Sama Stele

This stele stands in the grounds of the former Naju County Office. It originally stood beside the wall of a private house in Samaegi, Gwawon-dong — a name thought to be a corruption of the sound of "Samagyo" — and was moved to its present site in 1968. When the Khitan invaded in 1011, the second year of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo, the king fled the capital Gaegyeong and took refuge in the south, staying here in Naju for over ten days. The king once crossed a bridge in a carriage drawn by four horses, and from then on the bridge was called Samagyo, meaning "Four-Horse Bridge." In the Joseon period, after a county magistrate repaired this bridge, he had a stele erected to commemorate the repair. The stele consists of a body stone raised on a low square base, topped with a capstone. The upper face of the base is carved with a lotus design, and the capstone is densely carved with cloud patterns. The name of the stele, "Samagyobi" (Stele of Samagyo Bridge), is carved horizontally across the top of the front of the body, and an inscription covers both the front and back, but it is so badly worn that it is difficult to read. The inscription shows that the stele was erected in 1653, the fourth year of King Hyojong of Joseon. Today no water flows here, and no trace of the bridge remains.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Naju, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료