Changseok Sadang

About this place

Changseok Sadang enshrines the memorial tablet of Yi Jun, whose pen name was Changseok. First built in 1656, it was moved in 1771 (the 41st year of King Yeongjo's reign) together with Wolgan Sadang to the site of Chehwadang. Changseok Sadang and Wolgan Sadang share the same structure. The gatehouse originally had, across its 5-kan front from the left, a gatekeeper's room, the main gateway, a storeroom, a room, and a kitchen; but the front of the main gateway was walled with earth and the front of the storeroom was opened up and remodeled into a wooden-floored hall. For the shrine, a platform was laid with long dressed stones, round-hewn plinths were set, and round pillars were raised. The roof is double-eaved, and wind boards were fitted to the gable ends on both sides. Chehwadang was built in 1632 (the 10th year of King Injo) by Sin-gyu, the third son of Yi Jeon, and was the house where Yi Jeon lived. Among its buildings are Changdeok Sadang and Wolgan Sadang, which honors Yi Jeon. Here "chehwa" symbolizes brothers living in harmony. Yi Jeon was a righteous-army commander during the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjinwaeran); when his younger brother Yi Jun was dying of illness at the Battle of Baekhwasan, Yi Jeon risked his own life to carry his brother on his back out of the battlefield and save him, and the Hyeongje Geumnando, a painting depicting the brothers' affection, has been handed down.