Ginkgo Tree of Seongdong-ri, Gangjin

The Ginkgo Tree of Seongdong-ri, Gangjin is estimated to be about 800 years old (as of the date of designation), stands 26.5 m tall with a girth of 7.6 m at chest height, and stands at the centre of the village. Its roots extend as far as beneath the kitchens and floors of nearby houses, and near the base of the roots lies a large rock that villagers use as a resting place. According to tradition, Byeongyeong-myeon is the place where the Dutchman Hendrick Hamel and his companions stayed for about seven years (March 1656 to February 1663). Hamel recorded in his journal that while living there he saw a large, old ginkgo tree, and it is thought that this may be the very tree referred to. According to legend, an official who had come down to this area long ago made a pillow from a ginkgo branch that had broken off in a storm, and after sleeping on it fell ill. An old man then told him that if he held a rite for the ginkgo tree and reattached the pillow to it, he would recover, and when the official did as he was told, he was cured. Since then, every year around midnight on the fifteenth day of the second lunar month, the village has held a rite before the ginkgo tree praying for the peace of the village and a good harvest, a practice that continues to this day. The Ginkgo Tree of Seongdong-ri, Gangjin has lived on under the care and attention of villagers over a long span of time and holds high value as historical and cultural material. As a large and ancient tree it also has great value for biological conservation, and it is accordingly designated and protected as a Natural Monument.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gangjin, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물