Baeksanseong Fortress, Buan
Apex of Baeksanseong Fortress, BuanThe apex of Baeksanseong Fortress atop Baeksan Mountain. Surrounding the highest peak standing 47.4 meters above sea level, the fortress comes with multiple layers of defensive facilities in the style of the Proto-Three Kingdoms and Three Kingdoms periods. The fortress is designated as Historic Site No. 409.
Panoramic View of Baeksanseong Fortress, Buan and the Dongjingang River Baeksanseong Fortress on Baeksan Mountain in Yonggye-ri, Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun was built along the natural topography of the mountain peak. The fortress is oval-shaped when aerially viewed. Next to Baeksan Mountain is the rushing Dongjingang River.
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LocationSan 8-1, Yonggye-ri, Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryCultural Heritage / Tangible Cultural Heritage
- Korean부안 백산성
- Chinese扶安白山城
- Nickname백산토성|백산성지
- FieldHistory / Premodern
- Contents TypeHistoric Site / Historic Site (General)
- Current LocationSan 8-1, Yonggye-ri, Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- A fortress dating to sometime between the Proto–Three Kingdoms Period and the Three Kingdoms Period, located at Baeksan Mountain in Yonggye-ri, Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
- Summary
- Built on the top of Baeksan Mountain(47.4m) sometime between the Proto–Three Kingdoms and Three Kingdoms periods, Baeksanseong Fortress consists of multiple layers of walls.
- Background of Construction
- Although there is no direct record about Baeksanseong Fortress, the section titled Tenji Tennno Ki in the Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan) states that “Buyeopung went to Baekchon and received Japan’s reinforcements” and “Baekchon” is thought to be “Baeksan.” In addition, the area is known as the “Birthplace of the Donghak Peasant Revolution” where the Donghak army of peasants, their banners flying in the breeze, started a revolution in 1894 (the 31st year of the reign of King Gojong), as the Donghak army’s military headquarters was located in Baeksan Mountain, which was a strategically favorable location for both offensive and defensive purposes. It is said that at that time there were so many people on the mountain that it appeared to be entirely covered by the peasants’ white clothes when they were standing, and that it bristled with bamboo spears when they were sitting. According to an investigation of the surface of the site in 1965, Baeksanseong Fortress was reported to be an earthen fortification consisting of upper and outer walls, and various artifacts such as plain coarse pottery and Baekje pottery fragments were discovered. However, the results of a more recent excavation and investigation have shown that Baeksanseong Fortress had stone surrounding walls, and was not a simple earthen fortification.
- Location
- Baeksanseong Fortress, Buan is located at Baeksan in the village of Yonggye, Baeksan-myeon, Buan-gun. Its entrance is located about 400 meters north of the Baeksan intersection, which can be reached by driving towards Buan along National Roads No. 29 and No. 30 (which connect Shintaein-eup of Jeongeup City and Buan County), and then crossing the Gunpogyo Bridge over the Dongjingang River. The Donghak Peasant Revolution Monument and Pavilion are situated on the western plain, some 700 meters from the entrance to the fortress. As the fortress is located on the western bank of the Dongjingang River, it commands an open view of the surrounding landscape, including the wide plain, even though Baeksan is only a small hill.
- Forms
- According to the Investigation Report on Jeollabuk-do’s Ancient Fortresses, which was published in 2003 based on the findings of the investigation conducted in the 1960s, the geographical and architectural features of Baeksanseong Fortress, which stands on a low but prominent hill, are as follows: it exhibits the shape of a cocoon; its major axis faces southeast 135˚ and measures 120 meters in length and up to 60 meters in width; its wall encircles the hilltop stands on an earthen platform which measures up to 25 meters in width, 80 meters in length, and 3 meters in height and has a circumference of 181.5 meters; and it has another peak-encircling wall in the middle, with a circumference of 506 meters.
As for the earthen platform of the southern wall, which is connected to an earthen fortification on the southern ridge, it is not clear. However, the most recent excavation-investigation identified a four-layered ditch enclosure around the top of Baeksan Mountain. Therefore, it appears that Baeksanseong Fortress is a peak-encircling type of fortress with an oval perimeter.
- Current Status
- Baeksanseong Fortress is located on Baeksan, a small hill (47.4m) with a nonetheless commanding view of the surrounding plains. The fortress encircles the peak, and is believed to have a circumference of 1,064 meters, while its major axis measures 358 meters in length and 230 meters in width. So far, three excavations and investigations have been conducted, resulting in the discovery and identification of diverse artifacts, as well as pillar holes and a geological stratum of the Bronze Age, nineteen housing relics of the Proto–Three Kingdoms Period, and four banding facilities dating to sometime between the Proto–Three Kingdoms and Three Kingdoms Periods. The excavated artifacts include fragments of flake tools from the Old Stone Age, fragments of plain coarse pottery from the Bronze Age, fragments of round clay rim pottery from the early Iron Age, and fragments of soft clay pottery with handle and an earthenware steamer from the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period. Certain artifacts, such as a bowl, pottery vessel with spout, jar, earthenware with long oval body, and earthenware steamer, were found in the housing area, while fragments of dishes and mounted dish pottery were excavated from the ditch enclosure.
The housing site’s plane types are varied, including round, non-angular, rectangular or square, and internal housing facilities such as pillar holes and ditch were found. The ditch enclosure, situated southwest of the fortress, consists of four layers of ditches. The u-shaped ditch is 0.8 to 6.6 meters wide and 0.5 to 0.67 meters deep.
So far, a housing site and a ditch enclosure have been discovered at Baeksanseong Fortress. The ditch enclosure appears to have been a defensive facility dating back to prehistoric times, i.e. before the appearance of stone and earthenware fortifications, and may have been closely associated with an early political body. As it envelops the housing site built on the top of the hill, it is assumed that the ditch enclosure was built to protect the dwelling site from flooding and to defend it against attackers.
- Historical Significance
- Baeksanseong Fortress in Buan was designated as Historic Site No. 409 on September 17, 1998 in recognition of its status as the birthplace of the Donghak Peasant Revolution. It is also a major site containing diverse types of artifacts, a geological stratum dating from the Old Stone Age, pillar holes from the Bronze Age, and a ditch enclosure and housing site dating to sometime between the Proto–Three Kingdoms and Three Kingdoms Periods. These artifacts are extremely important as they shed light on various aspects of the everyday life and defensive practices of the pre-historic and historic eras.
- See Also