Maechang Park
-
Location89, Maechang-ro Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Park
- Korean매창 공원
- Chinese梅窓公園
- FieldGeography / Human Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Facility
- Established Location89, Maechang-ro Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Current Location89, Maechang-ro Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- The Maechang Park in memorial of the renowned poet Lee Maechang located in Seooi-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Summary
- Lee Maechang (李梅窓, 1573~1610) was a female poet who lived during the reign under King Seonjo in the Joseon dynasty. Her birthname was Gye-saeng (癸生, 桂生) or Hyang-geum (香今), but her married name was Cheon-hyang (天香), and her pen name Maechang (梅窓). She was the daughter of a low-ranking civil servant Lee Tang-jong (李湯從) in Buan, while her mother died when she was young. She learned how to read and write from her father and excelled in poetry as well as dance and music, notably the geomungo instrument. She went on to become a well-known female entertainer, or “gisaeng,” along with Hwang Jin-i (黃眞伊) in Gaeseong. She was acclaimed for her talents in poetry and mastering the geomungo, and her friendship with Yu Hi-gyeong (劉希慶), Heo Gyun (許筠) and Yi Gwi (李貴) was legendary. She died at age 38 in 1610, or the second year under the reign of Prince Gwanghae, and buried with her musical instrument. After 45 years since her death in 1655, or the sixth year under the reign of Kong Hyojong, her tombstone was erected. In 1668, or the ninth year under the reign of King Hyojong, Gaeamsa (開巖寺) Temple published the “Maechang Collection (梅窓集)” featuring the late poet’s 58 poems.
- Background of Construction
- Maechang Park was built to commemorate the Joseon dynasty female poet and the gisaeng Lee Maechang who was from Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Development
- From the Buan Administrative Office head south-bound to Bupung-ro to arrive at Maechang Park in the hilly lowland. The site was formerly a cemetery which was relocated as the city expanded. However, the two graves belonging to Lee Maechang and Lee Jung-seon, a noted singer also born in Buan, remained in place due to the objection of local residents. On August 24, 1983, the grave of Lee Maechang was selected as the Jeollabuk-do Monument No. 65. In 2001, a park celebrating literature and poetry was constructed at the site of the grave. In 2011, the Buan Administrative Office planned a project to build a theme-based park honoring the poet Maechang. In 2013 the plan for the park was completed and construction began. In 2019 an larger park enveloping Maechang Park, the Maechang Theme Hall and Plaza were completed, serving as Buan’s main cultural space.
- Composition
- Maechang Park contains the graves of Lee Maechang and Lee Jung-seon in addition to a number of monuments featuring well-known poems by Maechang throughout the park. There are also poems by Yu Hi-gyeong that were sent to Maechang, an obituary poem on the death of Maechang written by Heo Gyun, and numerous poems to mark Maechang’s untimely death or her literary accomplishments written by the literary figures Lee Byeong-gi, Jeong Bi-seok, Song Su-won and Kim Min-seong. Opened in 2018, the Maechang Theme Hall is a two-storied hanok building, which includes an exhibition hall on Maechang’s life and the Experiential Hanbok Program Room on the first floor, and seminar rooms and audiovisual rooms situated on the second floor. The signboard of the Maechang Theme Hall is inscribed with the phrase: “When flower petals rain on the window overlooking plum blossoms in full bloom, we long for each other in this house (梅窓花雨相憶齋).”
- Current Status
- Maechang Park is where Maechang Cultural Festival has been held annually since 2001. Every April 5 according to the lunar calendar, members of the Bupulyulhoe Society organize a rite to pay their respect to Maechang. Besides Maechang Park, Buan-gun offers a number of inspirational sites emphasizing Korean literature, such as the Seokjeong Literary Hall, Seorim Park and Buan Dam Literary Park, where monuments inscribed with poetry can inspire visitors and peak their curiosity.