'Jeonju Gaeksa' Existing Since the Goryeo Dynasty

Jeonju City Conducts Excavation Survey of Pungpaejigwan (Jeonju Gaeksa)... Secures Data to Reveal Scale, Construction History, and Evolution Process

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hanho] Excavation results suggest that Jeonju Pungpaejigwan (guesthouse), located in the center of Jeonju city, may have existed since the Goryeo Dynasty.

In particular, the confirmation of a guesthouse from the Goryeo Dynasty is extremely rare except for the site of Imyeonggwan in Gangneung, raising expectations that the cultural heritage value of Jeonju Guesthouse and the prestige of the thousand-year-old city of Jeonju will be enhanced.

Jeonju City announced on the 22nd that through excavation of the Joseon Dynasty guesthouse, the treasure Jeonju Pungpaejigwan, they secured important data that can reveal the scale, construction history, and transformation process of Pungpaejigwan.

The excavation revealed remains of a Woldae (月臺, a wide pedestal-type platform installed in front of important buildings such as palaces or main halls), a central staircase connected to the south of the Woldae, and paving stone facilities around the Woldae. Artifacts from the early Joseon period, such as phoenix-patterned roof tiles and Buncheong ceramics, were unearthed within the remains, allowing confirmation of the original form, construction date, and status of Pungpaejigwan.

The Woldae facility, measuring 17.5m east-west and 5.2m north-south, located south of the Pungpaejigwan building, had been presumed to exist based on late Joseon period old maps, but this excavation confirmed its entire appearance for the first time.

Additionally, Buncheong ceramic fragments were found inside the Woldae, suggesting that this Woldae was constructed around the 15th century.

The central staircase is installed in the center south of the Woldae facility and is 2m wide. Excavation results show that only one step remains, with an additional row of stair treads confirmed at the end. The paving stone facilities were mainly found concentrated to the south and east around the Woldae and staircase facilities.

Below the Joseon Dynasty Woldae and paving stone facilities, land formation layers from the Goryeo Dynasty and the Unified Silla period were also identified.

Most notably, in the Goryeo Dynasty land formation layer, remains of a foundation building from the early Goryeo period were found south of Dongikheon, along with Goryeo Dynasty roof tile fragments stamped with the inscription ‘Jeonju Guesthouse Byeong-o Year Built (全州客舍 丙午年造)’, inlaid celadon fragments, Ilhwi-mun roof tiles, building wall fragments, and jeondol (roof ridge tiles).

According to excavation officials, these artifacts are important evidence that Jeonju Guesthouse existed since the Goryeo Dynasty.

Historical records suggesting that Jeonju Guesthouse existed since the Goryeo Dynasty include poems written by Lee Gyubo, a civil official of the Goryeo Dynasty, when he was appointed as the administrator of Jeonju-mok around 1199?1200. These poems, set against the backdrop of Jeonju Guesthouse, are preserved in the Dongguk Isanggukjip. Referring to this record, Jeonju City explains that it can be inferred that Jeonju Guesthouse existed at least before 1199 (the 25th year of King Myeongjong of Goryeo).

In addition, the excavation also uncovered traces of a stepped stone foundation (a foundation method where a pit is dug until natural ground is reached and layers of gravel called jeoksimseok are compacted and piled up) in the Unified Silla period land formation layer, along with roof tiles stamped with the character ‘官’ (government), pottery, and other artifacts. The Unified Silla period land formation layer is widely distributed not only around Pungpaejigwan but also throughout the old Jeonju city area including Jeolla Gamyeong and Gyeonggijeon, suggesting that large-scale civil engineering works were carried out with the establishment of Wansanju during the Unified Silla period.

Jeonju Pungpaejigwan is an important building that enshrines the royal symbol of the palace tablet (Jeonpae, a wooden tablet inscribed with the character ‘闕’ kept in guesthouses of each district during the Joseon Dynasty), performs Manggwallye (望闕禮, a ritual bowing ceremony performed while looking at the palace from afar when direct audience with the king is not possible), and welcomes foreign envoys. However, due to relatively few historical records, the exact construction and repair history had been unclear.

Accordingly, Jeonju City conducted a detailed excavation targeting two areas: the southern zone of the main building of Pungpaejigwan and the western zone, presumed to have had warehouses and walls, to understand the scale, form, and construction period of Pungpaejigwan and to secure basic data for preservation and maintenance.

Based on the excavation results, Jeonju City plans to establish a comprehensive maintenance plan by the end of this year, including restoration plans for Pungpaejigwan and measures to enhance its status as a cultural heritage.

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hanho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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