[공주(公州)] 공산성(公山城)

The Fieldtrip to Gongju (1)

Gongju was the second captital of Baekje(B.C.18~A.D.660)

after the first capital Hanseong(the present Seoul) was destroyed by Goguryeo(고구려:高句麗)

From 475 to 538, Gongju(then Woong-jin) was the center of Baekje

until Sabi became the third capital in 538. 

Although Gongju was only the captital for about 60 years,

it has significant relics of the Baekje Dynasty.

  

Here is the first relic of Baekje, GongSanSeong(공산성:公山城)

The West Gate of GongSanSeong

The name GongSanSeong  is a combination of Gong(公) and SanSeong(山城).

'Gong' came out of 'Gongju(公州)', 'SanSeong' means a mountain fortress in Korean.

So the name GongSanSeong means the Mountain Fortress of Gongju.

However, GongSanSeong was called 'Woong-jin-seong(熊津城)' in the Baekje period.

because Gongju was named Woongjin at that time.

This fortress was constructed during the Baekje period.

However, the present stone-piled fortress was constructed in the Joseon Dynasty(1392~1910).

This fortress was made using soil and mud in Baekje period.

As a result, the culture of two dynasties co-exists in this fortress.

The stone monument constructed in the Joseon Dynasty

The Relics of Baekje Palace on the Top of the mountain

The relic of a pond constructed in the Baekje period

The Scenery of "Ssangsu-jeong" from the Pond Relic

There is a gazebo named "SsangSu-jeong" on the top of this mountain.

"SsangSu" means 'two trees', while "jeong" means a gazebo.

The gazebo got its name from the two trees that used to stand there.

In the Joseon Dynasty, King Injo(1595~1649) who had just evacuated Seoul (where a rebellion had risen), looked out at Seoul while leaning on the trees.

The rebellion was crushed, and the pleased King granted the trees a noble title.

However, they withered, so people built a gazebo to remember the trees by.

This is the SsangSu-jeong

The Relics of Baekje Palace

The Street of Gongju from Gong-sanseong

The Mountain Chiri

From GongSanSeong, you can see Chiri Mountain(就利山).

Chiri Mountain is a significant place in regards to the collapse of Baekje.

After the collapse of Baekje by the Tang(唐) and Silla(新羅) Dynasties in 660 , 

the ritual for rapprochement between the Baekje and Silla Dynasties was conducted on this mountain

with the participation of delegations from three other conturies.

Somebody says that Baekje's Chiri Mountain is not the actual Chiri Mountain

shown in the picture,

because the mountain in the picture is too low and the altar is nowhere to be found.

It is one of the mysteries of Baekje.