Stone Guardian Posts of Unheungsa Temple, Naju

These are a pair of stone jangseung, male and female, standing at the entrance to Unheungsa Temple in Naju. Jangseung erected in front of a temple, known as temple guardian posts, function as guardian deities that ward off impurity within the temple grounds and prevent the entry of evil spirits. Stone jangseung are usually carved with a fearsome yet benevolent expression, and they can also mark the boundary of the temple. The stone jangseung of Unheungsa Temple stand facing each other in a field about 500 metres from the temple, the male post on the left and the female post on the right. The male jangseung is a huge figure, 270 cm tall and 192 cm in circumference, with large round eyes, a blunt nose and protruding canine teeth, yet with the kindly face of an elderly man. It wears a headdress and has a moustache in the shape of the character 八 below the chin, and the name "Sangwon Jujanggun" (上元周將軍) is carved on its body. The female jangseung has a smiling, unaffected expression. Its round eyes are marked with deep lines, and the fine whiskers around the mouth and its protruding jaw are striking. The name "Hawon Dangjanggun" (下元唐將軍) is carved on its body. Serving to guard the temple, the exact date of production of the stone jangseung of Unheungsa Temple is known from an inscription on the back of the female jangseung recording the year 1719, the forty-fifth year of King Sukjong.

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Where it is

Region

Naju, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산