Tracing Jincheon’s Cultural Heritage | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

This is the birthplace of General Heungmu Kim Yushin, the 13th descendant of King Suro, the founder of Garakguk. General Kim Yushin was the son of General Kim Seohyeon, the governor of Manno-gun, and was born in 595 (the 17th year of King Jinpyeong) in Gyeyang village, Sanggyeri, Jincheon-eup. At age 15, in 609, he became a Hwarang and distinguished himself in battles at Nangbi Fortress, becoming the lord of Aplyangju. During Queen Seondeok's reign, he became Sangjanggun (General), and in 660 (the 7th year of King Muyeol), he was appointed Sangdaedeung (Prime Minister), allied with Tang forces to destroy Baekje, then served as the grand commander of the Silla-Tang allied forces to conquer Goguryeo and attained the rank of Taedaegakgan. He reclaimed the land north of the Han River from Goguryeo, achieved the great task of unifying the Three Kingdoms, and was posthumously titled King Heungmu. In 1983, a monument marking the site was established at the village entrance called Janggunteo in present-day Gyeyang. To the northwest of this site remains Yeonbojeong well, said to have been used by the governor’s residence, as well as Helmet Rock and Chima Rock, where he is said to have practiced martial arts.

Botapsa Temple in Jincheon-eup, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, is located in Yeongok-ri. The Yeongok-ri temple site has been known as a large temple site from the Three Kingdoms period to the Goryeo period, and it was revived by erecting a three-story wooden pagoda that follows the tradition of wooden pagoda architecture from the Three Kingdoms period. Passing through the Cheonwangmun gate and entering the temple grounds, the Bell Pavilion (Beomjonggak) and the Dharma Drum Pavilion (Beopgogak) stand elegantly side by side, and inside is the temple's proud wooden pagoda, as well as the Jincheon Yeongok-ri stone stele designated as a treasure. The reason Botapsa attracts attention is because its three-story wooden pagoda style is modeled after the Silla period Hwangnyongsa Nine-Story Wooden Pagoda. The wooden pagoda, excluding the finial, is 42.73 meters tall and supported by 29 columns. It strictly adheres to the traditional method of joining wood without using any nails. The first floor enshrines the Four Directional Buddhas, the second floor holds scriptures, and the third floor houses the Maitreya triad Buddha. It has historical value as a reproduction of the wooden pagoda that disappeared after the Silla period.

진천군 향토 음식대회 수상 업소로서 20년의 전통의 진천군 모범업소이다. 자체 개발 소스와 알이 가득 찬 꽃게로 담근 청산 간장게장은 전국적으로 판매되고 있으며, 참숯으로 구운 한우, 충청도식으로 만든 청국장과 된장찌개 등 정갈한 음식이 있다. 50명이 앉을 수 있는 넓은 홀과 조용히 식사 할 수 있는 룸으로 나누어져 쾌적한 공간에서 식사 할 수 있다. 식당 앞 넓은 정원의 휴식 공간이 있어 식사 후 휴식이 가능하다. 간장게장은 전국으로 택배 판매되며, 청산가든 홈페이지에서 주문 가능하다.

진천종박물관은 한국 종의 연구, 수집, 전시, 보존은 물론 기획전시, 교육 및 다양한 활동 등을 통해 세계적으로 그 가치를 인정받은 한국 종의 예술적 가치와 우수성을 알리고자 2005년 9월 개관하였다. 또한 국내에서 가장 앞선 것으로 조사된 진천 석장리 고대 철생산 유적지가 있는 진천에 건립되어 그 의미가 깊다. 진천 석장리는 한국최초로 4세기대로 편년되는 고대제철로의 실례(實例)가 발견되었다는 점을 들 때 금속공예의 제작도 가능하였음을 의미한다. 진천 인근 지역인 청주 운천동에서 통일신라시대 후기의 범종이 출토되었고, 고려시대의 용두사지 철당간도 남아있다.