road in search of light
Jusil Village
Jusil Village in Ilwol-myeon of Yeongyang-gun is a 400-year old village with cozy atmosphere. It has been a clan village of Hanyang Cho family. Several cultural assets including the old house of Okcheon (No. 42 Gyeongbuk folk material) are remaining. Originally, this place was resided by Ju family, but in 1630, when Jojeon from Hanyang, a descendant of Jo Gwang-jo in 1630 in the mid Joseon Dynasty settling here away from the massacre of scholars, it was nicknamed Jusil Village. In this village is the birthplace of Cho Chi-hun, Hoeunjongtaek (No. 78 Gyeongbuk Monument) at the center of the village who was a poet of Pure Green Color School and a scholar of the theory of principle.
Forest of Poet
At the entrance of Jusil Village revealing the breath of traditional culture of Confucianism from the old houses cozily settling at the foot of mountain is a thick forest called 'Jusilssu' as thick as hiding the village from outside. With the slang referring to jangseung, it was also known as 'Sugumagi forest'. Nowadays, people call it 'Forest of Poet'. Pine trees 100 years old, large zelkova trees 250 years old and elm trees form a thick forest. It is called 'Forest of Poet' because Jusil Village is the birthplace of Cho Chi-hun. 'Hoeunjongtaek' is the birthplace of Cho Chi-hun. From old days, Jusil Village was known as fostering many literatures and scholars with Munpilbong peak resembling a writing brush. Hoeunjongtaek is an old house at a place overlooking Munpilbong. At this small rural town of Jusil Village, 15 doctors were born.
Munpilbong Peak from Hoeunjongtaek
There is one thing one must do prior to stepping into Hoeunjongtaek, the birthplace of Cho Chi-hun: finding Munpilbong peak located face to face with Hoeunjongtaek. Looking the opposite way with the back to Hoeunjongtaek, several peaks come into sight. Among those, the peak at the straight line from the front gate is Munpilbong peak of Jusil village. The name of Munpilbong came from the shape resembling a writing brush in the study of FengShui. It is known that house or village facing Munpilbong peak can foster an excellent scholar. But the Munpilbong of Jusil village has the round shape and with the stream flowing next to it makes the best landscape. With water added to brush, there is nothing more to say about it. From old days, it seems that the secret of transcending the tradition of Sambulcha that says money, person and phrase could not be borrowed came from this.
