Anti-appeasement steles

Anti-appeasement steles were 19th century monuments built in Korea to ostracize Westerners. They were erected by Heungseon Daewongun at more than 200 major transportation hubs across the country, including the four streets of Jongno. They were built in 1871 (the 8th year of the reign of Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty). They were made of granite and were four cubits high, five cubits wide, and eight inches thick.[1]

Anti-appeasement Stele
척화비
Cheongju Anti-appeasement Stele
Anti-appeasement steles is located in South Korea
Anti-appeasement steles
Location within South Korea
General information
Typestele
Architectural styleKorean
Town or cityJongno District, Seoul
CountrySouth Korea
Coordinates37°34′43″N 126°58′38″E / 37.57861°N 126.97722°E / 37.57861; 126.97722
Current tenantsNational Palace Museum of Korea
National Folk Museum
Opened1871
Korean name
Hangul
척화비
Hanja
Revised RomanizationCheokhwabi
McCune–ReischauerCh'ŏk'wabi

History edit

When Emperor Gojong ascended the throne in 1863 at a young age, Lee Ha-eung, King Gojong's father was appointed as Daewongun took power.[2] At this time countries such as the United States and Russia were approaching the Korean Peninsula. They came to Joseon to demand commerce and sometimes staged armed provocations and demonstrations.

Daewongun tried to negotiate with France to keep Russia in check during his early years in office, but he quickly changed his policy stance to Sakoku after the outbreak of Byeonginyo in 1866 and an attempt to rob the king's tomb. In particular, Daewongun established a policy of Sakoku that prohibited diplomatic relations and commerce with foreign countries to maintain order of the Joseon dynasty in 1871. In order to warn the people, in April 1871 in the central regions of Seoul and across the country stelae were set up by fire hydrants.

In 1882 Japan invaded Korea and Daewongun was kidnapped by the Qing dynasty. Most of the stelae were demolished at the request of the Japanese government. In Seoul one was buried near Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno on September 26, 1882. It was discovered in June 1915 when Bosingak was relocated and displayed in a gallery west of Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Stelae remain in about 30 locations.[3]

Content edit

The following words are written on the stele as an order:[4]

洋夷侵犯 非戰則和 主和賣國

Then, in small letters, the next phrase is written on the side of the rain.

戒我萬年子孫 丙寅作 辛未立

This means, "If you don't fight for Western's invasion, you'll surrender, so if you insist on surrender, you'll sell your country. I warn all the people.. Build it in Byeongin-year and set it up in Sinmi-year."

List of stele edit

Name Picture Installation (discovery) location Current location Scale Cultural Heritage No. Designated date
Gadeokdo Stele Seongbuk-dong, Gangseo-gu, 56, Gadeokpo-gu 344 Chunga Elementary School in Seongbuk-dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan 128×145×16 Busan Metropolitan City designated Monument No. 35 01-Feb 1993
Ganghwa Stele Deokjin Dondae of the Southern Dynasties 147×53×28 1867
Gyeongbokgung Palace Stele 150px Gyeongbok Palace Geunjeongjeon, 4th Street in front of Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno National Museum of Korea
Gyeongju Stele 150px Sansa-dong of Gyeongju Gyeongju National Museum Height 1.5m
Gochang Stele Hyangcheong, Gochang-eupseong, Gochang-gun
Gumi Stele Mt. 52-1 in Gupodong, Gumi City 175×186 North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 22 05-Aug 1985
Gunwi Stele Gunwi-eup Dongbu-ri Gunwi-gun Office 115×43×14
Gijang Stele 150px inside of Daebyun-port breakwater 144×52.5×21 Busan Metropolitan City designated Monument No. 41 25-May 1996
Namhae Stele Noryang Shipyard, Sulcheon Middle School 410-18 Noryang-ri, Seocheon-myeon, Namhae-gun 220×49×16 South Gyeongsang Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 266 31-Dec 1997
Daegu Stele Gwandeokjeong Catholic Martyrs Memorial Hall in Daegu
Miryang Stele Milyang City Milyang
Bonghwa Stele Bongseong-ri, Bonghwa Middle School, Bongseong-myeon Bonghwa Education Office in Naeseong-ri, Bonghwa-eup
Busanjin Stele Busan Jinsheng, Yongdu Mountain Park 948-1 Busan Museum in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu 143×44.7×23.8 Busan Metropolitan City designated Monument No. 18 26 June 1972
Sancheong Stele Huanzheng Garden, Sancheng Elementary School Sancheong-ri 290-1 Sancheong Elementary School in Sancheong-eup, Sancheong-gun 135×45×25.5 Gyeongnam-do Type Cultural Heritage No. 294 27-Dec 1993
Seongju Stele Sungjoo Elementary School Sungjoo Girls' High School
Sunheung Stele Sunheung-myeon of elementary school campus 314-3, Sunheung-myeon Office, Sunheung-myeon, Yeongju 114×46 Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Material No. 242 14-May 1991
Sinchang Stele Shinchang Elementary School 297 Town-Narye-ri, Sinchang-si Cultural Heritage Material No. 236 of Chungcheongnam-do 17-May

