Bak Mun-su Myo

About this place

This is the tomb of Gieun Bak Mun-su (1691-1756), a civil official of the late Joseon period famous as a secret royal inspector (amhaeng-eosa). Bak Mun-su was a minister during the reign of King Yeongjo of Joseon; his courtesy name was Seongbo and his pen name Gieun. Having received royal commands, he went out several times as an inspector, purging corrupt officials and relieving the suffering common people; his merits were recognized and he later became Chief State Councillor (Yeonguijeong). The area of Eunji-ri, Bungmyeon, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, is known as Bak Mun-su's sapaeji (rice paddies and fields bestowed by the king). Bak Mun-su was enrolled as a Bunmu Merit Subject for his service in suppressing the Yi In-jwa Rebellion in the late Joseon period, and was granted land in this region; after his death he was buried on Eunseoksan Mountain in Eunji-ri, which led the Goryeong Bak clan to settle in Cheonan. A legend is handed down that Bak Mun-su himself chose the site of his tomb. Today his tomb lies in a sunny spot near the summit of Eunseoksan.