Busan Gakseoheok (Rock Inscription at Busan)

About this place

A gakseoheok is an inscription carved into rock. The Busan Gakseoheok is a stone inscription located on the eastern slope of Busan, a mountain rising on the western bank of the Baengma River in Buyeo. It is preserved inside a three-bay-by-two-bay pavilion called Daejae-gak, which was built into the cut mountain face. From here, the Buyeo townscape and Busosanseong Fortress can be seen across the river. Its origin traces to Yi Gyeong-yeo (1585–1657), a civil official of the late Joseon period, who petitioned King Hyojong to attack Qing China and avenge the humiliation of the Byeongja Horan (1636-37 Manchu invasion). King Hyojong respectfully declined in practice while honoring Yi's intentions. The Confucian scholar Song Si-yeol (Uam, 1607–1689) selected eight characters from the king's reply — 'jitong jaeshin, ilmo dowon' — and passed them to Yi's son Yi Min-seo. In 1700 (the 26th year of King Sukjong), Yi's grandson Yi Myeong had these characters carved into the rock. A pavilion was built to protect the inscription and named Daejae-gak, meaning 'the royal words are great.' The site was designated a Chungcheongnam-do Tangible Cultural Heritage in 1976.