Forest of Japanese Torreyas at Gaecheonsa Temple, Hwasun

The Japanese torreya (Torreya nucifera) grows south of Naejangsan Mountain in Korea, and in Japan, among other places. Prized for its beautiful shape, it is widely used as an ornamental tree, while its seeds serve as a vermifuge and a remedy for constipation, and are also pressed for oil. This forest of Japanese torreyas, located around Gaecheonsan Mountain, Cheontaesan Mountain and Gaecheonsa Temple in Hwasun, appears to have spread from torreya trees originally planted around the temple in the past. It forms a colony in excellent condition in terms of distribution area, number of trees and growth, and is of great academic value; for a slow-growing species such as the Japanese torreya, its scale and degree of development are outstanding. In particular, one torreya tree to the north of Gaecheonsa Temple is estimated to be around 400 years old, reaching 16.0 metres in height, 3.5 metres in circumference at breast height and 18.4 metres in crown width, making it an old tree of high conservation value. The Forest of Japanese Torreyas at Gaecheonsa Temple, Hwasun offers valuable insight into an aspect of everyday culture in which our forebears used torreya seeds as medicine, and its old torreya trees carry great biological value; for these reasons it is designated and protected as a Natural Monument.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hwasun, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물