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Remembered as City of Filial Piety
8 COURSE
Remembered as City of Filial Piety
8 COURSE
Gongju
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the highest recognition people could receive for filial piety was having special gates built in front of their houses or monumental shrines at the mouth of their villages to honor their deeds.
Gongju is famous for numerous historical sites related to filial piety. It has a park dedicated to famous characters like Hyangdoek, a man from the ancient Silla Kingdom who was praised in history books for how he took care of his mother during years of famine, and Yi Bok, who according to lore cried on a hill after dropping a bowl of soup he had meant to bring to his mother
Filial piety is not only about loving and respecting parents but also oneself. Gongju, the old capital of the ancient Baekje Kingdom, is also a place people could learn how Confucian values and filial piety could blend into their lives and deepen their love and appreciation for their families.
Filial Son Recorded in History of Three Kingdoms Stele for Hyangdeok Recognized for Filial Piety
The monument in Gongju’s Sohak-dong honors the filial piety of Hyangdeok, who lived during the reign of King Gyeongdeok of the ancient Silla Kingdom (BC 57-AD 935). While he was a commoner without accomplishments in academia or government, the king still erected the monument to honor his famous filial behaviors. He was known to have been the first figure who was recorded for recognition of filial piety in the “Samguksagi” or “the History of the Three Kingdoms.” Since then, the village was renamed as Hyogari. A 500-year-old zelkova tree has stood by the monument which was built some 1,500 years ago for Hyangdeok.
Location | 76-6, Sohak-dong, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Foundation | 1741
Purpose | Memorial
Crying Over Spilled Soup Bowl for Mother Memorial Monument for Filial Piety of Yi Bok
The tale of Yi Bok, a man who lived during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), is also filial piety. Yi took care of his elderly sick mother for years. When he spilled a bowl of soup while rushing to bringing it to his mother, he broke down crying, devastated that his mother would starve that day.
The spot where he was said to have cried is “Gaenggyeonggol,” which means “spilling a bowl of soup on the valley.” Currently the spot has been developed as the Gukgogae Culture Street, one of the city’s tourist attractions.
Location | San7, Ongryong-dong, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do
oundation | Late Goryeo
urpose | Memorial
Chungcheongnam-do’s First Royally Chartered Confucian Academy Surrounded by Maple Tree Forest Chunghyeonseowon Confucian Academy
The Chunghyeonseowon Confucian Academy is the region’s first royally chartered Confucian academy. Its signboard that says “Chunghyeon” was issued by the Joseon Dynasty’s government in 1624
The academy kept its status as the region’s only royally chartered institution for about 30 years until Donamseowon received a royal license in 1660. The academy is also a tourist attraction, famous for its fall foliage that creates a beautiful backdrop for its buildings with red columns.
Location | San 7, Ongryong-dong, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Foundation | Late Goryeo
Purpose | Memorial