Maecheonsa is a shrine enshrining the spirit tablet of Maecheon Hwang Hyun (1855–1910). Hwang Hyun was a loyalist martyr, poet, and writer during the late Joseon period. He was born in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do, and showed talent for poetry and literary skills from an early age. In 1894, faced with the Donghak Peasant Movement, Gabo Reforms, and the First Sino-Japanese War, he felt a crisis and wrote "Maecheon Yarok (梅泉野錄)" and "Ohagi Gimon (梧下記聞)" to pass down his experiences and insights to future generations. In November 1905, when Japan forcibly concluded the Eulsa Treaty and deprived Korea of its sovereignty, he, along with Kim Taek-yeong, attempted a movement to restore national sovereignty but failed. In August 1910, when Japan forcibly annexed the country, he left four death poems and a will before committing suicide by ingesting opium. In 1962, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation (Civil Merit). Along with Lee Geon-chang and Kim Taek-yeong, he is called the Three Talents of the Late Joseon (Hanmal Samjae). This shrine, built in 1955 by his descendants and local Confucian scholars on the site where he lived, has a front width of three kan and a side width of one kan, with a roof featuring a gable roof in the shape of the Chinese character for 'person' (人) when viewed from the side.
Suhan Village is a village located in Gwangui-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, preserving the scenery of a rural village. The name Suhan comes from 'Mulhan-i,' meaning cold water. Matching the village name, murals of water play are painted on the walls. There is a zelkova tree in the village that is 520 years old, where a yearly Dangsan Festival is held to pray for the village's peace. Legend says that if the 520-year-old tree's leaves bloom all at once, there will be a good harvest; if they bloom in two or three stages, there will be a poor harvest. In spring, the cornelian cherry is spectacular, and the village stone wall paths and old persimmon trees create an antique atmosphere.
This is a village located in Banggwang-ri, Gwangui-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do. Banggwang was once the central village of Gurye. During the Joseon Dynasty, it produced military grains used on battlefields and sent them to various places. Until the 1930s, it was bustling with travelers because it was the gateway from Namwon to Gurye. Banggwang Village is a large village formed in a field and contains a rice mill inside. In the middle of the village stands a zelkova tree designated as a protected tree, slowly telling the village's long history. The stone walls lining the alleys are also worth seeing. Additionally, this village is the gateway village to Cheoneunsa Temple and Jirisan Seongsamjae. Although the Dullegil trail does not pass through, it will be a good trip if you visit when time permits.
This stone Buddha stands at the northern reservoir edge of Sangdae village in Daejeon-ri, Gwangui-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, an area also known as Mireukgol. The face, worn and faded by wind and rain, has an oval shape with a narrow space between the curls and eyebrows, a narrow forehead, and slightly dimpled cheeks giving a plump and gentle smile. The hand gesture shows the right hand covering the left, a form somewhat deformed over time. Next to the Buddha is an 80 cm tall kneeling Gongyang statue, with two stone pillars nearby. Unlike the usual seated Biraseonabuls, this standing Buddha is very unique. During a 1992 survey, foundation stones, roof tile fragments, and brick pieces were found nearby, suggesting it was once a temple. It serves as important material for studying the transition of hand gestures from late Unified Silla to early Goryeo period. Hwaeomsa Temple is 9.2 km away, about 15 minutes by car.
Cheoneunsa Temple is located 9 km north of Gurye-eup, at the entrance of the Jirisan loop road. It was established in 828 (the 3rd year of King Heungdeok of Silla) by Monk Deokun and the Indian monk ‘Sri’, originally called Hwacheonyangsa. Together with Hwaeomsa, it is counted among the three great temples of Jirisan. The temple burned during the Japanese invasions of Korea but was rebuilt in 1610 (the 2nd year of King Gwanghae of Joseon) by Monk Hyejeong. It burned again in 1676 (the 2nd year of King Sukjong), was rebuilt the following year, and then was damaged by fire in 1773 (the 49th year of King Yeongjo). Monk Hyeam rebuilt it in 1775 (the 51st year of Yeongjo), and it has remained since then. Originally named Gamrosa for its clear, cold spring water said to clear the mind, the temple once housed over a thousand monks and was promoted as the best southern temple during King Chungnyeol of Goryeo’s reign. After the Japanese invasions, when the temple was rebuilt, a large viper often appeared by the spring and was killed, after which the spring dried up. In 1677 (the 4th year of King Sukjong), the temple was renamed Cheoneunsa, meaning “Hidden Spring.” Following the renaming, mysterious fires and disasters occurred frequently, which locals attributed to killing the viper guarding the temple’s spirit. When calligrapher Lee Gwang-sa, one of Joseon’s four top calligraphers, wrote a flowing-script signboard for Cheoneunsa, fires ceased. Even today, in the quiet at dawn, the sound of flowing water is said to be faintly heard from the temple gate’s signboard.
