Chunghyo-dong Memorial Gate Stele Pavilion

This stele and its pavilion were erected by the state in front of the village to honour the loyalty, integrity and filial devotion of Kim Deok-ryeong (1567-1596), who served as a righteous army commander during the Japanese invasions of Korea, together with his wife Lady Yi of Heungyang, his elder brother Kim Deok-hong (1558-1592) and his younger brother Kim Deok-bo (1571-1596). When his elder brother was killed in the Battle of Geumsan while fighting under the command of Go Gyeong-myeong, Kim Deok-ryeong raised a righteous army even while still in mourning, and fought at Jinhae, Goseong and elsewhere to block the Japanese advance into Jeolla Province. He was, however, falsely implicated in the rebellion of Yi Mong-hak and died in prison after twenty days of brutal torture. His wife, Lady Yi, took refuge on Chuwolsan Mountain during the Jeongyu War of 1597, the second Japanese invasion, but was pursued by Japanese troops and died a martyr's death. His younger brother, having lost both his elder brothers, briefly held the post of tomb custodian at Jangneung Royal Tomb after the war before declining further office and living in seclusion. The stele was erected in 1789, the thirteenth year of King Jeongjo, and stands 220cm high and 68cm wide, with a pavilion set above it. The pavilion measures three kan across the front and one kan to the side, and its roof, seen from the side, forms the shape of the character 人 (person), a gable roof enclosed within a triple gate and a surrounding wall. Notably, the back of the stele bears not only words of praise for the loyalty, valour and filial piety of General Kim's family but also records that the king himself devised and bestowed the village's name, Chunghyo-ji-ri, meaning "Village of Loyalty and Filial Piety."

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Buk-gu, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물