Hwangsanseong Fortress

Hwangsanseong Fortress is a temoe-sik (hilltop-encircling) mountain fortress built along the rugged ridge of Hamjibong Peak, 264 m above sea level, which commands a sweeping view of the Yeonsan area. Its walls follow the contour lines of the terrain, and the steep natural slope on the north side was used as it was to increase the efficiency of construction. The circumference of the walls is currently confirmed at about 870 m, and the surviving wall height is about 2 m on the west side and 1.8 m on the east. The walls were built from naturally split stones using a small cornered-coursing method, with a structure in which both the inner and outer faces were stone-built in some sections, while in others only the outer face was faced with stone. Gate sites have been identified on the east, west, south and north sides of the fortress, and the broad flat ground on the northern peak is presumed to be the site of a jangdae, a command platform for military command. The "Fortifications" entry for Yeonsan-hyeon in the Sinjeung Dongguk yeoji seungnam (New Augmented Survey of the Geography of Korea) records that "the fortress wall measures 1,740 cheok (527 m) in circumference and 12 cheok (3.7 m) in height, and within the fortress there was one well and a military granary." Inside the fortress, Baekje tripod earthenware vessels, known as samjokgi, have been found along with roof tiles bearing inscriptions from the Goryeo and Joseon periods; in particular, the phrase "Daean Year 1" stamped on one tile corresponds to 1209, the fifth year of King Huijong of Goryeo, showing that the fortress was used over a long period spanning Baekje, Goryeo and Joseon. The fortress is presumed to have been built during the Baekje period, from the Ungjin era to the Sabi era, and together with the surrounding tomb clusters it has also been linked to the Battle of Hwangsanbeol at the end of the Baekje period. It is also situated in a straight line with Noseongsanseong Fortress to the northwest of Nonsan, suggesting that it is highly likely to have functioned as a strategic point in the defence system of Sabiseong, and records survive showing that a military granary continued to operate there into the early Joseon period. Hwangsanseong Fortress is an important cultural heritage site that shows both the technique of building fortifications by making use of the natural terrain and the historical transformation of a regional defensive stronghold from Baekje through Goryeo to Joseon.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Nonsan, Chungnam

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물