Cheonghaejin
Cheonghaejin | |
File:Chunghaejin 02.jpg | |
Korean name | |
---|---|
Hangul | 청해진 |
Hanja | 淸海鎭 |
Revised Romanization | Cheonghaejin |
McCune–Reischauer | Ch'ŏnghaejin |
Cheonghaejin (literally "Blue sea headquarters") was a major military headquarters and trading hub located on Wando island, South Jeolla province of South Korea, and established by Korean general Jang Bogo in 828 ACE during the Silla kingdom period.[1] It traded mainly with Tang Dynasty China and Japan, and served as a military hub to combat various pirate factions.[2][3]
History
Cheonghaejin was established originally as a military complex by General Jang Bogo in 828, the third year of King Heungdeok's reign. Jang appealed to Heungdeok to establish a military complex in Cheonghaejin to protect Silla's merchant fleets and coastal residents from pirates. He was granted permission and 10,000 troops. He established a small castle and a military base in Garipo.
Cheonghaejin was very successful in its mission; it maintained strong commercial ties with Chinese and Japanese trading ports and successfully protected Silla merchants and coastal residents from pirates. Jang sent envoys called Hoyeoksa (호역사) for trading activities and cultural exchange.
It was resented by many Silla noblemen of small maritime societies because they lost their profits from private maritime trades. The noblemen of Silla sent an assassin, Yeom Jang, to assassinate Jang. After Jang's assassination, the complex was maintained by Yeom Jang himself, but the residents of Cheonghaejin, mourning Jang's death, left Cheonghaejin. They mostly moved to other regions of Silla, while some moved to China or Japan. It is recorded in Samguk Sagi that the central Silla government closed Cheongjaejin in February 851. The remaining residents were then relocated to Byeokgolgun.
Modern times
Cheonghaejin is now located in Wando County, Jeollanam-do, and is a main tourist location in the region. There is a stele commemorating the relocation of residents of Cheongjaejin to Byeokgolgun and various remains of the complex. Remains of various mercantile products and plates have been discovered in Cheongjaejin, which greatly contributed to understanding the life of Silla people.
-
Chunghaejin 01.jpg
Panoramic view of Cheonghaejin.
-
Chunghaejin 03.jpg
View seen from the ramp of Cheonghaejin. From left to right, "Oeseongmun Gate", "Naeseongmun Gate", and a shrine are shown.
-
Chunghaejin 04.jpg
A large well in front of Oeseongmun. Its vicinity is surrounded by earthen walls.
-
Chunghaejin 05.jpg
View of Oeseongmun overlooked from Naeseongmun
-
Chunghaejin 06.jpg
Part of the wall
-
Chunghaejin 07.jpg
Part of the wall sectioned to show the state of heaping and hardening of earth (panchuk in Korean).
-
Chunghaejin 08.jpg
Chi, a distinctive Korean wall style. Two chi have been preserved in Cheonghaejin.
References
- ↑ by the translators of Il-yeon's: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 102. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links