Exploring the Significance of Sinri Shrine in Dangjin, South Korea
Dangjin, located in South Chungcheong Province, is an important area for understanding the history of Catholic persecution in Korea.
A pilgrimage route has been established in this region, allowing visitors to walk along the traces of faith from that time. This route won the 2016 Asia Urban Landscape Award and was selected as the 'Walking Path of the Month' in 2019, recognizing its historical and cultural value.
At the center of this pilgrimage route is Sinri Shrine, a space of religious significance that also attracts many general visitors and travelers due to its open natural scenery.
At the entrance of the shrine, there are ample facilities including a large parking lot, restrooms, restaurants, and a cultural tourism interpretation center, making it easy for first-time visitors to explore without any burden.
The cultural tourism interpretation program operated by Dangjin City runs from 10 AM to 4 PM, with extended hours until 5 PM during the summer.
Sinri Shrine is a representative community where believers lived during the period of Catholic persecution in the late Joseon Dynasty.
Bishop Antonio Daveluy stayed here for about 21 years, conducting missionary work and documenting the social and religious realities of Joseon.
The entire shrine is designed to flow naturally along the pilgrimage route. At the entrance, there is a Stations of the Cross symbolizing Jesus's passion, with 14 sculptures installed in succession.
Walking slowly along this path creates an atmosphere conducive to contemplation and reflection. In the wide grassy area, there are chapels honoring five saints related to Sinri Shrine, each featuring statues and scripture that invite quiet contemplation.
At the center of the shrine is the Martyrdom Art Museum, an architectural structure harmonizing with the surrounding nature, creating a symbolic landscape of Sinri Shrine along with the expansive lawn.
The museum operates from 9 AM to 5 PM and is closed on Mondays, with no admission fee. Generally, the visiting hours for Sinri Shrine are based on the museum's operating hours.
Inside the museum, there are exhibits explaining the formation of the Sinri community and the history of Catholic persecution, along with artworks depicting the history of Korean Catholic martyrs.
Thanks to its accessibility via sea routes and connections with neighboring communities, believers gathered in Sinri, and by the 19th century, the entire village had grown into a large community of believers.
During the Gihae persecution in 1839, a believer from Sinri was the first to be martyred, and in the 1866 Byeongin persecution, several believers, including Bishop Daveluy, were arrested and martyred.
This historical narrative is calmly organized and presented through the exhibits. The underground exhibition hall is the only martyrdom art museum in Korea that highlights the history of Catholic persecution through artworks.
Here, portraits of the five saints related to Sinri Shrine, created by Korean painter Ilang Lee Jong-sang over three years, are on display, delicately expressing the figures of the saints based on traditional painting techniques.
The exhibition also features 13 martyrdom record paintings.
These artworks capture the process of the missionaries' arrival, the formation of the community, and the lives of believers who maintained their faith amidst persecution, culminating in their martyrdom, blending historical documentation with artistry.
Detailed explanations are provided in front of each artwork to help visitors understand the historical context and flow of events.
After the visit, ascending to the Sky Observatory offers a panoramic view of the shrine, the Stations of the Cross, and the surrounding fields, creating a scene where historical significance and natural beauty coexist, making it a must-visit spot for many.
As you move from the museum to the church, you will encounter the facade adorned with reliefs of Jesus and the five saints.
Mass is held inside the church from Tuesday to Sunday at 11 AM. The bishop's residence remaining within the shrine completes the historical landscape of Sinri Shrine.
The bishop's residence was where Bishop Daveluy stayed and is also the birthplace of Saint Thomas Son Jae-seon, dedicated to the church in 1927 through donations from local believers.
Sinri Shrine is a space accessible not only to pilgrims but also to general visitors. Even without a religious background, one can understand the history of the late Joseon period and the lives of people at that time, making it a place where one can spend ample time quietly walking and enjoying the scenery.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/dangjin2030/224164005220
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