Forest of Common Camellias at Seonunsa Temple, Gochang

The camellia is a tree of the tea family, found in warm regions of Korea, Japan, China and elsewhere; in Korea it grows along the southern coast and on islands. Its flowers, which bloom in early spring, are very beautiful, and depending on the flowering season the tree is called chunbaek (春栢, spring camellia), chubaek (秋栢, autumn camellia) or dongbaek (冬栢, winter camellia). The camellia forest at Samin-ri, Gochang, was created after Seonunsa Temple was built in 577, the 24th year of King Wideok of Baekje; the trees average about 6m in height with an average girth of 30cm at breast height. It forms a narrow band about 30m wide along the sloping hillside behind the temple. The camellia forest at Samin-ri, Gochang, creates a beautiful temple landscape, and with its cultural value as a temple forest and its biological conservation value as an old-growth camellia forest, it is designated and protected as a natural monument.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gochang, Jeonbuk

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물