FORTRESS GONGSANSEONG

This fortress is located on a hill facing the river and is precisely on the site of the former royal palace of the Kingdom of Baekje. Originally the walls were made of mud, but they were rebuilt in stone (for more solidity) in the 17th century. Most of the visible buildings date from this period with later restorations. The partially restored wall is 2,600 m long. The park is pretty and offers a good walk in the middle of old pavilions. One enters through the west gate. The north gate pavilion, Gongbuknu, built in 1603 on an older site, faces the river. On the other side of the hill, to the east, a small temple, Yeong-eunsa, built in 1458, welcomed in 1616 the monk general who supervised the Buddhist armies throughout the country. The Gwan-illu Sermon Hall was used as a dormitory by the soldier monks in 1592. Opposite, the Manharu Pavilion, built from 1724 to 1726, was destroyed by floods. It was rebuilt in 1982 on the original foundations. Behind it is an old water tank discovered by chance in 1982. Going up to the east, the large Imnyugak Pavilion is located at the top of the hill. It was built under King Dongseong of Baekje (479-501) as a banqueting pavilion and was rebuilt from 1991 to 1993 according to motifs found in tombs in the area. Its foundation stones are the oldest remaining ones from the Baekje kingdom. Not far away are the twelve foundation stones of the provincial governor's building under Silla. One can go to the east gate, Dongmun, and then go up to the south gate. On the way, one will see a pavilion with three stelae (Myeongguksamjangbi) dedicated to the three Chinese generals of the Ming Dynasty who defended the fortress during the Japanese invasions of 1597. These stelae were erected in 1599 and again in 1713 before being buried by the Japanese during the occupation. They had taken care to erase certain characters, such as "Japanese looters", which were engraved on them. They were unearthed in 1945. We arrive at Jinnamnu, the pavilion at the south gate. Above is a pavilion, Ssangsujeong, erected on the site of two trees under which King Injo, who had taken refuge in the fortress, learned of the defeat of the insurrection led by Yi Gwal (1624). The king appointed the two trees as third grade civil servants. A stele was erected below in memory of these events by the governor of the province in 1734.