Supyogyo Bridge

This stone bridge stands at the entrance to Jangchungdan Park. It originally stood at Cheonggyecheon 2-ga but was moved to its present location in 1959 during the covering-over of Cheonggyecheon Stream. Built by fitting together granite blocks, the bridge is unusual in having its stone piers arranged in two tiers; the stones of the upper tier have their corners turned to face the flow of the water, reducing resistance to the current. The parapets are decorated with a design based on lotus buds and leaves, and the carving is very beautiful. The bridge was built in 1420, the second year of King Sejong of Joseon; at the time there was a cattle market nearby, so it was called "Majeon-gyo." In 1441, the 23rd year of King Sejong, a supyo (a water-level gauge; Treasure No. 838) was erected beside the bridge to measure the water level of Cheonggyecheon Stream and provide warning of floods. When the bridge was repaired in 1760, the 36th year of King Yeongjo, the characters 庚 (gyeong), 辰 (jin), 地 (ji) and 平 (pyeong) were carved on the stone pillar to mark four stages of water level. From this came the term "sujungjuseokpyo" (water-gauge stone marker), and the bridge came to be called "Supyogyo." As a crossing over the stream and also as a gauge for measuring water volume to control flooding, it was an important bridge that was repaired many times over the roughly five hundred years of the Joseon dynasty. The supyo that stood beside the bridge was moved together with it, and in 1973 it was relocated to the King Sejong the Great Memorial Hall, where it is kept today.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jung-gu, Seoul

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산