[Ko Gyu-hong's Trees and People] The Beauty of a Scholar Who Comforted Life... The White Pine Planted by Chusa

<10> Living History Jisong

Goh Kyuhong, Tree Columnist

A large tree standing alone in the field is inevitably vulnerable to wind, rain, and snowstorms. A tree without any protection must endure with its own body. It is helpless when it collapses weakly during a typhoon or lightning strike. This was the case when Typhoon Maysak hit last fall. As many as nine natural monuments were damaged. (Refer to Asia Economy, September 4, 2020)

All of these trees are precious, but among them, the Baeksong (White Pine) of Sindae-ri, Icheon, which was Natural Monument No. 253, is particularly regrettable. Not only is it a tree that does not naturally grow in Korea, with only a few old Baeksong trees remaining, but it is also a humanities resource that allows us to examine the diplomatic history with China. Now, there are only four living Baeksong trees designated as natural monuments. Seven Baeksong trees that were once natural monuments have either reached the end of their lifespan or were delisted after being toppled by typhoons.

The Baeksong of Sindae-ri, Icheon, which had large branches broken by the typhoon, was planted about 200 years ago by Min Jeong-sik, who served as the Jeolla Governor, in front of his grandfather Min Dal-yong’s grave. It is a tree that serves as a clue to explore the history of the noble Min family of Yeoheung (now Yeoju) during the late Joseon period and their relations with China. However, that beautiful Baeksong can no longer be seen.

Poet Jo Yong-mi once praised this Baeksong, saying, "White branches shining in the sunlight, with scales sparsely shed" (from the poem "Baeksong"), and expressed fear that the tree might "soar to the sky if it sheds all its bark." She added that its roots "touch the core of the Earth" and that "at night, stars orbit around using the Baeksong as a coordinate." The hymn praising the Baeksong of Sindae-ri, Icheon now remains only in the poet’s song.

Baeksong, a type of pine tree, has a unique trunk surface. With a white base color and beautiful light gray mottled patterns, Baeksong is a tree imported from China. It is relatively picky about growing conditions and does not grow well outside China, nor does it transplant easily. Recently, as more people have tried to cultivate Baeksong with its auspicious color, many have been planted and grown throughout Korea. However, these are still young Baeksong trees; large and old Baeksong trees remain rare. Baeksong is still considered a special tree.

Other names for Baeksong also derive from its white trunk and mottled patterns. In China, it is called Baipisong (白皮松), meaning "white bark pine," based on the white trunk characteristic, and also Hopisong (虎皮松), meaning "tiger skin pine," because the gray patterns resemble tiger skin. Aside from the trunk color, Baeksong is not much different from other pines. The difference lies in the way the needles grow. Unlike pines that have two needles grouped together, Baeksong has three needles growing together. Other growth characteristics are very similar to Korean pines.

Baeksong pine tree from Yesan Yonggung-ri, brought by Chusa Kim Jeonghui from Yeon-gyeong and planted in front of his great-grandfather's tomb.

One Tree That Eased Longing for Homeland and Family
Chusa Kim Jeong-hui
Baeksong Planted Upon Returning to Homeland in Yesan Yonggung-ri
A Representative Baeksong Bearing Humanities Traces

Among the still-living Baeksong trees, a representative tree bearing humanities traces is the Natural Monument No. 106 ‘Yesan Yonggung-ri Baeksong’ standing on the hill behind the Chusa (秋史) old house in Yesan, Chungnam. It was brought from China and personally planted by the great scholar of the late Joseon period, Chusa Kim Jeong-hui (1786?1856).

Kim Jeong-hui was born in Yesan but spent his childhood in Tongui-dong, Seoul, near the current Government Complex. At that time, this area housed the residence of Princess Hwasun, the second daughter of King Yeongjo, after her marriage. Princess Hwasun was married to Kim Han-shin, Kim Jeong-hui’s great-grandfather. Kim Han-shin was granted the title Wolseongwi (月城尉) by King Yeongjo, and their residence was called Wolseongwigung. Kim Han-shin died young at 39 without an heir. At that time, Kim I-ju, Kim Han-shin’s nephew, was adopted to continue the family line. Kim I-ju’s son was Kim No-gyeong, who later served as Minister of War, and Kim No-gyeong’s eldest son was Kim Jeong-hui.

