The Reality of Baekje's Detached Palace at Buyeo Hwajisan Revealed

Cultural Heritage Administration Conducts Excavation Survey in the Western Part of Hwaju Mountain Site, Buyeo

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] Baekje moved its capital from Ungjin to Buyeo in 538. To the south of the new urban area, there is a hill. It is Hwajisan (48m above sea level), where Manghaejeong (望海亭), the Baekje royal detached palace site (Igungji, 離宮址), is said to have been located. An Igung is a detached palace where the king stayed during his travels. It is built separately from the main palace (Jeonggung, 正宮) where official affairs are conducted. So far, building sites, foundation stones, and roof tile fragments from the Baekje to Joseon periods have been excavated here. Tombs such as pit graves and stone chamber tombs, as well as wooden palisade facilities, have also been confirmed, but their distribution range and characteristics have not been specifically identified.

On the 28th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it will conduct an excavation survey of the western single hill area of the Buyeo Hwajisan site (Historic Site No. 425) in cooperation with Buyeo County and the Baekje Historic City Cultural Foundation. The site is located at 125-1, Dongnam-ri, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun. It is a single hill about 20m above sea level on the west side of the Hwajisan site, offering a panoramic view of Buyeo city. The investigation team plans to focus on clarifying the distribution range and characteristics of the site while gradually collecting basic data for site maintenance. A Cultural Heritage Administration official said, “Along with UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Gwanbuk-ri site and Busosanseong Fortress, this is an important site that reveals the reality of the Baekje Sabi period royal palace,” adding, “There is a high possibility that major Baekje period facilities exist here.”

This is not the first excavation at this location. The Baekje Historic City Cultural Foundation and the National Buyeo Cultural Heritage Research Institute have been conducting excavations from 1986 until last year. As a result, building groups were confirmed on the mountain summit and slopes. In particular, on the western slope, six stone foundation buildings, a filling facility (jeoksim), terraced land formation layers, and pedestal facilities were discovered. Jeoksim (積心) refers to a facility where the area beneath the stone foundation supporting a building pillar is dug out and filled with gravel or other materials. Lotus-patterned sumaksae (round-shaped roof tiles used to finish the roof), roof tiles stamped or inscribed with seals or writing, bowls, lids, daebuwan, and green-glazed roof tiles were also excavated, providing a glimpse into the Baekje Sabi period detached palace. A bowl (wan) is a coarse earthenware vessel with a narrow bottom and wide top. Daebuwan is a coarse earthenware vessel with narrow top and bottom and a bulging belly shape.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.