Ibike Korea People-to-People Program
   
 

 

Photo essay: Daemyeon to Jinju
   

(65km, 40mi)
Points of Interest: Jinju Castle, museum, (Lattern Festival (Oct))

Every corner seems to beg another picture:
  Rice farm, lake, forest, hills Rice farm, lake, forest, hills -- another beautiful scene hard to do justice to with a camera -- click..
  rice farm Textures on the rice farms -- click -- a scene worth enjoying again late.
  A woman beating the beans off the stalk A woman beating the beans off the stalk -- click
  flat roadside space for drying rice Another flat roadside space for drying rice -- click
  A pavilion that would be shaded from the afternoon sun by the adjacent tree.  They are also common along streams -- click.
  A cell tower in the rice fields.  Korean is said to have almost 100% cell phone coverage and to be one of the most wired countries on the planet  -- click.
  It is a real low volume road when there is rice laid out to dry on both sides of the road, and no tire tracks through it -- click.
  Yongeon-sa was originally begun in 1580.  Sancheonggun has a long history.  The famous Confucian scholar of the middle Choseon Dynasty, Master Nammueong (1501-1572), was born, studied, and taught in this area -- click.
  Several of the historic buildings in the area are being restored -- click.
  The twin steles of Oetori are believed to commemorate the filial piety of two men.  One, for Yi On was built in 1383.  The details of the other have been worn away -- click.
  A shed full of garlic -- click.
  greenhouses in the mix of agriculture activity More greenhouses in the mix of agriculture activity -- click -- oh, a big pile of organic fertilizer in the foreground as well.  Greenhouses tend to be increasingly common as we approached big cities.  This farm is within ten miles of Jinju.
  Cows living their lives out in a shed Cows living their lives out in a shed -- click.
  The farms end and the city begins The farms end and the city begins -- click.
  Jinju City Jinju CityJinju City, between the Namgong River and hills, it is built on a very human scale and, with the exception of a couple of big roads, is a very people-friendly and bicycle-friendly city.
  transport in the market, Jinju City transport in the market, Jinju CityTransporting large quantities of goods through the narrow streets of the market is difficult so specialized solutions have been developed.  In some case traditional "A" framed backpacks are the only tool that is practical.
  Sweets for sale in the market, Jinju Sweets for sale in the market, JinjuSweets for sale in the market, Jinju.
  Fish mongers in the market, Jinju Fish mongers in the market, JinjuFish mongers in the market, Jinju.
  Baby octopus for sale in the market, Jinju Baby octopus for sale in the market, Jinju.
  bicycle safety awareness course for kids Part of the riverside trail facility in Jinju is this bicycle safety awareness course for kids.  It incorporates a variety of intersections, signs, signals, stripping, curb penetrations and traffic situations.
  display of international traffic signs As part of the bicycle safety awareness course for kids in Jinju is a display of international traffic signs and their explanations.
  Water skier pulled by an oversize jet ski Water skier pulled by an oversize jet ski on the Namgang River, Jinju.
 

Chokseongnu (pavilion), Jinjuseong (Castle or fortress)

Chokseongnu (pavilion), Jinjuseong (Castle or fortress)

 Chokseongnu (pavilion), Jinjuseong (Castle or fortress), served as a military command post in times of war and as a place of entertainment in times to peace. It was first constructed in 1241.

In the foreground (left photo) is Uiam (rock of patriotism).  The name commemorates the actions of the city hero Nongae, a local gisaeng (professional female entertainer).  The legend Nongae, Jinju mascotgoes that when Jinjuseong fell to the Japanese army (1593), Nongae allured the Japanese commander to Uiam Rock and martyred herself by grabbing him and jumping into the river -- drowning the commander, as well as herself. A stylized Nongae is the mascot of the city (right).

