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Location298-2, Gyodong 2-gil Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryCultural Heritage / Tangible Cultural Heritage
- Korean서외리 당간지주
- Chinese西外里幢竿支柱
- Nickname부안 서외리 당간지주|짐대 할머니
- FieldReligion / Buddhism
- Contents TypeHistoric Site / Historic Site (General)
- Current Location298-2, Gyodong 2-gil Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- Flagpole Supports dating back to the late Joseon Period in Seooe-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Summary
- In general, flagpole supports (dangganjiju) stand at the entrance to a temple to support danggan (flagpoles), which are used to hoist flags(dang) during a Buddhist ceremony or event at a temple. Flagpoles are made of iron, wood, or stone, and two stone columns, which support these flagpoles on the both sides, are called dangganjiju (flagpole supports). The Flagpole Supports in Seooe-ri were built to hoist flags during a sacrificial rite, which was held to avert evils and protect the village of Seooe-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun. Unlike the original purpose of flagpoles used for a temple’s event, such a custom was established by combining with folk beliefs from the Unified Silla to Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. Villagers are said to have hoisted a flag at this structure when holding a sacrificial rite for deceased ancestors on lunar January 15 (Full Moon Day) or when they feared that something bad might happen in the village. At some point in the past, villagers in Seooe-ri started hoisting a flag at this structure when holding dangsanje (a sacrificial rite held for the village guardian deity) for Jimdae Halmeoni (Grandma).
- Background of Construction
- The lower part of supports contains engraved Chinese characters to the effect that the structure was set up in 1671 (12th year of King Hyeonjong’s reign). It is said that villagers hoisted the flags up the poles and held a sacrificial rite on lunar January 15 (Full Moon Day) when bad fortune or disaster was expected in the village.
- Location
- Flagpole Supports in Seooe-ri are located at 298-2 Seooe-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun, which is behind the area of 8, Seomun-ro, Buan-eup, Buan-gun in the northern direction and about 170m eastward from Buanhyanggyo Local Confucian School.
- Forms
- Flagpole Supports in Seooe-ri were set up on the square stone platform, with danggan set up between the two columns. Danggan features a unique shape, with a few pieces of round granite bound with metal strap. At present, it is 745 ㎝ tall, but the top is gone. The top of flagpole supports was rounded and is supported by the solid stone platform. About 3.5 m from the ground, the column displays has tortoises engraved. Two of them appear to go up, with the third appearing to go down. The shape of a dragon is also engraved in relief carving. The shape of a dragon engraved on flagpole supports is a rare case.
The Chinese characters engraved on the stone column display the year 1671, supposedly the year when the structure was set up, and the names of people.
- Current Status
- The two-tiered stone platform of the structure was repaired, with the original one not visible. A stone material, which would have been used as the roof of stone stupa, is placed next to flagpole supports. Flagpole Supports in Seooe-riu were designated as Jeollabuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 59 in September 27, 1974 and are managed by the department of culture and tourism of Buan County Office.
- Historical Significance
- Flagpole Supports in Seooe-ri are an example of a structure set up in a village as a sign of folk belief associated with Buddhism. This is a unique one on which tortoises and dragons are depicted.
- See Also