Village Guardians of Seocheon-ri, Namwon

The Dangsan of Seocheon-ri, Namwon consists of a sacred village tree (dangsan-namu), Stone Jangseung Guardian Posts (beoksu), and Sotdae Poles, and is worshipped as the village's guardian deity. The Seocheon-ri dangsan, a male-and-female pair, stand facing each other about 500 metres west of Unbong Elementary School, with a sacred village tree nearby. Erecting Jangseung Guardian Posts and Sotdae Poles together and holding rites before them is a form of dangsan (village guardian) worship that survives in the Jeolla region; it appears that a sotdae pole was originally erected here as well, but the one that once stood in the centre of the village has since disappeared, leaving only traces. The stone jangseung are said to have been erected to defend a topographically weak point of the village and to suppress the west; the inscriptions "Bangeo Daejanggun" (Defending Great General) and "Jinseo Daejanggun" (General who Guards the West) are carved on their bodies respectively. Bangeo Daejanggun, the male beoksu, wears a hat and has bulging round eyes, a fist-shaped nose, and canine teeth extending straight downward; it has a beard carved on its chest and, unusually, no ears. Jinseo Daejanggun, the female beoksu, wears a stone hat shaped like a low, round felt cap and has round eyes, a fist-shaped nose, and ears; a feature rarely found on other female beoksu is that its eyelashes are deeply carved. The two stone jangseung appear to have been made by different hands, as the style of the hats and the carving technique differ between them. According to oral tradition, the pair once quarrelled as husband and wife, breaking off Jinseo Daejanggun's neck, which the villagers then repaired. Every year, on the night of the first day of the second lunar month, a rite is held at the sacred tree for the peace of the village, followed by a simple rite before the stone jangseung. The exact date of the Seocheon-ri dangsan's creation is not known, but it is highly valuable as an example of folk belief that has preserved its old appearance well.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Namwon, Jeonbuk

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산