Autumn 2010 Vol. 3 No. 3
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Autumn 2010 Vol. 3 No. 3 Autumn 2010 Vol. 3 No. 3 ISSN 2005-0151 Quarterly Magazine of the Cultural Heritage Administration Autumn 2010 Vol. 3 No. 3 Cover White symbolizes autumn. The symbolism originates from the traditional “five direc- tional colors” based on the ancient Chi- nese thought of wu xing, or ohaeng in Ko- rean. The five colors were associated with seasons and other phenomena in nature, including the fate of humans. The cover designs features maedeup, ornate knot works. For more stories about maedeup, see p. 45. KOREAN HERITAGE is also available on the website. ( http://english.cha.go.kr ) 3 | 4 ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTE KOREAN FOLK CUSTOMS Hahoe and Yangdong Villages on World Heritage List Book Clearing The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, at its 34th session convened in Brasilia, Autumn is the season for reading. Since ancient times Brazil, decided on July 31 to place Hahoe and Yangdong, Korea’s two famous historic Koreans have believed that cool autumn nights are the villages, on the World Heritage List. The Republic of Korea thus possesses 10 World best time for “getting close to a lamp,” which means Heritage sites. “reading.” Announcing its decision for their inscription, the World Heritage Committee noted the The old custom of “book clearing” (chaek ssisi) or “book two Korean villages successfully represent the Confucian aristocratic culture and social rites” (chaek rye, or chaek geori), is rooted in Korea’s structure of the Joseon Dynasty (1392−1910), with their indigenous housing environ- time-honored tradition of placing utmost importance ment and community facilities wholly preserved and passed down to this day. The com- on education. It referred to an event marking the end of mittee also highly valued their intangible legacies, including the writings and artistic studying a book, which often was passed on to a junior. works created by local Confucian scholars during the Joseon period as well as the com- Most often, however, the highlight was a feast prepared by parents to congratulate the munal games, seasonal customs, religious rites, and family rituals marking life cycles, endeavor and to thank the teacher at the village school (seodang). which have been carefully cherished and handed down through generations. Finishing primers such as The Thousand Character Classic (Cheonjamun), The Chil- Blessed with exquisite natural scenery and their illustrious traditions stretching back dren’s First Reader (Dongmong seonseup) and The Lesser Learning (Sohak), in par- six centuries, the two ancient villages epitomize Korean culture. Their designation as ticular, was considered worthy of a big celebration. Noodles in meat broth (guksu) and World Heritage sites is especially significant as they continue to be the homes of three moon-shaped rice cakes stuffed with assorted condiments (songpyeon) were typical prominent clans − Hahoe for the Pungsan Ryu clan, and Yangdong for the Yeogang Yi delicacies at these joyful occasions. Children were praised for enduring hard lessons, and Gyeongju Son clans. sometimes getting whipped, and taught the wisdom of self-reflection, gratitude to- The Cultural Heritage Administration will try to develop the two villages as tourist at- ward their teacher, and the courage to face the unknown future. tractions for people from around the world, so they can discover the inherent aspects of Similar events still take place in Korean schools today to mark the completion of an Korean culture. At the same time, we will spare no efforts to preserve the outstanding academic year or course. universal value of these villages as legacies of human civilization and history. Yi, Kun Moo Administrator Cultural Heritage Administration Republic of Korea 5 | 6 Autumn 2010 Vol. 3 No. 3 CONTENTS 07 World Heritage in Korea 27 Photo Gallery Dolmens on the Korean Peninsula Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Key to Bronze Age Culture Ecological Haven of Global Value 11 Modern Heritage 35 Foreigner’s View Incheon and Mokpo: Modern Port Cities Modern Cultural Heritage: A Testament to History 17 Architectural Heritage 41 Documentary Heritage Confucian Academies in Korea The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat Spaces for Learning and Sage Worship Palace Journal Conveys Breath of History 23 Science for Cultural Heritage 45 Intangible Heritage Onggi Contains Ancestors’ Wisdom Fancy Craft Passed On via Fingertips Crude Stoneware for Everyday Use Traditional Korean Ornamental Knots 7 | 8 World Heritage in Korea Dolmens on the Korean Peninsula Key to Bronze Age Culture Text from World Heritage in Korea Photos by Graphickorea 2. A world map of dolmen 2 sites. It is believed that man began to inhabit the Bronze wares are excavated most often from the stone cists distributed throughout North Korean dolmens look different from those in Korean peninsula around 700,000 years ago megalithic