Byeokgolje Reservoir, Gimje

This is the oldest and finest ancient reservoir first built in Korea. The Samguk sagi records that in 330, the 21st year of King Heulhae of Silla, "Byeokgolje was first made, with a circumference of 1,800 bo." However, at that time this region was not Silla territory but Baekje territory, so it is highly likely that the date was later altered to make it appear as though Silla had built it. It should therefore actually be regarded as having been built in 330, the 27th year of King Biryu, the 11th ruler of Baekje. It was subsequently rebuilt in 790, the sixth year of King Wonseong of Silla, and again under King Hyeonjong and in 1143, the 21st year of King Injong, of Goryeo, before being rebuilt once more in 1415, the 15th year of King Taejong of Joseon. In the end, however, it was said to bring more harm than good and was abandoned. At the site today, about 3km of embankment remains in a straight line. In 1925 the Dongjin Land Improvement Association altered the embankment for use as a channel supplying water for farming, and as a result it lost much of its original form. At the northern end of the embankment stands a monument erected in the Joseon period to commemorate the rebuilding of Byeokgolje, but it is now so worn that the inscription is difficult to read. In 1975, excavations were carried out at two sites where sluice gates that had once controlled the volume of water in the reservoir had stood, revealing that the construction had been a large-scale project employing a highly advanced level of surveying technology. Byeokgolje is significant not simply as Korea's first reservoir, but also as a site that provides a landmark fact in the history of Korean science and technology, demonstrating that civil engineering technology had already developed to a degree advanced enough to make the construction of such a reservoir possible at the time. Note: the name was changed from Gimje Byeokgolje-bi mit Jebang to Byeokgolje Reservoir, Gimje (announced 28 July 2011).

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gimje, Jeonbuk

Designation

Historic Site · 사적