Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex

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Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex (Korean: ) is a reconstruction of a former village Cheongpung in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. The original village was submerged after the construction of Chungju Dam on a ridge above Chungju Lake. A recreation of a Korean folk village by SBS for several television series called Jecheon Village is also co-located on the complex site. This complex is a reconstruction of the village of Cheongpung that became submerged with the completion of Chungju Dam in 1985. Starting in 1980 the area was surveyed to document the cultural relics. In 1981 and 1982 48 sites (5 Buddhist-related, 10 historical and 33 archeological) were excavated. By the end of 1983 many of the original and unique buildings that included five of the ancient office buildings, Handeok-ru Pavilion, Cheongpung Hanggyo Confucian school and four traditional houses were relocated to the complex site. Additionally, several Buddhist images and stone monuments were excavated and relocated to the complex. Great care was given during the relocation to restore these properties to their original configurations and orientations. It took three years to relocate the structures at the current site at a cost of over 1.6 trillion won. The Cheongpung Cultural Properties Complex occupies 85,000-pyeong/280,993-sq meters/0.97648 sq miles. During the Prehistoric Age, fertile lands and scenic landscapes attracted many tribal communities to develop along the basin of the Namhan River. During the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE - 668 CE), Cheongpung, and the upstream area of the Namhan River in particular, was a major ancient community under control of the Silla dynasty. The area became hotly contested between the Goguryeo and Silla dynasties. During the Goryeo period (918–1392), Cheongpung became the seat of the local magistrate's office and was administrated under Chungju County. During the Joseon period (1392–1910), Cheongpung because of its strategic location for Namhan River transportation remained a major local office location. Gumnam-nu (pavilion) is a gate tower built in 1825 by magistrate Jo Gil-won during the reign of King Sunjo during the Joseon period. In 1870 the pavilion was renovated by magistrate Yi Jik-hyeon. Gumnam-nu is constructed with three bays in the front and two bays on the side elevations. The structure has two stories with a half-gabled, half-hipped roof. The pavilion was made using a double wing-like bracket structure. Wooden tiles are arranged in a well pattern on the ground floor and its rimmed with a patterned handrail. The original builder Jo Gil-won did the calligraphy on its signboard. Designated North Chungcheong Province Tangible Cultural Property #20 Geumbyeong-heon (hall) was built by magistrate Do-il in 1681 during the reign of King Sukjong of the Joseon period. Geumbyeong-heon was originally called Myeong-wolcheong. In 1726 another magistrate, Bak Pilmun, relocated and renamed the hall Geumbyeong-heon. Geumbyeong-heon has a wooden floor with an area of 132 sq meters/157.8 sq yards. The hall has six bays in the front and three on the sides with a half-gabled and half-hipped roof. Gwon Don-in did the calligraphy on the signboard. Designated North Chungcheong Province Tangible Cultural Property #34

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.