with annual rites on the first day of the second month on the lunar calendar. The rites are generally performed by the housewives of Utseondol and other neighboring villages whose inhabitants wish for the safety and prosperity of their village or the birth of male heirs. During the rites the participants present various offerings to the village tutelary deity, such as a braised pig head, three different fruits, strips of dried beef, sautéed vegetables, cooked rice, and soup. The following text records the origin of the guardian stone:
Dongnaejubu(洞內主婦) Chijunyeokjumin(致全役住民) Jarebulilsung(自來不日成) Boanmyeonjang(保安面長) Yeokchanjogogi(力贊助高起) Ilgakjinabang(一閣鎭我坊) Ibsukhwasangjangjaboo(立石和像長者婦) Manghyangaejungnanjeolyeon(望鄕愛情難絶緣) Sunggabulsudosa(崇家佛隨道師) Juryeongbiminsunsooduk(住靈卑民善修德) Kamadongmin(鑑我洞民) Sunsimsooduck(善心修德) Philmanbokyoung(必萬福永) Jaeangsomyeol(災殃消滅)
- Current Status
- The Sangipseok Village (or Utseondol, literally meaning “a high standing stone”) in Buan-gun is named after the standing stone worshipped by the villagers as their guardian deity. According to, a local legend of a leading field and a high standing stone, 「Jangjateo wa seondol Seonsol Jeonseol」, the standing stone is related with the daughter-in-law of a wealthy man. One day, a mendicant monk visited the wealthy man and asked him for a donation, but the man refused and treated the monk rather coldly. Worried about the monk’s ordeal, the rich man’s daughter-in-law made a donation without telling him. In return for her generosity, the monk warned her about the imminent misfortune looming over their house, urging her to leave home there and then and never look back. The girl did as she was told but, forgetting the monk’s warning, she turned to look back at the house, which was just then being submerged in the water of a lake, whereupon she was immediately transformed into the standing stone we can see today in Sangipseok. This kind of legend has been told nationwide.
- Historical Significance
- The Boan Menhir is regarded as a valuable source of information about the development of Maitreya worship in the local area of Buan. The standing stone was designated as Jeollabuk-do Folklore Cultural Heritage No. 6 on September 27, 1974.