Dangsan in Sanae-ri

A dangsan is an object venerated in folk belief as the dwelling place of a guardian spirit. Four dangsan stones are handed down in Dangsan village: one, the "Son Dangsan", stands at the entrance to the village, and some 10-odd metres further in, along a path on a paddy-field embankment to the right, the "Mother Dangsan", "Father Dangsan" and "Daughter-in-law Dangsan" stand in a line running north to south, each spaced about 50 m apart. The Mother Dangsan and Father Dangsan wear a hat-like capstone, while the Son and Daughter-in-law Dangsan have no such capstone and stand almost buried in the ground. The Father Dangsan is 160 cm high, 128 cm in circumference, with a hat circumference of 173 cm; the Mother Dangsan is 124 cm high, 115 cm in circumference, with a hat circumference of 257 cm. The dangsan rite here is said to have been held since the time of King Seongjong or King Seonjo of Joseon. Tradition holds that twelve dangsan were originally venerated, until one day a spirit appeared in a village elder's dream and instructed that rites be offered to only four of them, and so only these four have been venerated ever since. It is not known when the dangsan stones were erected, but unlike dangsan elsewhere, they form a family group including both parents, making this a distinctive example.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gochang, Jeonbuk

Designation

Provincial Folklore Heritage · 시도민속문화유산