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The Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival is an annual seasonal summer festival in South Korea held at Gungnamji, the first man-made pond in the nation, in Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Province.
In the name of the festival, Buyeo is the place. Seodong was a prince of Baekje Kingdom who became King Mu, the 30th monarch of the respective kingdom. Visitors can view 10 million lotus blossoms and a range of lotus flower varieties, including red and white lotuses as well as water lilies. This festival celebrates the beauty of lotus flowers and emphasizes the importance of wild flower preservation. Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival was designated an excellent festival four years in a row, 2015–2018, by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival, Korea's representative summer flower festival, was selected as an 'Excellent Festival' in 2015, following the promising festival for three consecutive years of Korean culture and tourism selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism from 2012 to 2014 since its inception in 2003. The festival takes place every July during the peak summer season when lotus flowers are at bloom. The festival is based on a historical love story, with programs and performance events focused on story delivery. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Many of the activities are centered on lotus, like making lotus flowers using paper and making lotus flower soap. At night, the pond is illuminated with lights and sculptures. Some popular events at the festival are the performances showcasing a royal love story, a night parade featuring Prince Seodong and Princess Seonhwa, performances of traditional music and dance, experiences of Baekje culture, and a photo contest that involves printing lotus flowers on shirts and handkerchiefs. Other activities include lotus food tasting and participating in a lotus leaf tea ceremony; a multimedia show; a lotus canoe experience; and a lotus air balloon. On the 20th Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival in 2022, a sky bike and waterside train were introduced. [1] [3] [5] [7] [8]
Chungchecheongnam-do and Chungcheongbuk-do provinces during the Baekje period (18 BCE–660 CE) were of prime importance. These provinces in the present day consist of many registered UNESCO World Heritage relics. Gungnamji Pond is an artificial pond made during King Mu's (r. 600–641) reign; he was the 30th king of Baekje Kingdom. It is Korea's first artificial pond. The lotus festival is held around Gungnamji Pond, which bears the legend of Seodang's birth. The present-day pond was restored in 1965 and 1967. In addition to that, a small pavilion, the Poryongjeong Pavilion, was set up in the middle of the pond at the end of the wooden bridge. Gungnamji Pond with Historic Site No. 135 (designated on June 10, 1964), located in Seodong Park, is the place where the legend of King Mu, who married Princess Seonhwa of Silla, dwells. The name Gungnamji's literal meaning is pond in the south of the royal palace in Korea, named according to the Samguksagi record. According to Samguksagi, there is a record that says, "In the 35th year of King Mu of Baekje (634), a pond was dug to the south of the palace, water was brought in from about 20 miles away through the 8-km waterway to plant cherry trees and willow trees around it, and an island was made in the middle of the pond, symbolizing Bangjangseonsan Mountain". Judging from this, it can be seen that this pond was a palace garden built during the reign of King Mu of Baekje. From the hill to the east of the pond, stylobates, cornerstones, pieces of roof tiles, and pieces of bowls from the Baekje period were excavated, suggesting that there must have been a palace nearby. Gungnamji Pond, which created a pavilion in the middle of a pond to express the idea of Taoism and pray for longevity, is the oldest artificial garden in Korea, and it is said that Baekje's Nojagong(노자공) went to Japan and passed on Baekje's garden landscaping techniques. It can be seen that Baekje was excellent at gardening techniques among the three kingdoms. It is a beautiful tourist destination in all four seasons. In July, the Seodong Lotus Festival, a beautiful feast of 10 million lotuses, is held, and in October and November, the Chrysanthemum Exhibition decorated with various works is held, adding to the beauty of Gungnamji Pond. [5] [9] [2] [10] [6] [11]
The love story of Seodong and Princess Seonhwa, also known as Seodongyo (Song of Seodong). In the area around Gungnamji Pond, known as the site of a palace during the Baekje era, the legend of King Mu, whose childhood name was Seodong or Madong, both meaning yam child, has been handed down. "In the kingdom of Buyeo, a widower who lived alone outside the palace near the pond to the south of the palace communicated with the dragon of Gungnamji and gave birth to a son. He is the 30th king of Baekje, King Mu (600–641)." However, life outside the palace was poor, so the family dug up and sold yams to make a living. That is why his childhood name was Seodong. Despite her poverty, Seo-dong's mother raised him with sincerity. He grew up to be a leader with a strong body and extreme filial piety. Then one night, an old man came from the palace and delivered the king's secret order to infiltrate Silla's Seorabeol and spy on state affairs. Seodong gladly accepted and disguised himself as a hemp seller to infiltrate Silla and faithfully carry out his detection activities. Then one day he heard rumors about Princess Seonhwa, the third daughter of King Jinpyeong (579–632), the 26th king of Silla, and headed to Gyeongju (then Seorabeol). Seodong went to a place where many children of Seorabeol gathered, distributed yam, and made them sing. "Princess Seonhwa gets married secretly and secretly visits Seodong every night." This song spread all over the country through the mouths of children. In the end, Princess Seonhwa, who soon reached the palace, was misunderstood and exiled. Seodong, knowing this in advance, joined her on the road. As the two met more often, love blossomed, so he brought Princess Seonhwa to Baekje. Later, Seodong earned trust from the king and eventually became King Mu of Baekje, who went on to found Mireuk Temple, giving rise to the legend of Mireuksa. There are some conflicts with the actual records of events, this legend can also be an output of the historical policy of alliance between Silla and Baekje through marriage. This legend of Seodong is a love story between a man and a woman of different nationalities and statuses. Also associated with hyangga is the Silla verse form title "Seodongyo" (Song of Seodong)". [2] [12] [13]
Baekje or Paekche was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the highest population of approximately 3,800,000 people, which was similar to that of Goguryeo and much larger than that of Silla.
