Cheonjeongdae (Baekje Council Rock)

About this place

The Cheonjeongdae rock is a place that has been venerated as sacred since ancient times, where councils were held to select Baekje prime ministers. Going up the Baengma River from Busosanseong Fortress, one comes to a rock called Beombawi (Tiger Rock); to its northeast lie the 'Royal Rock', where the king offered sacrifices to heaven, and the 'Vassal Rock', where ministers also offered sacrifices to heaven — together this area is called Cheonjeongdae. Records state that when the Baekje court was to choose a prime minister, the candidates' names were sealed and placed on this rock, and when the seal was opened, the person whose name bore the imprint of a stamp was selected as prime minister. Through the legend of the king and his vassals offering sacrifices to heaven here, one can see that heavenly mandate was valued highly and earnestly followed; and through the record of selecting a prime minister by council, one can infer that remnants of tribal custom persisted. The scenic beauty of this site also suggests that when deliberating affairs of state, natural scenery was carefully considered. Cheonjeongdae is a rocky mountain that has been much eroded, so surviving relics and artefacts are scant and its full picture cannot be confirmed; however, a Baekje-era lotus-patterned roof tile and tile fragments have been excavated nearby. Below the mountain to the west, along the riverbank, is the village of Hoam-ri, where the remains of Baekje's Hoamsa Temple site survive.