KTO chief Lee Charm shows good taste vacationing in Sancheong. http://t.co/hP4mhX5. No doubt getting a top-up of 기. http://t.co/7QfIfCj #. It’s nice to see a holiday itinerary that takes in all of the provinces. Maisan in Jinan-gun is definitely on my bucket list, but there are other things on the tour, and mentioned in the … [Read More]
Place: Gyeongsangnam-do (page 6)
Selected publications
- Michael Gibb: A Korean Odyssey: Island Hopping in Choppy Waters, Camphor Press 2020
- Vincent Brandt: An Affair with Korea: Memories of South Korea in the 1960s, University of Washington Press 2014
- Philip Gowman: Royal Ancestors and Ancient Remedies: a brief journey through Korea’s heritage, Korean Culture and Information Service 2011
- Ha Jin: War Trash, Vintage 2004
Nammyeong Cho Shik: teacher, philosopher and inspiration for the anti-Japanese resistance armies
Sancheong-gun, Thursday 5 May 2011. Students of Korean history in the Koryo and particularly the Joseon period cannot avoid grappling at some stage with the concepts of Confucianism. Distilled down to its most digestible elements, it is portrayed in the West as a deeply conservative doctrine designed to keep people in their places: wives had … [Read More]
2011 Travel Diary day 6: 16th century scholarship and a 21st century obsession
Sancheong-gun, Thursday 5 May 2011. We have a light breakfast of coffee, fruit and muffin at the pension. We are sitting outside in the sun: it is the start of a beautiful day. Mr Min arrives, and the pension owner greets him. Through the faint haze, they point out the distant peak to me: Cheonwangbong. … [Read More]
On becoming a goodwill ambassador
Sancheong-gun, Wednesday 4 May 2011. If I sometimes go on about the unique attractions of Sancheong County, at the foot of Jirisan in Gyeongsangnam-do, my sentiments are genuinely meant. The history, scenery, culture and special geomantic energy of the place all deserve frequent mention. But there’s an additional reason why I might mention Sancheong. For … [Read More]
2011 Travel Diary day 5: Sanshinje by the sacred stones
Sancheong-gun, Wednesday 4 May 2011. Today is the day when I am to be officially appointed Sancheong County’s latest goodwill ambassador, at the opening ceremony of the Sancheong Herbal Medicine Festival that evening. But first, a ritual that I had been wanting to attend since I heard about it the previous year: a sanshinje – … [Read More]
2011 Travel Diary day 4: the private side of Sancheong
Busan, Tuesday 3 May 2011. My head is still feeling slightly foggy from Sunday night, and my appetite has not yet returned, but at least I’m feeling well enough to tackle the Busan subway system for the first time. It’s a breeze, and soon I’m on my way to the Nopodong area of North Busan, … [Read More]
Chelsea flower show news, at peak blossom time in Gyeongsangsam-do
It’s peak cherry blossom time in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do http://bit.ly/fcp9gv #. And it’s good to hear that there’s going to be a Korean garden at the Chelsea Flower Show this year http://bit.ly/goVzkv #. More coverage soon. [Read More]
Seal-maker deceived his Sancheong hosts
This makes me sad. Sancheong County was very proud of its association with the presidential seal. Now we discover that the seal-maker wasn’t all he promised to be. http://bit.ly/ayUI3W # [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #37: The Last King of Gaya
Korea is rightly proud of its heritage, and submits the most select elements of its long history to UNESCO for inscribing in the list of important world heritage items. One of the most recent items to have been so listed is the Joseon Dynasty Royal Tombs. They are beautifully peaceful places to visit. Perfectly manicured … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #36: The Jirisan Forest Trail
Jirisan is the highest peak on the South Korean mainland, and the National Park in which it is set is South Korea’s largest. Most of the park is in Gyeongsangnam-do, but in the west it spills in to Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do. For walkers, the park offers a wide variety of experiences. For the hardened hiker, … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #35: Makgeolli, maeuntang and a fashion show
We sit outside in a pavilion overlooking the river as the sun goes down over the hamlet of Saengcho in the north of Sancheong County, picnicking on tiny deep-fried fish with the usual kimchi side dishes, all washed down with makgeolli. We are waiting for the rest of our party to arrive. Morgan and Yoseph … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #34: A visit to Sancheong’s finest potter
In 1592, Japan invaded Korea. Their ultimate destination was China, but they never got further than Korea, and they wrought havoc there. During their occupation, which lasted on and off until their second invasion in 1598 was repelled by Admiral Yi Sun-shin’s famous turtle ships, they sent back to Japan in their ships a human … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #33: Remembering Seong Cheol Sunim
What is Buddhism all about? I confess to knowing very little. One night of temple stay, and browsing round a few exhibitions of Buddhist art, does not qualify as a proper introduction. In Daewonsa, Neunghae Sunim took a pleasingly laid back approach to the Buddhist life. “Don’t rush things” and “Enjoy yourself” seemed to be … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #32: The Beautiful Walls of Namsa-ri
In the week that Hahoe folk village near Andong was admitted to the UNESCO heritage list, LKL recalls a visit to Namsa-ri, a less-visited but equally impressive hanok village. Friday 7 May 2010. After our visit to the Nambugun memorial museum we were feeling in sombre mood. But fortunately, lunch comes to the rescue. Sancheong … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #31: Remembering the struggle against the partisans
Sancheong County, nestling at the feet of Jirisan in Gyeongsangnam-do, has two memorial museums to the struggle between the leftist partisans and the Southern military and civilian authorities at the time of the Korean War. The key headlines of the conduct of the Korean War itself are well known: the Northern sweep southwards, the UN … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #30: Daewonsa – early morning prayers and sutra painting
Friday 7 May. I wake up at 3 o’clock. My body seems to be ready for early morning prayers even though I hadn’t signed up for them. I wanted to hear those moktaks and chants again, so I crawl into my clothes and stumble out to the main temple courtyard to wait for the prayers … [Read More]