Anti-Western Stele, Namhae

A cheokhwabi is a stele erected by Heungseon Daewongun — who led Korea to victory in the French invasion of 1866 (Byeongin yangyo) and the American invasion of 1871 (Sinmi yangyo) — in Seoul and across the country, in order to reject Westerners and warn the people against their incursions; this stele is one of them. Its body is set upon a low, square base and topped with a roof stone, giving it a different appearance from other anti-Western steles; this seems to be because, when the Daewongun ordered such steles erected everywhere, the local government office here modelled its own on them but used a different style. It was erected in 1871, the eighth year of Emperor Gojong's reign, at the time such steles were set up all together; after Heungseon Daewongun was taken captive to the Russian legation and exchanges began with countries around the world, most of the steles were removed, but a few, including this one, still remain, testifying to the historical meaning they carry.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Namhae, Gyeongnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료