Korea FDC on "Old & Historic Trees of Korea (3rd)"

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Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

South Korea

Old & Historic Trees of Korea (3rd)

Date of Issue : 5 April 2011

In the third installment of the “Old & Historic Trees of Korea” series, trees that have stories related to Seonbi (classical scholars) and thus called “Seonbi Trees” are introduced.

A group of Japanese black pines at Sancheondan, Jeju (Natural Monument No. 160)
It is said that during the tenure of King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty, Lee Yak-Dong, when starting his new post as Jeju governor, built an altar around the Japanese black pines, since the road leading to the top of Halla Mountain where religious rituals dedicated to the mountain spirit had been held was too steep. Belonging to Pinaceae, the Japanese black pine is also called sea pine since it grows near the beach. With an average height of 29.7m, the pines live about 500~600 years. Legend tells that when God came down to the human world, he took a rest near this big tree and this belief led the Japanese black pines to be regarded as being sacred and thus protected.

Ginkgo tree at Yogwang-ri, Geumsan (Natural Monument No. 84)
An ancestor of the O clan who lived in the village as the governor of Jeolla Province, built a pavilion under this ginkgo tree, and named it "the gingko tree pavilion. After the pavilion became dilapidated, the village inhabitants built a new, hexagonal pavilion called “Haengjeongheon.” This ginkgo tree is about 1,000 years old, 24m high and 12.93m in circumference. With its broken branches, the village inhabitants made dining tables and 37 coffins over 3 years.

Zelkova tree at Haksaru, Hamyang (Natural Monument No. 407)
During the tenure of King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty, Kim Jongjik, the governor of Hamyang Province, lost his 5-year old son, whom he bore after the age of 40, to measles. The following year, before he left Hamynag, he planted a zelkova, a tree with an extended lifespan, in front of Haksaru pavilion. This tree currently stands by a large road at the entrance of Hamyang Elementary School, serving as a playground for children and as a resting place for passersby. This tree is about 500 years old, 22m high and 7.3m in circumference.

Literary Rock Pine at Chukji-ri, Hadong (Natural Monument No. 491)
From ancient times, literary people have visited this tree and praised it, reciting poetry and prose under its shade. This is the reason this tree is called “Munamsong (Literary Rock Pine).” The locals organized the “Munamsong” fraternity to protect the tree. The appearance of this tree is very astonishing as it looks as if the tree is sitting on a flat rock between a large rock split into two pieces. The tree is assumed to be about 300 years old, 14m high and 3.39m in circumference.