Jirisan-Sancheong

1. Donguibogam Village

2. Namsa Yedamchon Village

3. Historic Site of Jo Sik

Donguibogam Village
 Donguibogam
1. About Donguibogam Village
Village

Welcome to Donguibogam Village.

This is a tourist site that focuses on health and well-being. With a
distinct bent towards Oriental medicine, you can take a look around
the museum, garden for growing medicinal plants, and the theme park.
In addition, here at this village, you will have the opportunity to see
Donguibogam, an encyclopedic bible of medical knowledge and
treatment techniques compiled by the royal physician Heo Jun in 1613.
This book of medicine became famous during the Joseon Period and
was disseminated to both Japan and China. In recognition of its
historical value, it was listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World
register in 2009. The life story of Heo Jun, the author, was made into
a drama that gained a great following in not only in China and
Vietnam, but also in Iraq. The actor who played Heo Jun in the drama
was invited as a national guest.
The year of 2013 marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of
this book and in honor of this special date, the World Traditional
Medicine Expo is held here.

The best attraction at this village is the Oriental Medicine Museum. So,
shall we take a look around?
 D o n g u i b o g a m 2. Meeting the Renowned Doctors of Joseon
Village Through Statues

Before you step into the Oriental Medicine Museum, you'll see the
statues of Heo Jun and his teacher, Ryu Ui-tae. From his childhood,
Heo Jun is said to have enjoyed travelling around and exploring
mountains and streams, observing wild plants and researching which
plants had beneficial medical properties. Ryu Ui-tae was also known as
an excellent physician of the time. He was a pioneer who did not
discriminate between the ruling class and lowest class and provided
love and care to those who were ill while also working hard to
promote medical science.

Now then, why don't we head inside the museum and find out more
about Heo Jun and his book.

Donguibogam
3. Oriental Medicine and Heo Jun
Village

The first thing that will grab your attention at this museum is here, the
Special Exhibition Hall. There are pharmaceutical scales, knives designed
to chop medicinal herbs, and other Oriental medical equipment on
display. Do you find any great differences compared to Western
medical equipment from a similar era?

Heo Jun's Donguibogam is also on display and due to its popularity in

China and Japan, both Chinese and Japanese language versions are
available at the museum.

When he served as the king's exclusive physician, he was held

responsible for the death of the king and was sent into exile.
Fortunately while in exile, he was able to focus on research and finish
the book, which he promised the king that he would complete.
To this date, this book is unparalleled as the bible of Oriental medicine
and is registered as the Memory of the World by UNESCO.
 D o n g u i b o g a m 4. Oriental Medicine isn't Difficult to Understand or
Village Unfamiliar

A variety of objects relating to Oriental medicine are on display in the

Traditional Medicine Exhibition Hall. There are life-size models of an
Oriental medicine treatment process and they are rather well-made. The
figures depicted include a person grinding medicinal herbs, a
grandmother boiling medicine, a person preparing herbs in a
storehouse, a woman chopping medicinal herbs with a knife, and even
a person receiving acupuncture treatment on his shoulder.

If you are finished looking at the models, let's gather in front of the
touch screen. You can experience the use of folk medicine and Oriental
medicine in everyday life by entering symptoms on the touch screen.
You can then take a look at foods that are said to be well-suited or
ill-suited to each other, according to Oriental medicine. Interestingly,
foods we often imbibe together, like beer and peanuts or a hamburger
and cola are said to be incompatible.

If you stop by the Oriental Medicine Experience Hall, you can get a
health check-up. You can measure your height, weight, body fat
percentage, and blood pressure.
 D o n g u i b o g a m 5. Subtle Herbal Scents and an Introduction to
Village Various Medicinal Herbs

If you go into the Medicinal Herbs Exhibition Hall, you will inhale the
scent of subtle yet slightly bitter herbs. On one side of the wall,
medicinal samples are on display. One of the many achievements of
Heo Jun is that he replaced expensive Chinese medicinal herbs with
wild plants found in Korea.

One more thing in this hall that you will notice is the way Sasang
typology is used to classify one's physical constitution. This typology
was organized and categorized by Yi Je-ma during the 19th century,
and the information helps to dictate which medicinal herbs are
well-suited to an individual and which are harmful.

According to this traditional Korean medical typology, people can be

categorized into four different physical constitutions based on their
biological, psychological and social traits. For example, of these four
types, ginseng, deer antler, and coffee are harmful for one type while
quince, grape, and apple are beneficial. The philosophy implies that just
because a substance or food is beneficial for one person or type
doesn't mean that it is good for everyone.

