Dol Hareubang Stone Statues

Also called useokmok, museokmok or beoksumeori, these stone statues were originally erected at the castle-gate entrances of Jeju-mok, Jeongui-hyeon and Daejeong-hyeon. They are now scattered across sites such as the Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum, Jeju University, Jeju City Hall, Jeju International Airport, Samseonghyeol and Gwandeokjeong, with 21 statues in Jeju city, 12 in Seongeup, and 12 across Inseong, Anseong and Boseong in Daejeong, forty-five in all. In form, the statues typically wear a broad-brimmed bungeoji-style hat, with large, glaring bell-like eyes, a big fist-like nose and tightly closed lips, both hands placed solemnly below the belly. Their average height is 187 cm in Jeju, 141 cm in Seongeup and 134 cm in Daejeong, and they are presumed to have been made around the 30th year of King Yeongjo's reign (1754). Set up in front of castle gates, the statues are thought to have served guardian, magico-religious and boundary-marking functions similar to those of the jangseung guardian posts found on the mainland. Today, Dol Hareubang are well known both in Korea and abroad as a symbol of Jeju Island, and remain a valued piece of folklore cherished by people worldwide. The name "Dol Hareubang" itself is a relatively recent coinage; the original names were useokmok, museokmok, beoksumeori and others.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jeju City, Jeju

Designation

Provincial Folklore Heritage · 시도민속문화유산