Gwangju Chungminsa Shrine enshrines the portrait and memorial tablets of General Jeon Sang, who died fighting the Qing army at Anju Fortress during the Jeongmyo Horan. General Jeon Sang was a distinguished commander during the Imjin War and Jeongyu War. After the war ended, he was posthumously honored with the title Jaheon Daebu Byeongjo Panseo and Governor of Uigeumbu. His body was moved from Anju to his birthplace Gwangju and buried on July 26th of the same year on Pyeongdu Mountain, visible to the west from this site. In 1977, local citizens designated the general’s tomb as a local cultural monument, and Chungminsa was completed in 1985. The site includes the shrine housing his portrait and tablets, the Sui Gate, Jeongryegak Pavilion, and a museum exhibiting the general’s relics (armor, helmet, bow, sword, official document, letter, and official order). Additionally, a street running from Gwangju High School to Sagudong is named Guseong-ro in his honor.
Unam Seowon is a Confucian academy established in 1708 in Buk-gu, Gwangju Gwangyeoksi, by the petition of local Confucian scholars. It enshrines the mid-Joseon Dynasty scholar Haegwang (海狂) Song Jemin (宋齊民). In 1709 (the 35th year of King Sukjong), it also honored Changrang (滄浪) Go Gyeongri (高敬履), cousin of Jeibong (霽峯) Go Gyeongmyeong (高敬命), a militia leader during the Imjin War, and a Joseon Seonjo-era Confucian student. Additionally, the seowon commemorates Song Ta (宋柁), Gwon Pil (權鞸), Sin Pil (申鞸), and Sin Hanju (申漢柱). The seowon houses wooden printing blocks of the "Haegwangjip (海狂集)", a collection of works by Song Jemin, which were made for publishing his literary works.
Pungamjeong Pavilion is a pavilion built during the Joseon Dynasty under kings Seonjo and Injo by Pungam Kim Deok-bo, with the name Pungam taken from his pen name. The name Pungam means a beautiful scenery combining maple and rocks. During the Japanese invasions of 1592, his eldest brother Kim Deok-hong died a loyal death in Geumsan, and his younger brother Kim Deok-ryeong was wrongfully killed after being falsely accused. He built this pavilion here, lived in seclusion, and devoted himself to study. The path to Pungamjeong is a flat gravel road forming a forest tunnel of maples. The pavilion is built on a stone retaining wall above Wonhyo Valley. The building has a hipped-and-gabled roof with 2 kan in the front and 2 kan on the side; one room is an ondol (heated) room and the rest are wooden floors. Inside is a plaque reading Pungamjeongsa and hanging plaques with poems by renowned scholars of the time. Nearby are Wonhyo Valley and the Buncheong Ceramics Museum.
Following the road leading to Wonhyosa, halfway up, you can see the well-maintained tomb on the left along with the grand building of Chungjangsa. This Chungjangsa is a shrine dedicated to General Kim Deok-ryeong, known as Chungjanggong, who was born in Mudeungsan, and was established in 1975. Within the shrine grounds, there are the shrine building housing a portrait and a royal decree of Kim Deok-ryeong, as well as Dongjae and Seojae buildings, Eunryun Monument Pavilion, an explanatory monument, a relic museum, Chungyongmun gate, and Ikhomun gate. The relic museum exhibits General Kim Deok-ryeong's clothing, designated as an important folklore material, a coffin excavated from the general's tomb, and handwritten documents. Behind the shrine on the hill are the tomb and gravestone of Kim Deok-ryeong, along with a family tomb. The road toward Chungjangsa is a popular drive course among the people of Gwangju. In spring, yellow forsythia decorates the roadside; in summer, lush greenery forms a tunnel; in autumn, red maple colors the forest; and in winter, snow blossoms on every tree create a spectacular snowy landscape. Because of these beautiful sceneries, it is a favorite route for the citizens of Gwangju.
Located in Chunghyo-dong to the north of Mudeungsan, this kiln site is where sanggam celadon, buncheong ware, and white porcelain were fired from the late Goryeo to early Joseon periods. The kiln structure consists of an entrance facility for people to go in and out, a firing chamber where ceramics are placed, and a chimney chamber, connected in a shape resembling a round tomb. Based on records in the 『Annals of King Sejong』 and the dating of unearthed artifacts, it is believed to have begun construction around 1430. Ceramic production continued for about 70 to 80 years afterward, ceasing in the early 16th century. Initially only buncheong ware was produced, but with the start of white porcelain manufacture, both were made together; however, as buncheong patterns became crude, its production declined. Conversely, as white porcelain began to be produced full-scale, its quality improved and production increased, changing the kiln from a buncheong kiln to a white porcelain kiln. While white porcelain was mostly small-sized, buncheong ware included various sizes and types such as plates, bowls, cups, bottles, jars, inkstones, and ritual objects. Common buncheong patterns included chrysanthemums, butterflies, fish, crabs, and cloud motifs, sometimes combined. This site, operated from the late Goryeo to early Joseon, is an important heritage that reveals the transition from celadon through buncheong ware to white porcelain. (Source: Gwangju Gwangyeoksi Buk-gu Culture & Tourism Website)
Mudeungsan was formed due to Mesozoic volcanic activity, so the area near the Chunghyo-dong kiln site consists of soil (weathered soil) formed by weathering of magma-solidified rocks. This kiln site produced ceramics from the late Goryeo to early Joseon periods. The approximately 3-meter-thick ceramic shard layer discovered here preserves six stages of change from buncheong ware to white porcelain. Geological analysis of ceramics excavated in this area revealed the use of weathered granite soil from the surroundings. The geological characteristics of Mudeungsan are directly reflected in the production and development of Mudeungsan buncheong ware, leading to this site being designated as a notable location within the Mudeungsan UNESCO Global Geopark.