If you came here with children, you might be interested in dressing up

in Heo Jun's official hat and taking pictures at the photo wall.
 Donguibogam
6. Park Themed on the Human Body
Village

Facilities here at the Oriental Medicine Theme Park take on the shapes
of human body parts and medical equipment. You can see a sculpture
in the form of an acupuncture needle and a trail inlaid with an
acupressure pathway good for blood circulation.

You can also take a walk along the wooden deck through the dense
pine trees. You will notice that the trail goes from the esophagus, to
the heart and various other organs before it reaches the bladder. The
charming sculptures are unusual enough to captivate visitors who come
here.

The nighttime view of various colored sculptures spotlighted at the park

is also something you don't want to miss.

From a walk that explores the human body to a nighttime view that
resembles space, I hope that this was a great introduction to Oriental
medicine, a discipline that places great importance on the harmony
between the universe and the body.
 Donguibogam
7. Feel Positive Energy Flowing into Your Body
Village

If you come here, you will see many people leaning on a rock!
Although you can't see it, the area is famous for the energy given off
by the mountain. Scholars who study the energy or life force exuded
by nature think that the energy from Baekdusan Mountain in North
Korea flows southwards along the various mountain ranges and finally
accumulates here at the Cheonwangbong Peak of Jirisan Mountain.

One thing that will definitely catch your attention is, of course, the
Turtle Rock. Turtles symbolize
longevity in Asia. The rock was moved here due to the belief that you
could receive some of the energy from the mountains by laying your
back against the stone.

You can easily receive the energy too. Stand below the Turtle Rock and
lean with your head against it and close your eyes. They say that the
experience will clear your head and that you'll be able to feel energy
flowing into your body. Can you feel it?
Namsa Yedamchon Village
 Namsa Yedamchon
1. About the Course
Village

There are many beautiful villages in Korea, but Namsa Yedamchon

Village is one of the most wonderful you can find. It is a charming
place featuring many alleyways set between well preserved earth and
stone walls, with Korean plum blossoms that bloom in the spring. The
walls in this village are different from those of other regions. While
most old walls in Korea reach only to head or shoulder height, the
walls in this village are much higher. To protect the private lives of the
ruling class, these walls were built higher in order that the inner
courtyards could not be seen even by those on horseback. The walls
surrounding properties that once belonged to the ruling class were
mostly tiled earthen walls, unlike the common stone walls of a
common house. The tiles capping the walls protected them from
collapse when it rained. So, shall we have a look inside the village?
 Namsa Yedamchon 2. House of Yi Family, Where the Husband
Village and Wife Trees Embrace

The first place that we will visit in this village is the House of Yi
Family. As you know, Yi is a common surname in Korea, similar to the
names Smith or Johnson in the United States. This area is home to a
branch of the Yi Clan that has its root here in this village. The house
was built in the 1700s. However, within the complex there are also
central buildings that were constructed in the 18th and 20th centuries.
So, if you have a good look around, you can understand how Korean
traditional housing styles changed over time.

At the entrance to the house, you'll see two trees that form an X
shape. Though it makes it a bit awkward to pass through the road,
this is reflective of the original design. As the two trees appear to be
embracing, they are together called the Husband and Wife Trees. It's
said that if a couple walks under these trees while holding hands, their
love will last for a long time. If you came here with your partner,
make sure you hold hands tight as you walk under the branches.
 Namsa Yedamchon
3. The Unfulfilled Love Between the Walls
Village

Now let's go to the House of Choe Family. As you may expect, Choe
is also a relatively common surname in Korea. It's said that the alley
leading to this house is one of the most beautiful in the village.

The house still contains traditional household items. Seeing these

household items can help you imagine scenes from traditional Korean
village life. The bolts on the front gate are shaped like a turtle. As the
turtle lives for a very long time, the turtle's shape was used to
symbolize the desire for a long and healthy life. There is also a very
famous tree at this house. Roughly 230 years old, this Korean plum
tree is said to
still produce many sweet-smelling plums in the summertime.

The walls here are also famous, thanks to an old story of unfulfilled
love. Long ago, the son of the Choe family fell in love with the
daughter of the neighboring Jeong family. They would use a break in
the wall to meet secretly, but the parents of the Jeong family married
their daughter off to another family and sent her to a place far away.
The son of the Choe family, heartbroken and alone, spent his days
crying under the walls and in the end abandoned his home to live on
Jirisan Mountain.
 Namsa Yedamchon 4. A Modern Korean House Made from
Village Strong Zelkova Wood

This modern Korean house built in the 1920s is an annex to a shrine.

