Chongjisa Epitaph Tablet Jangseung Guardian Posts

These are two stone jangseung (guardian posts) standing side by side at the entrance to the site of Chongjisa Temple. In addition to marking the boundaries of the temple grounds, they served as guardian deities announcing the prohibition of hunting and fishing within the temple precincts and warding off evil spirits. Carved from huge granite boulders left as natural as possible, each post has an unadorned bald head and forehead, large bulging eyes, a prominent fist-like nose and a small mouth. The two posts look almost identical, but the male post has an additional carved moustache. In front of each post stands a broad, flat stone altar, though no rituals associated with the posts have been handed down; it is said that elderly women come at any time to pray for their wishes there. They are presumed to have been erected together when the present Chongjisa Temple was rebuilt in the seventh year of King Hyeonjong of Joseon, 1666.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Muan, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Folklore Heritage · 시도민속문화유산