Geumjeongsanseong
| Geumjeongsanseong 금정산성 | |
|---|---|
| Geumjeong District, Busan, South Korea | |
 | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 35°16′59″N 129°3′20″E / 35.28306°N 129.05556°E |
| Type | Korean fortress |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1703; rebuilt in 1707, 1807, 1972, 1974 and 1989 |
| Built by | Jo Tae-dong, the Governor of Gyeongsang-do (1703), Oh Han-won, the Dongnae Magistrate (1807), Government of the Busan Metropolitan City (1972, 1974 and 1989) |
| Materials | stone, wood, plaster walls (original); concrete, stone, wood, plaster walls (reconstruction) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 금정산성 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Geumjeongsanseong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kŭmjŏngsansŏng |
Geumjeongsanseong (Korean: 금정산성; lit. Geumjeong Mountain Fortress) is a Joseon-era Korean fortress on the mountain Geumjeongsan in Busan, South Korea. It is the largest fortress in Korea.[1]
History
[edit]It's not known with certainty when the first fortress on this location was built; structures existed here from at latest the mid-Joseon period and were continually renovated over time. A fortress may have existed in the area from even during the 57 BCE – 935 CE Silla period.[2] There is a record of repairs being suggested for it in 1667.[1][2]
Following the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea and the Manchu invasions of Korea, much of the current castle was constructed from 1701 to 1703.[1][2] In 1707, the fortress was judged to be too large, and so it was split into northern and southern sections by a wall.[1][2] This fortress fell to disuse because it was too large to maintain.[citation needed] New gates and towers were constructed in 1806.[1] There is a stele (금정산성 부설비; 金井山城 復設碑) recording the building of the gates.[1]
The fortress was partly destroyed during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945).[2]
Modern period and restoration work
[edit]The fortress was made Historic Site of South Korea No. 215 on February 9, 1971, and the fortress upkeep is now done by the Busan Metropolitan Government.[2] The east, west, and south gates began to be restored in 1972.[2] The north gate was rebuilt in 1989.[citation needed] Of the 4 existing observation towers, the tower number 1 (제1망루) located on the south-west side was destroyed by the typhoon Rusa on the morning of September 1, 2002.[3]
More restoration works were under way in the 2000s. Work was divided in 3 phases of 5 years between 1996 and 2010.
- Phase 1 (1996–2000) covers the west region, going from the North Gate down to the West Gate.
- Phase 2 (2000–2005) covers the section of wall on the east side, running between the North Gate and the East Gate. It include the observation towers 3 and 4.
- Phase 3 (2006–2010) covers everything south of the West and East Gates, including the South Gate and the observation towers 1 and 2.[citation needed]
Description
[edit]Much of the stones used in the walls are from the immediate environment of the mountain, and thus change depending on the location.[2] The walls are either 16.383 km (10.180 mi)[2] or 18.845 km (11.710 mi)[1] in length and from 1.5 meters to 3 meters in height.[1] The area surrounded by the fortress is about 8.2 square kilometers.[citation needed]
Gallery
[edit]-
The castle walls, winding up the mountain (2004) -
The south gate (2018) -
The east gate (2004)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h 김, 길식, "금정산성 (金井山城)", Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean), Academy of Korean Studies, retrieved 2024-07-25
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "금정산성(金井山城) - 부산역사문화대전". Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ 문화재 금정산성 제1망루 태풍에 파손 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 2002-09-01. Archived from the original on 2004-10-15. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Geumjeong Fortress at Wikimedia Commons