Built to honor the spirit of a scholar named Jeong Mong-ju who risked
his own life out of loyalty to the king, the shrine was erected by the
scholar's descendants. The timber used to build the foundations of this
house is high quality zelkova wood. The entrance is also larger than
that of other Korean houses. The ceiling is relatively high compared to
earlier Korean houses, and there are many storage spaces such as lofts
and cupboards. Glass is also used in the building. At the time glass
was a new construction material, and its use distinguishes modern
Korean houses. Here we can also find a maple tree more than 220
years old. This is a special tree which has leaves that are red in the
spring, turn green in the summer only to turn red once again in the
fall.

During the rice-growing months of July and August many local villagers
ran out of rice and were forced to go without meals, but in those
times the Jeong family who lived here would open their stores and
share their rice with the local people.
 Namsa Yedamchon 5. The Korean Plum and Persimmon Trees of
Village the House of Ha Family

This Korean plum tree of the House of Ha Family is one of the most
famous trees in Korea. Estimated to be over 670 years old, it was
planted by a scholar who lived here long ago. Sad to say, a few years
ago the tree itself died after freezing in the winter cold, however
thankfully the branches survived and wonderful plum flowers continue
to blossom.

There is also another famous tree here, the persimmon tree. An

ancestor of the Ha family, who occupied a position similar to prime
minister during the Joseon Dynasty, planted this tree when he was only
seven years old, so the tree is still protected today.

Namsa Yedamchon 6. Gwak Jong-seok, Who Feared for His

Village Country Night and Day

This historical site was built by the descendants of the man named
Gwak Jong-seok as a memorial to him and his works. A Confucian
scholar and activist for Korean independence during the Japanese
Colonial Period, he laid the foundation for the Korean independence
struggle. Always fearing for his country, he was imprisoned by the
Japanese police for sending letters appealing for Korean independence.
He passed away due to the after effects of prison hardships at the age
of 74. While normally people erect a shrine to honor a deceased
person, this place is known instead as a house of writing. This is
because he was not merely a Confucian scholar but also an author
who penned many books on a variety of subjects. This house was the
first to be erected to honor his works as a scholar, and later more
houses were erected to honor him around the country.
 Namsa Yedamchon
7. The Street of Old Walls and Waterwheels
Village

Do you see the well-planned alleyway leading up to the house of

writing honoring Gwak Jong-seok? This road, which cuts through the
center of the village, is known as Yedamgil. The name of this road
literally means old walls.

The road begins at the waterwheel in front of the village. This

waterwheel was built to memorialize the selection of this village as a
'Countryside Tradition Theme Village'. Made up of shorter sections with
individual names, such as the Road of Learning, Road of Self-Reliance,
Road of Knowing Life and the Road of the Heart, this road reaches
the center of the village. The road is altogether 3.5 kilometers in
length, and at a gentle pace it is possible to walk its entirety in around
one hour and 30 minutes. As this road was constructed to minimize
any disturbance of the natural environment, you will enjoy the beautiful
scenery as you walk along.
 Namsa Yedamchon
8. Isajae Shrine, where Yi Sun-sin Visited
Village

Isajae is a living space built to commemorate a famous general of

Korean history. Passing through the main gate you have to walk
through a private residence to get up to the shrine, but the people
who live here pay no mind to passers-by so you can comfortably make
your way past.

The shrine is a structure with a simple but profound beauty. The

garden, replete with ponds, crepe myrtles and bamboo thickets, has a
profound sense of harmony. From the top of the hill, you can take in
the entire view of the village at once. It is also said that the famous
Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin stopped here to pay his respects to the spirit
of his departed mother, when he was following the army to the
battlefield at a time when he had no government post. This was
learned from records in his diary, and today a memorial
stone commemorating his visit has been erected at the entrance of the
complex.

This has been the village of many stories, Namsa Yedamchon Village.
This guide is now complete; we wish you happiness for the rest of
your travels.
Historic Site of Jo Sik
 1. Jo Sik, the Great Scholar of the Joseon
Historic Site of Jo Sik
Dynasty

Welcome to the Historic Site of Jo Sik.

Jo Sik was one of the leading Confucian scholars of the Joseon
Dynasty. He was respected by many for emphasizing principles and
criticizing the corruption and contradictions of society and the politics
of his day.