The Three Kingdoms of Korea or Samguk competed for hegemony over the Korean Peninsula during the ancient period of Korean history. During the Three Kingdoms period, many states and statelets consolidated until, after Buyeo was annexed in 494 and Gaya was annexed in 562, only three remained on the Korean Peninsula: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The "Korean Three Kingdoms" contributed to what would become Korea; and the Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla peoples became the Korean people.
Jeonju is the capital and largest city of North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is both urban and rural due to the closeness of Wanju County which almost entirely surrounds Jeonju. It is an important tourist center famous for Korean food, historic buildings, sports activities, and innovative festivals.
Sabi was the third and final capital of the Korean kingdom of Baekje, from 538 until Baekje’s fall in 660 CE. The site of Sabi is located in modern-day Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Province, in South Korea.
Gimje is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea.
Queen Seondeok of Silla reigned as Queen Regnant of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first reigning queen. She was the second female sovereign in recorded East Asian history and encouraged a renaissance in thought, literature, and the arts in Silla. In Samguksagi, Queen Seondeok was described as "generous, benevolent, wise, and smart". According to the Legend of Jigwi, she was also beautiful. She developed Buddhist culture, selected great talent, and established diplomacy with the Tang Dynasty, laying the foundation for the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Queen Seondeok is known as a wise and kind monarch, making her one of the most prominent monarchs in Korean history.
Seong of Baekje was the 26th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a son of Muryeong of Baekje and is best known for making Buddhism the state religion, moving the national capital to Sabi, and reclaiming the center of the Korean Peninsula. His demise eventually came at the hands of an ally who betrayed him. The name Seong translates as 'The Holy.'
Uija of Baekje was the 31st and final ruler of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. His reign ended when Baekje was conquered by an alliance of the rival Korean kingdom Silla and China's Tang dynasty.
King Mu of Baekje (580?–641) was the 30th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the 4th son of King Wideok.
King Hye of Baekje was the 28th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Wideok of Baekje (525–598) was the 27th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of King Seong, and rose to the throne upon his father's death.
Chumo, posthumously Chumo the Saint, was the founding monarch of the kingdom of Goguryeo, and was worshipped as a god-king by the people of Goguryeo and Goryeo. Chumo was originally a Buyeo slang for an excellent archer, which became his name later. He was commonly recorded as Jumong by various Chinese literatures including history books written by Northern Qi and Tang—the name became dominant in future writings including Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa. Chumo's title was changed to Dongmyeong the Saint, literally translated to the Brilliant Saintly King of the East, at some point of time prior to compilation of Samguk Sagi (1145). His other names include Chumong, Jungmo, Nakamu, or Tomo. In Samguk Sagi, he was recorded as Jumong with the surname Go, and was also known as Junghae or Sanghae.
Jinpyeong was the 26th king of the Silla dynasty, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. King Jinpyeong followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, King Jinji, by reorganizing the central ruling system of Silla. Upon the onset of a multitude of conflicts between Baekje and Goguryeo, he sent emissaries to improve relations and strengthen ties between Silla and the Chinese dynasties Sui and Tang. He is also known for his promotion of Buddhism as a spiritual guide for the kingdom and encouraging Buddhist teachings. His 54 year long reign is the longest in Silla's history.
Gwisil Boksin was a military general of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is remembered primarily as a leader of the Baekje Revival Movement to restore the kingdom after the capital fell in 660 to the Silla–Tang alliance.
The King of Legend is a 2010 South Korean historical drama based on King Geunchogo of Baekje. Besides historical information from Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa, it was also inspired by a novel written by Lee Munyeol, a renowned Korean writer. The drama aired on KBS1 in Korea, and internationally through KBS World.
Queen Maya was a member of the Silla royal house and the wife and queen consort to King Jinpyeong of Silla, 26th King of Silla. She was of the royal Kim clan. She was the mother of Queen Seondeok of Silla.
Princess Seonhwa, which according to the Samguk Yusa, was a Silla Royal Princess as the third daughter of King Jinpyeong and Lady Maya, younger sister to Princess Deokman and Princess Cheonmyeong. She was also the queen consort of Baekje since 600 CE as the wife of King Mu.
Ballad of Seodong is a South Korean television series starring Jo Hyun-jae, Lee Bo-young, and Ryu Jin. It aired on SBS from September 5, 2005 to March 21, 2006 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 55 episodes.
Shadowless Pagoda is a 1957 South Korean film starring Choi Eun-hee (최은희) in the role of Guseul Agi (구슬아기), a free-spirited woman, and Kwak Geon (곽건) in the role of Asadal (아사달), the stonemason who created the Dabotap and Seokgatap pagodas of the Bulguksa temple. It was adapted from a 1937 novel by Hyun Jin-geon.
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