Chasing Autumn: Two Ancient Ginkgo Trees in Geumsan, South Korea

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Encountering two ginkgo trees in the departing autumn.

Located at 329-8 Yogwang-ri, Chubu-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do.

When you think of autumn, the first tree that comes to mind is the ginkgo tree.

Currently, there are 25 ginkgo trees designated as natural monuments in Korea, and two of them are in Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do.

One is the Yogwang-ri ginkgo tree, and the other is the Boseoksa Temple ginkgo tree. Both trees have different charms, so I recommend visiting both places.

I visited both trees on the same day. First, I will introduce the Yogwang-ri ginkgo tree.

■ Yogwang-ri Ginkgo Tree

▲ Yogwang-ri Ginkgo Tree visible from afar

The Yogwang-ri ginkgo tree reveals its yellow presence from afar, even before crossing the Yogwang Bridge!

This ginkgo tree, which appears in the writings of Yulgok Yi I, was designated as Natural Monument No. 84 on December 3, 1962. Originally, it was called 'Geumsan Haengjeong's Ginkgo Tree' because it was located next to a pavilion called 'Haengjeongheon,' but its name was changed to 'Geumsan Yogwang-ri Ginkgo Tree' in 2005.

As of the natural monument designation date, its age was estimated to be around 1000 years old, with a height of 24m and a chest height circumference of 12.93m.

At the time, the trunk was rotting and hollow like a cave, but it has been carefully managed to prevent further decay by filling it with cement and installing ventilation nets, and it continues to stand healthy to this day.

▲ Branch of Yogwang-ri Ginkgo Tree

According to legend, the south branch broke off in 1905 due to a strong wind, and its size was so great that the length of the branch alone reached 30m. The residents used the broken south branch to make dining tables for 3 years, and 20 years later, when the northeast branch also broke, they made 37 coffins.

Currently, the only remaining branch is the one facing north, but even so, the energy and grandeur emanating from one ginkgo tree are remarkable.

▲ Wish papers on the Yogwang-ri Ginkgo Tree

The villagers considered this ginkgo tree to be very sacred. So, they believed that if a dull child was left under the tree for about an hour at night, their mind would become sharper, and if they boiled and ate the leaves, the cough of the elderly would subside, and if they prayed earnestly to the tree, they could have a son.

It was also believed that if something bad happened to the country or village, this tree would make a sound to let them know, and even if an epidemic broke out in the village, the disaster could be avoided by holding a memorial service for the tree every three days.

Therefore, even today, on the third day of the first lunar month every year, the residents of Haengjeong Village hold a mountain god ritual and a Hyangmok ritual under the ginkgo tree.

The Hyangmok ritual is also called Haengdanje, Haengmokje, or Moksinje, and since 2020, the Geumsan Culture Center has hosted and the Yogwang-ri Moksinje Promotion Committee has organized the Yogwang-ri Ginkgo Tree Moksinje every year on the last weekend of October. This year, on October 26, the 7th Yogwang-ri Ginkgo Tree Moksinje was held to pray for the peace and prosperity of the village, and many people participated, so there are now numerous earnest wish papers hanging on the ginkgo tree.

▲ Yogwang-ri Ginkgo Tree

Next to it is a pavilion.

The 'Haengjeong' pavilion, built 500 years ago by a Haeju Oh clan ancestor who lived in the village when he was the Jeolla Governor, means 'pavilion of the ginkgo tree.' Over time, the 'Haengjeong' of that time collapsed and disappeared, and recently a new hexagonal pavilion was built and restored under the name 'Haengjeongheon.'

▲ View from the opposite side

■ Boseoksa Temple Ginkgo Tree

Another natural monument ginkgo tree is located about 25 minutes away by car from the Yogwang-ri ginkgo tree. It is the ginkgo tree of Boseoksa Temple. It was designated as Natural Monument No. 365 on August 2, 1990.

▲ Boseoksa Temple Parking Lot

The Boseoksa Temple parking lot was quite large compared to the size of the temple. The large parking lot was filled with visitors who came to see the autumn of Boseoksa Temple. As I walked along the path to see the ginkgo tree, the maple trees were beautifully colored. I could feel the autumn atmosphere.

▲ Boseoksa Temple Maple Tree Road

As you walk up a little while looking at the maple trees, visitors stop and look at one side, unable to hide their surprise. There, a ginkgo tree of Boseoksa Temple boasts its sacred appearance and has been standing for 1100 years. Unfortunately, almost 90% or more of the leaves had fallen, but its majesty was truly amazing. I had seen it in advance on the Internet before visiting, but I never imagined it would be this big.

▲ Boseoksa Temple Ginkgo Tree

I visited Boseoksa Temple on the same day as the Yogwang-ri ginkgo tree, but the leaves fell faster at Boseoksa Temple. Even if the wind blew gently, the ginkgo leaves fell like rain. So many leaves had fallen that I thought there was nothing left to fall, but seeing the large amount of ginkgo leaves falling, I realized that the 1100-year-old ginkgo tree was different.

▲ Wish papers hanging on the Boseoksa Temple Ginkgo Tree

In front of it, strings with visitors' wishes were tied. Next to it, pens and wish papers are prepared for free use by any visitor.

▲ The appearance of ginkgo leaves falling in the wind

This ginkgo tree, which is said to have been planted by Monk Jogudaesa and his disciples around the time of the founding of Boseoksa Temple in 885 (11th year of King Heongang of Silla), is estimated to be over 1100 years old. It is 34m tall, 10.72m in circumference at chest height, and the length of the branches is 24m from east to west and 20.7m from north to south.

▲ Ginkgo leaves fallen from one tree

There is also a story about the Boseoksa Temple ginkgo tree. It is said that it made a sound on its own to warn of danger when a major event occurred in the country or village. It is said to have actually cried out during the liberation in 1945, the war in 1950, and the severe drought in 1992, so the villagers believe that this ginkgo tree protects the village.

Source :https://blog.naver.com/sinmunman/224089329210

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