Hangyesanseong Fortress, Inje

Hangyesanseong Fortress is a typical example of medieval mountain fortresses built on rugged terrain. It is divided into an upper fortress and a lower fortress: the upper fortress can be said to be the mountain fortress built in the most precipitous location remaining within present-day South Korea. The lower fortress lies relatively close to the transport route leading to Hangyeryeong Pass, and approaching it along the valley presents no great difficulty, but almost the entire course of the upper fortress runs through cliff terrain that is hard to climb. The upper fortress of Hangyesanseong was used during the period of the Mongol invasions, while the lower fortress took shape later, when military tension rose as King Gongmin of Goryeo pursued his anti-Yuan policy: Hangyesanseong Fortress, positioned at a strategic point commanding entry into the central inland region via Jinburyeong Pass, Hangyeryeong Pass and Saeiryeong Pass, was extensively rebuilt and expanded at that time. Such expansion and rebuilding of fortresses is one of the important patterns seen in medieval mountain fortress construction. In an unusual feature, Hangyesanseong Fortress has a donhu — a raised earthen watch-mound built to keep watch — constructed separately from the main fortress wall, near the point where an enemy would move or enter. It was built to monitor the enemy and to temporarily block their advance in order to conduct a delaying action, an unusual case among mountain fortresses.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Inje, Gangwon

Designation

Historic Site · 사적