King Seonjo Sajemun Gate Stele, Jinju

This stele stands within Doganseodang, in Sangdae-dong, Jinju. It was erected to console the spirit of Choe Yeong-gyeong, pen name Suudang (1529-1590), who died unjustly after being implicated in the treason case of Jeong Yeo-rip; King Seonjo composed a eulogy for him, and this eulogy was carved on stone and erected as a stele. The stele stands facing south, 3 m southeast of the eastern eaves of Dogang Seowon, and measures 70 cm wide, 172 cm high and 20 cm thick. One metre in front of it stands a spirit-path stele about 5 m high, erected recently. This stele was originally erected in 1821 in the courtyard of Deokcheon Seowon, at the same time as a stele bearing King Jeongjo's eulogy for Nammyeong Jo Sik (1501-1572) was erected. In 1796, King Jeongjo personally composed a eulogy in memory of the learning and virtue of Nammyeong Jo Sik, and this led scholars of the Gangu region to greatly revive the literary tradition that had declined since the Injo Restoration of 1623 and the Musin Rebellion of 1728. It is said that until 1902 the courtyard of Deokcheon Seowon held both the stele bearing King Jeongjo's eulogy for Nammyeong Jo Sik and the stele bearing King Seonjo's eulogy for Suudang Choe Yeong-gyeong, standing to the east and west respectively. Today, however, the stele for Nammyeong's eulogy by King Jeongjo has disappeared, while the stele for Suudang Choe Yeong-gyeong's eulogy by King Seonjo has been moved to this Doganseodang and preserved to the present. It is rare for a king to personally compose a eulogy and have it erected as a stele, and this inscription is an important resource, carrying with it the historical background of the revival of the region's declining literary tradition at the time.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jinju, Gyeongnam

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산