1984

Yangsan Stele Sotori 667 Sonosowon, Sangbuk-myeon, Yangsan Gyeongsangnam-do Type Cultural Heritage No. 120 02-May 1979
Yeosan Stele Yeosan Elementary School Iksan-myeon, Iksan-myeon, 445-2 Yeosan-dongheon 114×46×9 Iksan City Hyangtological Site No.7 30-May

2002

Yeongi Stele Yeongihyang-bridge 34 Yeongi-ri, Yeongi-myeon, Sejong City Sejong City Monument No.11 11-Feb

2016

Youngyang Stele County seo-ri Nutrition County Office
Yecheon Stele Daeheung-myeon Office Upper break
Okcheon Stele Mountain4-2 Samyangsa-gil, Okcheon-eup, Okcheon-gun bullet marks Monument No.6 of Chungcheongbuk-do December 21, 1976.
Yonggung Stele Yonggung Middle School, Yonggung Elementary School Manparu of Eupbu-ri, Yonggung-myeon, Yecheon-gun Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Material No.598 Oct. 4, 2012
Unhyeongoong Stele Unhyeon Palace Museum of Antiquities
Janggi Stele inside of Janggi castle Jangsu Myeon Office Garden in Nam-gu, Pohang 120×45×21 North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 224. 07-Aug 1990
Geoldoosan Stele 150px Zeodu Mountain Martyrs' Site
Changnyeong Stele Changyeong-eup Gyohari 28-1 Manokjeong Park in Gyosang-ri, Changnyeong-eup 123×46×20 Cultural Heritage Material No. 218 of South Gyeongsang Province 02-May 1995
Cheongdo Stele Cheongdo Roadside 15-10 Seosang-ri, Hwayang-eup, Cheongdo-gun 155×45×25 Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Material No.109 05-Aug

1985

Cheongsong Stele Catholic Church in Cheongsong-eup, Cheongsong-gun 115×48×16
Cheongju Stele 150px Seokgyo-dong Sewage Station 92-13 Central Park, Nammun-ro 2-ga, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju 108×47 North Chungcheong Province Monument No. 23 27-Oct 1978
Pohang Stele Road in front of Chilpo-ri Rock-Culture County, Pohang Pohang City Heunghae Folk Museum
Hamyang Stele 349-1 Sangrim Park in Unlim-ri, Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun 110×55×19 South Gyeongsang Province Cultural Heritage Material No. 264 31-Dec 1997
Hampyeong Stele Kujuppo, Seokseong-ri, Hampyeong-eup 906-7 Hampyeong Park in Hapyeong-eup, Hampyeong-gun 135×52×20 Jeollanam-do Cultural Heritage Material No. 176. 24-Feb 1990
Hongseong Stele Mount Obong-ri, Guhyang-myeon, Hongseong-gun 125×48×25.5 Cultural Heritage Material No. 163 of Chungcheongnam-do 17-May

1984.

References edit

  1. ^ Yu, Yŏng-ik (2008). Early Korean Encounters with the United States and Japan: Six Essays on Late Nineteenth-century Korea. Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch. p. 98. ISBN 9788995442487.
  2. ^ "History Reference". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
  3. ^ "History reference". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
  4. ^ "Stele content". Uri-history.

See also edit