[고향민국] Sancheongbyeolgok, Living in Sancheong Part 4 – The Land of Scholars

by times news cr

2024-07-25 22:22:16

Reporter Park Yu-mi Photo = EBS Korea Travel

This week (July 22nd – 25th) at 7:20 PM, the 4-part series ‘Sancheong Byeolgok, Living in Sancheong’ will air on EBS 1TV.

‘Sangosu-su-cheong (山高水淸)’, as the name suggests, is a place with high mountains and clear water. There are clear waters such as Gyeonghori River and Deokcheon River, and there are also good mountains such as Jirisan, Wangsan, and Hwangmaesan.

Sancheong is the home of scholars and also the home of medicinal herbs. Thanks to the deep mountains and clear waters, over 1,000 species of wild medicinal herbs grow in the mountains and fields, and the old stone walls are filled with the spirit of scholar Nammyeong Josik, a great scholar on par with Toegye Yi Hwang of the Joseon Dynasty.

South Korea’s healing travel destination, ‘Donguibogamchon’
Namsayedamchon, a Hanok village that preserves the depth of time
The mecca of hiking, ‘Jirisan Trail’
To the ‘Gyeongho River’, a waterway travel destination where you can enjoy rafting and silver fish fishing

Let’s go on a healing vacation to Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, where beautiful natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, and warm people await!

The land of Baesan Imsu, the scholarly spirit that dwells there

‘Learning without practice is a sin’

During the Joseon Dynasty, Nammyeong Josik, a master of practical Neo-Confucianism who was on par with Toegye Yi Hwang, was fond of Jiri Mountain’s Cheonwangbong Peak. In 1561, the year he turned 60, he came to Sancheong and built Sancheonjae. He spent his later years here and taught his students.

Nammyeong Josik, who valued the practice of a scholar, did not take up a government post throughout his life, but remained a hermit and devoted himself to learning and nurturing his students. Thanks to this, Nammyeong Josik produced many outstanding students. In particular, during the Imjin War, many righteous army leaders and righteous armies such as Gwak Jae-u and Jeong In-hong were produced by his students, which was due to Nammyeong Josik’s practical philosophy. His teachings have had a great impact on later generations.

If you walk in the footsteps of Nammyeong Seonsaeng, you will soon arrive at Baekundong Valley. There, you can see the writing, ‘Nammyeong Seonsaeng Janggujiso (南冥先生杖屨之所)’. This means ‘this is the place where he came in person, leaning on a cane’, and you can get a glimpse of the clean nature of Jirisan that Nammyeong Seonsaeng enjoyed.

The scenery of the valley, so clear and unspoiled that even Mr. Nammyeong would have liked it, is breathtaking.

Special products grown in the clean nature of Jirisan

When it comes to black pork, most people probably think of Jeju Island. However, if you taste the black pork from Sancheong, raised in the clean nature of Jirisan, you will come back for its chewy texture and rich flavor.

In particular, Sancheong has been famous for producing high-quality dried persimmons since ancient times. That is why they say that in winter, there are a lot of persimmons. What would the Jirisan black pork stir-fry taste like, with a whole persimmon added to give it a sweet flavor?

Traditions along the beautiful walls

Namsa Yedamchon, the ‘No. 1 beautiful village in our country’. It is a historic village of Hanok houses that produced many scholars who valued learning in the past. In particular, the old walls of the village, which are registered as a national heritage, provide an old-fashioned atmosphere. In the spring, ivy grows, and in the fall, when the ivy turns red, it becomes even more beautiful and charming.

Following the old wall, the place we reached was the Choi family home in the middle of the village. Called Wolgang House, it is the largest house in Namsayedamchon and is a traditional nobleman’s house from the southern region. Traces of the Choi family, who enjoyed wealth in the past, remain in the storehouse where farming tools and grains were stored.

Passing the Wolgang House, you will reach a place where you can hear our voices. At the Gisan Gukakdang, built to commemorate Gisan Park Heon-bong, a traditional Korean music performance is held every Saturday. Here, you can watch a traditional Korean music performance and feel the style and excitement of scholars.

Coloring the colors of nature

A hanok located in Namsayedamchon. In this place where colorful fabrics flutter in the air, there is a traditional dyer who has been doing it since his mother’s time. Raw indigo dyeing using only indigo leaves and water. Nothing that goes against nature is allowed. That is why natural dyeing is a healthy and traditional method. That is why he puts a lot of time and effort into dyeing.

Park Yeon-jin, a traditional dyer who finds and creates natural colors from everything Jirisan has to offer. Today, we meet him doing his arduous and difficult work at the foot of Jirisan.

Let’s go to Sancheong, where tradition and nature coexist and where people live together as friends.

Reporter Park Yu-mi Photo = EBS Korea Travel

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2024-07-25 22:22:16

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