Twin Chung Memorial Stele, Jinju

This stele was erected to honour the loyalty of General Je Mal and his nephew Je Hong-rok, who died fighting for their country during the Japanese invasions of 1592–98. When the invasions broke out, Je Mal (d. 1592) raised a militia and won distinction fighting the Japanese forces at Ungcheon, Gimhae, Uiryeong and other places, before dying in battle at Seongju. Je Hong-rok won distinction alongside his uncle and, after serving under Yi Sun-sin, died in battle during the Jeongyu War of 1597. The stele takes the form of a stele body set on a turtle-shaped base, topped with a capstone. The turtle base has no carving on its shell, and its bulging eyes give it an earthy, folk quality. The capstone is carved with a lively depiction of two intertwined dragons, heads together, each holding a wish-fulfilling jewel in its mouth, finished below with a chrysanthemum-pattern border. The inscription records the achievements of General Je Mal and Je Hong-rok. The stele was erected in the 16th year of King Jeongjo (1792), with the text composed by Seo Yu-rin, Minister of Personnel. During the Japanese colonial period the stele pavilion was torn down by the Japanese authorities and the stele left neglected, until it was moved to its present site in 1961 and a new stele pavilion was built.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jinju, Gyeongnam

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산