As you pass through the gateway roofed with tiles, you will see the
memorial hall surrounded by sculptures. Next to the white statue of Jo
Sik, the letters he wrote to the king during his lifetime are displayed as
inscriptions in miniscule Hangeul script. According to part of the
contents, he expressed his opinion that the reigning king was not
ruling properly. He also expressed his fears for the future of the
country. Although the king was greatly angered by these letters of
appeal, Jo Sik was always a model of correct speech and behavior and
so the king was unable to simply punish him as he might have liked.
As you would expect, there were some officials in the royal court who
said He must be punished for his insolence to the king. However the
majority of them actively defended him by saying If he is punished, in
the future it will be difficult for vassals to speak truth to the king.
 Historic Site of Jo Sik 2. The Map of His Philosophy

Now let's have a look inside the Nammyeong Memorial Hall. This
museum, which was named after his pen-name, was built in 2001 in
honor of the 500th anniversary of his birth. In the memorial hall the
first thing you will encounter is none other than a map. As a map that
expresses his philosophy, it describes how humans can attain a high
level of virtue through control of the mind and body. It is hard to
understand, much like a treasure map.

To explain it simply, see if this accords with what you have been
thinking. The inside of the fortress represents the inner mind of a
person, and emphasizes that we must let nothing upset this and thus
remain pure in spirit. The outside of the fortress represents the
temptations that upset our inner being, and the flags express the need
to defend against them. Further, the three doors on the fortress
represent the human eyes, ears and mouth, and it is from the external
temptations that enter through these three doors that we must defend
the inner sanctum of our mind. To take his teachings a step further,
he also emphasized the importance of action by saying It is no use to
just have an upright mind and not act upon it. One has to move and
act accordingly.
 Historic Site of Jo Sik 3. The Meaning of a Bell and Knife

There are two artifacts that illustrate his value particularly well. These
are a bell and a knife. They say that he always carried these two items
with him wherever he went. The bell indicated his vow to always keep
an awakened mind. Whenever he moved the bell would ring,
reminding him to think about where he was and make an effort to
calm his spirit. The second item is a knife. On the inside and outside
of the handle of the knife there are inscriptions relating to the control
of one's inner mind and putting this into practice in one's life. By
inscribing his personal philosophy onto the knife, he showed his
willingness to put his own life on the line to practice his beliefs.

Historic Site of Jo Sik 4. Yeojaesil Shrine and the Tomb of Jo Sik

If you go up to the left on the right-hand side of the memorial hall

you will come to a shrine for him. This is where his descendants
placed the ancestral tablets of him and his wife, and performed
ancestral rites. It is said that on the day that he died at the age of 72,
a great tree on Jirisan Mountain dried up and died, heavy snow fell
and the hills crumbled. This story expresses how great the people's
grief was at losing such an important figure. If you go up past the
shrine and make your way slowly up the path through the dense pine
grove for about ten minutes, you will find his grave. The grave is so
small and the surrounding area so humble that you may think that you
have come to the wrong place. But if you think of the way that he
avoided empty formalities and vanity during his life, you can see that
this grave is consistent with the philosophy by which he lived.
 5. The Place where He Pursued His Studies
Historic Site of Jo Sik
until His Death

This is where he spent his last years. Having achieved a high level of
scholarly understanding and having no interest in becoming a
government minister, he worked here until his death to complete his
studies. But while he strived to concentrate on his studies, a steady
flow of those who sought to become his disciples continued to arrive.
Many of the great figures in Korean history followed his teachings. In
the front garden, you'll find a Korean plum tree. This was planted
when he built this place. This tree is now around 440 years old. The
tree still blooms brightly, so we recommend that you visit in the
springtime to see the beautiful plum blossoms.

Historic Site of Jo Sik 6. The Place that Honors Him

This Confucian academy was built in 1576 after the death of Jo Sik by
his disciples to honor his studies and virtuous conduct. The overall
structure of the academy is uniquely divided. The front area is a 'space
for study' and the back area is a 'space for rituals'. In front is the
main hall where his disciples would gather to study and debate his
works. Next to the main hall, there are two buildings which were a
kind of dormitory for disciples.

If you go through the door at the back of the main hall, you will find
a place called Sungdeoksa where the ancestral tablets of Jo Sik can be
found. Even today, disciples gather to perform ancestral rites in the
third and ninth months of the lunar calendar. Also, on the second
Saturday of October, a festival is held to celebrate his birth.
 Historic Site of Jo Sik 7. The Pavilion that Cleanses the Mind

Across from the Confucian academy, there is a pavilion that overlooks

Deokcheongang River. The name of the pavilion literally means a
pavilion that cleanses the mind. Jo Sik had a habit of using a bell to
bring his mind to the present and under control, and they say that his
disciples followed him and came here to calm their minds.

These have been the stories of Jo Sik, who worked hard to consistently
live with a righteous mind. They say that his incorruptible character has
become a model for future generations as well. We hope that if you
too have worries you wish to carve away from your mind, spend some
time here before you leave to calm your spirit.