Maechang Park was created to commemorate the Buan renowned beauty and female writer Imaechang, famous in the Joseon Dynasty along with Hwang Jini and Heo Nanseolheon. Imaechang (1573~1610) was a female poet during King Seonjo's reign; her name was Gyesaeng or Hyanggeum, her courtesy name Cheonhyang, and her pen name Maechang. Born as the daughter of Itangjong in Hyeon-ri, Buan, she learned literature from her father and excelled in classical Chinese poetry, as well as dance and especially the geomungo. She was also skilled in sijo, with several poems attributed to her. Her representative work, "Ihwau Heunillje," is considered a masterpiece of farewell poetry. Buan-gun has established a cultural park including stone monuments inscribed with her poems, forests, Maechang Theme Exhibition Hall, wetland park, Buan Culture Center, and Yuheegyeong Plaza. Additionally, facilities like a children's playground, walking paths, and basketball courts are provided. Trees and flowers are planted along park trails, accompanied by sculptures and resting spots. At night, the park is illuminated for pleasant evening walks. The Buan Masil Festival is held in May at Maechang Park.
This is the tomb of Imae Chang, a mid-Joseon dynasty gisaeng and female poet, located in Maechang Park, Buan-eup, Buan-gun. It is designated as a cultural monument of Jeonbuk-teukbyeoljachi-do. The preservation status is relatively good, and in front of the tomb stands a memorial stone inscribed with 'Myeongwon Imae Changji Myo (名媛李梅窓之墓)'. Maechang Park was originally the site of a communal cemetery, which was relocated due to urban expansion. However, due to opposition from local residents, only Imae Chang's tomb and that of the famous Buan-born singer Lee Jung-seon remained, leading to the creation of the current poetry and literature park. Imae Chang was born in 1573 as the illegitimate daughter of Lee Yang-jong from Hyeon-ri, Buan. Her courtesy name was Cheonhyang, and her pen name was Maechang. She excelled in poetry and dance until her death at age 37, rivaling the renowned Joseon-era gisaeng Hwang Jin-i. She learned Chinese characters from her father and was known for her poetry and calligraphy, considered one of the leading female poets of Joseon. Her representative poem 'Ihwa-u' is included in the sijo anthology 'Gagok-wonryu'. Although many of her poems were lost, in 1668 local officials in Buan memorized them and made a woodblock-printed collection titled 'Maechangjip' at Gaeamsa Temple.
Dangganjiju are stone flagpole holders installed at the entrance of temples, where a flag called a danggan is hung during temple events or ceremonies. The long pole on which this flag is placed is the danggan, and the two stone pillars supporting it on both sides are the dangganjiju. Rarely, the danggan pole remains intact, but usually only the two pillars survive. This dangganjiju is a rare case where both the danggan and dangganjiju remain, with the dangganjiju standing on a square pedestal stone and the danggan placed between them. The danggan consists of several stone pieces connected by iron rings, a unique form. It reaches a height of 7.45 m, though there are traces of a break at the top, suggesting it was originally much taller. The outer upper surfaces of the pillars on both sides are rounded and trimmed. According to tradition, when misfortune or disaster was expected in the village, flags were hung on this danggan and ceremonies were held. This custom, unlike the original purpose of the danggan used in temple events, developed by combining folk beliefs during the Unified Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon periods. An inscription at the base of the danggan records that the dangganjiju was erected in the 12th year of King Hyeonjong of Joseon (1671).
Dangsan is an object of folk belief believed to have a deity. Nammunan Dangsan was originally located at Chwiwonmunru, also called Geonseonru, known as the site of the south gate of the walled town during the Joseon Dynasty, and was moved to its current location in 1992. This Dangsan, which seems to have functioned as a guardian deity protecting the fortress, consists of two granite stones shaped like a single pillar, becoming narrower toward the top. In the middle of the upper stone pillar are four carved turtles, and one side of the lower pillar lists the names of 24 people who participated in making the pillar. Every year on the first full moon of the lunar new year, a Dangsan ritual was held to pray for the village's safety and abundant harvest, and a tug-of-war was held to strengthen community ties. The rope used in the tug-of-war was also used in the 'clothing' ritual, a ceremony wrapping the rope around the Dangsan stone.
Hyanggyo were national educational institutions of the Joseon Dynasty established to enshrine the spirit tablets of great Confucian scholars, perform rituals, and provide education and moral guidance to local people. During the Joseon Dynasty, they received land and slaves from the state and instructors taught students, but after the Gabo Reform of 1894, which marked the start of modern education, their educational function was abolished. It was founded in 1414 (the 14th year of King Taejong's reign), destroyed during the Imjin War and the Jeongyu War, and then rebuilt in 1600 (the 33rd year of King Seonjo's reign) with Daeseongjeon and Myeongnyundang. Existing structures include Daeseongjeon, a three-bay facade and two-bay side gable roof building; Myeongnyundang and Manhwaryu, each with a three-bay facade and two-bay hip-and-gable roof; as well as Yangsajae, Dongjae, Seojae, Hongsalmun, and Hamabi.
Seonghwangsa is a small hermitage-style temple located within Seorim Park at the foot of Sangso Mountain (Seonghwangsan) in Dongjung-ri, Buan-eup, Buan-gun. Seonghwangsa is a branch temple of Seonunsa, the head temple of the 24th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Since its founding, the temple has been called Seonghwangdangsa, which, along with the local community guardian shaman shrines (dangsan) in the Buan area, helps to determine the location of Seonghwangsa in Buan. Furthermore, Buan features twelve springs and a walled town with East, West, and South gates; its moat and guardian deities imply that Seonghwangsa was established as the guardian temple of Buan-eupseong (walled town). The temple holds large Buddhist ceremonies in January, on Buddha's Birthday, and during Baekjung, but does not hold ceremonies on the winter solstice, as mountain hiking in winter is considered hazardous for the devotees. From the top of Sangso Mountain, one can overlook the entire Buan region.
