Chilbaekuichong (Tomb of 700 Righteous Men), Geumsan

About this place

Chilbaeguichong is a burial site located to the north of the county seat of Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do. It is the grave of 700 righteous fighters who died in battle against the Japanese army in August 1592 (the 25th year of King Seonjo), shortly after the outbreak of the Imjin War, under the command of Jo Heon and the monk Yeonggyu. Four days after the battle, Jo Heon's disciples Park Jeong-ryang and Jeon Seung-eop laid the remains of the 700 martyrs in a single grave and named it Chilbaeguichong (Grave of the Seven Hundred Martyrs). Later, in 1603 (the 36th year of King Seonjo), the Monument to the Martyrdom of the Army led by Master Jungbong Jo Heon was erected, and in 1647 (the 25th year of King Injo) a shrine was built to enshrine the memorial tablets of the 700 martyrs. However, during the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese destroyed the facilities and forcibly sold off the land of Chilbaeguichong, leaving it to fall into ruin and thus obliterating this anti-Japanese historic site. After liberation, in 1952, the county residents raised funds to rebuild the grave and shrine; in 1970 the burial area was expanded and the shrine and monument were newly built, and in 1976 a memorial hall was constructed, bringing it to its present state. It was designated a Historic Site in 1963, and some of the relics have been designated Treasures. A memorial rite is held every year on September 23 at 3 p.m.