Maechang Theme Hall
Frontal view of Maechang Memorial HallThis is the frontal view of Maechang Memorial Hall in Seooe-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun. Maechang Memorial Hall was built at Maechang Park in order to commemorateYi Mae-chang, a prominent gisaeng of the Joseon Dynasty who was good at composing poetry and playing geomungo. It was opened on May 1, 2019.
Signboard of Maechang Theme HallThis photo shows the ceremony of hanging the signboard of Maechang Theme Hall held on April 10, 2018.
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Location25, Maechang 1-gil Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTour/ Cultural Facilities
- Korean매창 테마관
- Chinese梅窓-館
- FieldOral Tradition, Language and Literature / Literature
- Contents TypePlace Name / Facility
- Established Location25, Maechang 1-gil Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Current Location25, Maechang 1-gil Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- The Maechang Theme Hall in commemoration of the poet Lee Maechang located in Seooi-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun , Jeollabuk-do
- Summary
- The theme hall was built inside Maechang Park to commemorate the life of Lee Maechang (李梅窓, 1573~1610), a noted female entertainer who achieved excellence in poetry and the geomungo musical instrument during the Joseon dynasty. Maechang was the Joseon dynasty’s top three female literary figures alongside Hwang Jin-i (黃眞伊 and Heo Nanseolheon (許蘭雪軒).
- Background of Construction
- Lee Maechang was a female poet who lived during the reign of King Seonjo in the Joseon dynasty. She was the only a “gisaeng” who wrote under the self-ascribed penname “Maechang”. Her birthname was Gye-saeng (癸生, 桂生) or Hyang-geum (香今), and her married name Cheon-hyang (天香). 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, especially playing the geomungo. She died at 38 in 1610, or the second year under the reign of Prince Gwanghae, and was buried with her musical instrument in Orihyeon [presently Seooi-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun]. Orihyeon was better known as “Maechang-ttem” where Maechang was laid to rest. After 45 years since her death in 1655, or the sixth year under the reign of Kong Hyojong, a tombstone was erected for her. This was a noteworthy occasion for a gisaeng at the time. 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 outstanding 58 poems. Only three volumes of the collection remain today, two of which are owned by the Kansong Art Museum and the third by the Harvard University Library. In 1956, the Korean poet Sin Seok-jeong (辛夕汀) from Buan-gun published the very first translated edition of “Maechang Collection.” Maechang’s most famous poem “When Plum Blossoms Rain Down on Us” was inscribed onto monuments in Seorim Park and Maechang Park.
- Development
- The Buan Cultural Center was the first to show keen interest in researching Maechang and collecting materials by her. Since May 28, 1987, the Buan Cultural Center in Buan-gun has been making efforts to discover, promote and develop the history, tradition and culture of Buan-gun. The entity aims to develop local culture by promoting cultural exchanges, organizing various cultural events and community-based education. The Maechang Theme Hall used to be located at 89 Maechang-ro, Buan-eup, Buan-gun, on the grounds of Maechang Park, but afterward it was expanded into the brand-new hall on January 31, 2019. The poet Maechang was known to have earned her excellent reputation through her friendship with outstanding literary figures, notably Heo Gyun (許筠), 1569~1618) who authored “Biography of Hong Gil Dong”, Yi Gwi (李貴, 1557~1633), also known as Mukjae (黙齋), the loyal subject behind King Injo’s restoration, and Yu Hi-gyeong (劉希慶, 1545~1636), the rags-to-riches famed scholar, also known as Choneun (村隱). The Maechang Theme Hall was constructed to conserve and disseminate the accomplishments and life of the poet Maechang. On the grounds of Maechang Park, the Maechang Theme Park is now Buan’s main cultural and sports center followed by the Buan Cultural Center and Yu Hi-gyeong Plaza.
- Composition
- Measuring 595.04 ㎡ in total area, the Maechang Theme Hall is a two-storied hanok-style building. The first floor features an exhibition hall displaying items related to Maechang, and the second floor, the Experience Hanbok Program Room, seminar rooms and audiovisual rooms.
- Current Status
- The Maechang Theme Hall officially opened on April 10, 2018. The opening ceremony was attended by over 300 Buan citizens and prominent local cultural figures to observe the installation of the signboard. The Park was built to celebrate and promote the deeds by the Joseon dynasty female poet Lee Maechang through exposure to culture, first-hand experience, the arts, poetry and gugak traditional folk music. With the synergy of local economic activity and tourism cultural assets leveraging storytelling content about Maechang, the park now serves as the springboard for the advancement of Buan’s creation of historical and cultural content. On the grounds of Maechang Park are the grave of Lee Maechang, selected as the Jeollabuk-do Monument No. 65, and the monument featuring poems by Maechang as well as the grave of Lee Jung-seon, an accomplished female musician. The site was expanded to 24,300㎡ from October 2014 and rebuilt into the brand-new Maechang Park in 2016. In addition, the new park marks the theme of love in songs sung by the Joseon dynasty female entertainer Lee Maechang and the poet Yu Hi-gyeong. On-site facilities include the Love Plaza, Maechang Plaza, Yu Hi-gyeong Madang, Heo Gyun Madang, and the Maechang Theme Hall. Coupled with the Seokjeong Cultural Theme Park close by, the park and its theme hall have been acclaimed as major centers to celebrate and promote Korean literature and the arts, elevating Buan among the most attractive counties in Korea.