Yeollyeo Miryang Bak Clan Memorial Gate Stele, Hamyang

This memorial stele records the story of Lady Bak of Miryang, wife of Im Sul-jeung, who though of commoner status was widely known as a faithful wife (yeolbu) even in neighbouring districts. While serving as magistrate of Anui, Bak Ji-won (1737–1805), known by his pen name Yeonam, turned her story into a classical Chinese novel. The text inscribed on the stele was composed by Jeong Deok-je, magistrate of Cheongha and seventh-generation descendant of Jeong Yeo-chang. Records show the stele was moved twice. It was first erected in 1797, the 21st year of King Jeongjo, four years after Bak Ji-won wrote his novel Bak Yeolbujeon in 1793, and it was then moved to its present location in 1932. This is the sole surviving work among Bak Ji-won's twelve classical Chinese novels that are based on true events. Other novels on the subject of Lady Bak, also titled Bak Yeolbujeon, were written by Yun Gwang-seok, Yi Myeon-je, Yi Hak-jeon, and the monk Eung-yun. These works are valued for analysing the same historical events from differing standpoints — the Confucian scholarly view, the view of an administrative official, and a Confucian yet existential perspective seen through Buddhism — and for this reason the stele and its associated writings hold considerable importance in the study of Korean literature.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hamyang, Gyeongnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료