Wolseongwigung had a library called Maejukheon, which stored books collected by Kim Han-shin. Maejukheon became the foundation for expanding Kim Jeong-hui’s academic world. His father, Kim No-gyeong, introduced Kim Jeong-hui to Park Je-ga, a leader of the Northern Learning faction. Park Je-ga took young Kim Jeong-hui as his disciple. Kim Jeong-hui’s interest in Qing dynasty evidential scholarship (kaozheng) was also nurtured from his early lessons with Park Je-ga.

In front of Wolseongwigung stood a tree gifted by King Yeongjo to Kim Han-shin and his wife. It was a Baeksong. The impression of Baeksong must have been very strong in the eyes of young Kim Jeong-hui. Although it looked like the pines common in Korean mountains and fields, Baeksong’s auspicious white color made it special. The Baeksong of Wolseongwigung lived a long life and grew to be the largest and most beautiful Baeksong in Korea. However, it was toppled in July 1990 by a typhoon. Everyone regretted this and tried to revive the tree, but once a tree falls, it is impossible to bring it back to life. Ultimately, the ‘Seoul Tongui-dong Baeksong,’ the oldest and most beautiful in Korea, could no longer be seen.

Kim Jeong-hui passed the Samosi (civil service examination) just after turning twenty and traveled to Qing’s capital, Yanqing (now Beijing), as an assistant to his father Kim No-gyeong. He departed on October 28, 1809, and stayed in Yanqing for just over two months. There, Kim Jeong-hui saw rows of Baeksong trees lining the roadside. Meeting a tree that could remind him of his childhood in a foreign land was no ordinary matter for Kim Jeong-hui. Through a single tree, he soothed his longing for his homeland, hometown, and beloved family.

Finally, in February 1810, the young Kim Jeong-hui returned to his homeland with a Baeksong tree in hand. It is not recorded whether he brought a sapling or seeds, so the exact form is unknown. In any case, Kim Jeong-hui carefully planted the Baeksong he brought in the hill behind his birthplace, in front of his great-grandfather Kim Heung-gyeong’s grave. He lovingly tended to it whenever he had time. The current Yesan Yonggung-ri Baeksong is that very tree.

The beautiful appearance of the Baeksong tree in Sindae-ri, Icheon before a large branch broke due to Typhoon Maysak in 2020.

Only One of the Original Three Trunks Remains
Though Small Compared to Natural Monument Standards,
The Life Story of the 19th Century’s Greatest Scholar and Artist
Seems to Unfold Gradually

It was around 1810 when Kim Jeong-hui was twenty-five years old. So this Baeksong has just passed 210 years old this year. The grave of Kim Heung-gyeong, where the tree stands, is about 600 meters northwest along a narrow road from the Chusa old house, and the tree stands right in front of that grave.

At a glance, it is clear that this is no ordinary tree. However, the tree looks more fragile than expected. Thanks to the devoted protection by the Chusa old house caretakers and villagers, its health is not poor, but its size is smaller compared to other natural monument-level trees. It could even be described as slender. Originally, the Yesan Yonggung-ri Baeksong had three trunks branching about 50 cm above the ground. However, the largest trunk and another extending westward broke long ago. Now, only one of the original three trunks remains, making it look sparse.

When quietly observing the tree, it seems as if the life story of Chusa Kim Jeong-hui, the greatest scholar and artist of the 19th century, who lived silently inside the tree for over 200 years, gradually unfolds. Considering why a tree that struggles to grow outside China grew here, and why it was planted and cherished in this place, is like searching for our history within the tree. Although it has lost its once-beautiful appearance, the tree still stands wrapped in mysterious white bark, and that is why it remains precious.

Tree Columnist

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