Stone Guardian Post of Namgye-ri, Sunchang

This stone guardian post (seokjangseung) once stood in Namgye-ri, Sunchang-eup, and appears originally to have been erected as a pair. Only the front face of a large natural stone was carved to make the Namgye-ri stone guardian post. It has an overall plump, heavy appearance, with narrow eyes drawn out at a slant, a thin, damaged nose, a small mouth and a tongue playfully stuck out a little. The round dots carved on the forehead and both cheeks recall the dots of rouge applied by women to their forehead and cheeks, which has led some to regard it as a female guardian post. As with the dol hareubang stone figures of Jeju Island, the hands are shown with the fingers clearly rendered. This is unusual, since jangseung guardian posts usually depict only the face, whereas here the fingers and other details are carved realistically. The exact date when the Namgye-ri stone guardian post was made is not known, but it is a piece of folk heritage that, unbound by fixed conventions, vividly expresses an earthy, popular character. The stone guardian post that once stood in Namgye-ri, Sunchang-eup was relocated in December 2004, together with the Stone Guardian Post of Chungsin-ri, Sunchang (also a National Folk Heritage), to the rear garden of the Sunchang Culture Hall beside the road between Sunchang and Namwon.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Sunchang, Jeonbuk

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산