Master Yeonggyu Stele

This stele was erected to commemorate the patriotic spirit of Master Yeonggyu, who was the first to raise an army of monk soldiers during the Japanese invasions of 1592–98, providing the impetus for monk soldiers to rise up across the country. Master Yeonggyu (?–1592) was a disciple of Master Seosan, Hyujeong. Unable to contain his anger at the Japanese invasion and plunder, he became a monk-soldier commander of his own accord. Gathering several hundred monk soldiers, he recovered Cheongju fortress together with government troops, and then joined the righteous-army commander Jo Heon in the battle of Yeongonpyeong at Geumsan Mountain, where he was gravely wounded and died. The inscription states that the stele was erected in 1693, the nineteenth year of King Sukjong, but considering the lifetimes of Yi Deok-yun, Yu Jung, the monk Gakchong, and Bak Gyeong-tae, who took part in erecting it, it is thought to have actually been built in 1813, the thirteenth year of King Sunjo.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gongju, Chungnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료