Panoramic View of Stone Guardian Posts in Jungnim-riThis is a panoramic view of the Stone Guardian Posts in the south of the village of Gongjak in Jungnim-ri, Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun. The stone turtles (mother and child) are situated between two stone guardian posts. These posts were designated as Jeollabuk-do Folklore Heritage No. 20.
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LocationGongjak-gil Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryCultural Heritage / Tangible Cultural Heritage
- Korean죽림리 석장승
- Chinese竹林里石長-
- FieldLifestyle & Folklore / Folklore
- Contents TypeHistoric Site / Folk Religious Site
- Current Location13, Gongjak-gil Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- Stone jangseung (guardian posts) that were there for centuries in Gongjak Village, Jukrim-ri, Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- Jukrim-ri Stone Jangseung(Guardian Post) is a pair(male and female) of stone guardian posts with displaying a human face, as a function of fend off the evil spirit for village. It is a remains of folk beliefs. They are located at the southern entrance to (olden-day) Gongjak Village in Jukrim-ri, Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun.
The Jangseung (guardian post) is a statue for folk beliefs, and made of wood or stone and set up at the entrance of a village or temple. Usually, its upper side displays an engraved human or demon’s face and its lower side has inscriptions like 天下大將軍 (meaning Great Lord under the Sky), 地下女將軍 (meaning Female Lord Under the Land), 上元周將軍 [meaning General Ju (male)], 下元唐將軍 [meaning General Dang (female)] etc. or mileage.
- Location
- Stone Guardian Posts in Jukrim-ri were found buried in the ground and villager set them up in 1984. In 1995, they were relocated near Gongjakgyo Bridge about 500 m from the village.
- Forms
- The left one of the Guardian Posts in Jukrim-ri displays Chinese characters “上元禁鬼周將軍” [General Ju fending off evil spirits (male)].” It wears a cap on the head. Its eyes are protruded. It has a well-shaped nose and a tightly shut mouth. It measures 190 ㎝ (H) and 42 ㎝ (W). The other one in the right displaying Chinese characters “下元禁鬼唐將軍 [(General Dang fending off evil spirits (female)].” It has a round face, round eyes bulged, and a small and obtuse nose. Unlike the male, the female one bares its teeth, looking scary. It measures 180 ㎝ (H) and 40 ㎝ (W). Two stone statues of tortoises (mom and son) are placed between the posts.
- Ritual
- For now, there is no evidence of belief in Jukrim-ri Stone Guardian Posts. There is a story handed down in Gongjak Village about the stone totem pole couple. According to Feng Shui belief, Gongjak Village was so nice a site that it could produce a king, which was considered as a taboo. Another story goes like this. There is a stream named Geomicheon (Spider Stream) flowing in front of nearby Singong Village in Juchon-ri, Yeongwon-myeon, Jeongeup-si. Gongjak (Peacock) feed on spiders. Those in Singong Village planted trees along the stream, which caused spiders to disappear, and Gongjak (peacock) starved to death. Those in Gongjak Village set up the stone totem poles to allay the spirit of the dead gongjak.
- Current Status
- It is right to set up the stone guardian posts at the entrance to Gongjak Village, but they had to place them at the current location due to the realistic problem of having to purchase the land. The current location far from the village makes one skeptical about their function as guardian posts, The villagers need to discuss its relocation to the entrance to the village for its original function.
- Historical Significance
- There are two other guardian posts in Buan, i.e. one within the East Gate of Buan and the other within the West Gate of Buan. The ones in Gongjak Village are an important material for those studying jangseung-related culture of the Joseon Period. The stone guardian posts in Gongjak Village were designated as Jeollabuk-do Folk Cultural Heritage No. 20 on August 16, 1985.