Jinjuseong is a fortified highland along the Namgang River which dates back to the Three Kingdoms era, and is the focal point of Jinju history, especially during the Imjinwaeran (Japanese Invasion, 1592-98), but it chronicles a lot of Jinju history up through the Joseon period.
  General Kim Simin In 1592, despite enormously unfavorable odds, General Kim Simin and his 3,800 troops defended Jinjuseong from a 20,000 strong Japanese army siege, accomplishing a celebrated victory. A year later, the earlier defense prompted the goriest massacre in Korean history where 70,000 military men, government personnel and civilians were slaughtered in a retaliatory attack from a reassembled 100,000 strong Japanese army.  The brutal Japanese occupation lasted for five years. Gen. Kim died from wounds from the first battle.
  Ssangchung-Sajeokbi Ssangchung-Sajeokbi commemorates the accomplishments of generals Jemal and Jehong.  The two national heroes organized loyal volunteer militias to assist the government and military in the fight against the Japanese invasion of 1592.  Jinjuseong has similar monuments to commemorate the achievements of General Kim Simin, and the people who gave their lives in defense of Jinju in the 12th century.
  Replicas of a Super Chongtong Replicas of a Super Chongtong missile and launcher from the Joseon Dynasty.
  Loyal Monk Militia Tree The Loyal Monk Militia Tree (a zwlkova tree) stands in front of the main entrance of Sanseong Seongjangcheong, the headquarters of the Loyal Monk Militia (Hoguksa).  During the Japanese invasion in 1592, the monk soldiers piled stones and sheaves of straw around the tree and drove back the Japanese with the stones, boiling water and burning sheaves of straw.  The tree is more than 500 years old.
  Changyeolsa Shrine Changyeolsa ShrineChangyeolsa Shrine was built in 1595 to enshrine the memorial tablets of the patriots who died in action during the 2nd Jinju Battle in 1593.  The tablet of  Kim Simin and 39 other patriots are enshrined here.
  Cheonggye Seowon Cheonggye Seowon (shrine) was built to commemorate Jeong Sinyeol, who played an active role in fighting against the Kitan.  It also remembers Jeong Cheonik, who succeeded in multiplying only one cotton seed many times over three years, and distributed a million seeds to the people.  Jeong Cheonik also invented and distributed cotton gins, spinning wheels and improved looms.  Thanks to him the people were able to dress in cotton instead of traditional linen.
  30 monuments from the Joseon period Here are more than 30 monuments from the Joseon period that have been gather from other location to be displayed together.
  Porcelain exhibit in National Jinju Museum Porcelain exhibit in National Jinju Museum. The museum has a very interesting exhibit on the Imjinwaeran (Japanese Invasion, 1592-98) made up of a variety of art media, artifacts and displays.

It is interesting that in the initial stages of the Imjinwaeran the Japanese captured Korean artisans and scholars as a "technology transfer" to Japan.  This allowed Japan to quickly advance their porcelain industry, printing culture and neo-Confucius scholarship.  Laborers were also captured to fill its depleted labor force. Later in the occupations Koreans -- males and females, young and old -- were being captured and sold to Portuguese traders.  Estimates on the number of slaves taken range from 20,000 to 100,000 and higher.
  Gongbukmun (gate), Jinju Castle Gongbukmun (gate). Its name consists of three meaningful characters: Gong putting your hands together and lifting them to your chest in reverence; Buk, north, the direction from Jinju to the residence of the King; and, Mun, Moon gate.
  Picnic at Jinju Castle Portrait painting at Jinju Castle Strolling at Jinju CastleBeside its historical significance and position as a cultural repository, the castle is also a popular place to Jinjuites to relax as well.  People picnic, stroll, relax in the several pavilions, their are music venues, cultural events and you can have your portrait painted.  It is the "Grand Central Park" of Jinju.
  Jinju's annual Lantern Festival

 

 Jinju's annual Lantern FestivalFloats from Jinju's annual Lantern Festival (day and night).

The floating lantern festival has its origins in the period of the Japanese Invasion. With only 3,800 troops, Gen Kim Si-min's army killed 20,000 Japanese in October 1592, repelling the first invasion.  During the invasion the general raised lanterns in the sky and floated lanterns on the river to send military signals to loyal troops and other supporters outside of the castle.
  Bull fight, Jinju Part of the Lantern Festival is a bull fight.  The bulls are not killed and there is no matador.  Somehow handlers entice two bulls to fight each other.  The event seems to lack drama, but it draws a small crowd.  Maybe they came to hear the American western music that is played over the public address system.
  Jinju's annual Lantern Festival Jinju's annual Lantern FestivalAt night the floats on the river are lit and there is music, food, games and a carnival atmosphere along both sides of the Namgang River.
  Jinju's annual Lantern Festival This young festival goer was anointed with a traffic policeman's hat and wand and practice his technique for directing traffic.
 

Travelogue Main PageTour InformationTour mapRegister for this tour
 

Please write if you would like to be added to Ibike's mailing list or have questions, comments, criticism, praise or additional information for us. (Also, please let us know how you learned about us and found this site.) Privacy policy.

  IBF's Homepage           Ibike Programs            Search

"Hosted by ThinkHost - earth friendly web hosting"
Created by David Mozer
Copyright 1993-2008 Ibike Tours. All rights reserved.