barrows known as dolmens, or and South Korea. Some 40,000 dolmens, other regions. They are largely divided into during the Paleolithic era. With an early ag- “goindol” in Korean, which literally means or over 40 percent of all dolmens identified two types, “table” and “checkerboard,” de- ricultural society taking shape, the Bronze the “propped stone.” The dolmens are burial around the world, are in Korea. pending on their shape and position of burial Age was in full swing around 2,000–1 ,500 sites representative of the Bronze Age. They chamber. A table dolmen is built with three BC. The increasing use of bronze tools, made are archaeological remains from the early Korea Has 40 Percent of All Dolmens to four well-dressed stone slabs that are set from an alloy of copper and tin or zinc, char- stage of civilization found in natural environ- Worldwide upright to surround an above-ground burial acterized this period, when tilling and live- ments, not inside museums. Megalithic culture fully blossomed on the cist and a large flat capstone that serves as stock breeding developed into major means Dolmens are found all over the world, but are Korean peninsula, in view of the degree of the roof. The checkerboard dolmen has an of livelihood. A widespread use of bronze notably concentrated in the Northeast Asian concentration, diversity in form and scale of underground burial chamber made by erect- implements yielded surplus farm products, countries of Korea, China and Japan. Among dolmens discovered in the country. In recog- ing stone slabs or piling up broken stone which led to the emergence of power groups these countries, Korea is veritably the “king- nition of the uniqueness and rarity of Korea’s fragments. A flat capstone laid on low prop- and social classes. dom of dolmens,” with a far larger number of megalithic culture, the three dolmen sites in ping stones covers the chamber. Some dol- Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa were all in- mens, resembling the checkerboard type, scribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List have no support stones but a capstone sits 1. A famous table-type dol- men in Ganghwa Island. in 2000. directly over a chamber. The capstones vary in shape and size, weighing from scores to Dolmens were seen everywhere around Ko- hundreds of tons. Moving such heavy stone rea; they were so common that they were 3. Dolmen in different shap- blocks must have required a large workforce es in Hwasun. sometimes taken for plain rocks. Running into them while tilling the fields, farmers inadvertently removed or smashed those “troublesome rocks.” A considerable number of dolmens in Korea have been destroyed in this way. Dolmens in Gochang, Hwasun and Gang- hwa sites are in good condition, appropri- ately clustered, and diverse in style, serving as important clues to studying the formation and evolution of prehistoric megalithic struc- 1 tures. 3 World Heritage in Korea 9 | 10 but how the huge dolmens were built without table dolmens are found in northern regions mae Bawi,” meaning “stone hurling rock,” 5. Dolmen in different shap- es in Hwasun. any heavy equipment remains a mystery. of the Korean peninsula, and dolmens with is estimated to weigh some 280 tons. This is smaller or no propping stones in southern indisputably one of the largest dolmens in the To make a dolmen the first task was gather- regions, including Jeolla and Gyeongsang world. ing stones of appropriate size and shape, or provinces. Hence the former type is clas- breaking off necessary pieces from a boul- The Hwasun dolmens were not discovered sified as the “northern style” and the latter der. In order to tear off a stone piece from until 1996 and are in excellent condition ow- types the “southern style.” a rock base, a deep groove was made along ing to the undisturbed mountain environment. the grain on the rock surface and a wooden Gochang: The World’s Densest Dolmen A rock quarry has been found near the moun- 5 stake was wedged in and moistened with wa- Cluster tain top, offering a glimpse into the early ma- ter. Then as the wood swelled the rock would Samgeo-ri and Osang-ri in Gwanghwa Coun- sonry techniques and construction process of Hundreds of dolmens in varying sizes are crack off. ty, which belongs to the great Incheon metro- dolmens. found along the foot of the mountain in Mae- politan area. These dolmens are located some Stone slabs hewn in this method were moved san-ri, Gochang County, North Jeolla Prov- Monuments Worthy of Immortal Preserva- 100–200 meters above sea level, notably on on rolling logs. With propping stones erected ince. They are scattered over slopes stretch- tion higher altitudes than most dolmens around in pits, dirt was piled over the stones until ing some 1.5 kilometers from east to west. Korea. Among them is a famous, beautifully Dolmens are among the most common types a gentle-sloped dune was formed. The cap- As many as 442 dolmens have been identi- shaped dolmen in the middle of a farm field of megalithic structures.