Guardian Post of Yeondeung-dong, Yeosu

This is a pair of stone jangseung guardian posts standing east and west on the north side of the old road leading into Yeosu. In this region jangseung are called 'beoksu', and given their position on the road leading to the west gate in the days of Jwasuyeong, the naval garrison stationed here in the Joseon period, they appear to have served as guardian deities of the village. On the two beoksu facing each other, the eastern post is inscribed with the characters 南正重 (Namjeongjung) and the western post with 火正黎 (Hwajeongnyeo). The male beoksu in the east wears a hat and has upturned eyebrows, egg-shaped eyes, and a long, large bottle-shaped nose. The female beoksu in the west wears a short, square hat and has upturned eyebrows, large round eyes, long, full-looking ears, and a hooked nose with broad nostrils. Though the female beoksu looks fierce, its comical expression gives it an endearing, friendly quality. An inscription on the back of the posts — '戊申四月二十八日午時立' ('erected in the musin year, on the 28th day of the fourth month, at the hour of noon') — allows the date of construction to be inferred; one view holds that this corresponds to 1788, the 12th year of King Jeongjo. The Guardian Post of Yeondeung-dong, Yeosu, retains its old appearance relatively well and is highly valuable as folklore material illustrating popular religious belief.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yeosu, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

National Folklore Heritage · 국가민속문화유산