False Jin Spirit-path Stele, Hamyang

A spirit-path stele (sindobi) records the lifetime achievements of a king or a high official and is erected to the southeast of his tomb; this stele commemorates the life of No Jin, a civil official of the mid-Joseon period. No Jin (1518-1578) passed the civil service examination in the first year of King Myeongjong (1548) and entered government service as a scholar of the Seungmunwon (Office of Diplomatic Documents), later serving as Minister of Rites and Minister of Personnel. He drew a clear line between public duty and private interest, and was so filial that he was chosen as one of the Cheongbaengni, officials honoured for their integrity; his writings include the Okgye Munjip (Collected Works of Okgye). The stele consists of a stele body set upon a tortoise-shaped base and capped with a capstone carved with dragons. The stele seat prepared on the tortoise's back, into which the stele body is fitted, is finely carved, and the capstone shows six dragons weaving through the clouds, competing with one another for a yeouiju, a magic wish-fulfilling jewel. The inscription was composed by Yi Jeong-gu and its calligraphy carved by Sin Ik-seong. Erected in the ninth year of King Injo (1631) using stone from the sea off Hwanghae Province granted by the king, it is a beautiful work notable for its refined carving.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hamyang, Gyeongnam

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산