This post is part of a series on my visit to the Korean Folk Village on the fourth day of my Holiday in Seoul, Korea. If you haven't read the first part, that's here: Korea Day 4 Part 1 - Seoul Metro.

After watching the horsemanship display, we carried on looking round the Folk Village. This next photo is of the Seonangdang (서낭당), which is the village shrine. It consists of a tree with long strips of coloured cloth hanging from the branches, some upright stones, and a small building. Villagers would come here to pray for a good harvest and good health.

Seonangdang (서낭당)

The Korean Folk Village also includes a water powered mill, and has a rock with a poem dedicated to the Water wheel inscribed on it:

Poem Monument of Water Wheel Mill

Unfortunately I don't have an English translation of the poem as Google Translate isn't very good at translating Korean. According to a nearby information board, the poem was written by Korean poet Yi Ha-yoon.

Edit: Thanks to Yoon for adding a comment with the translated poem

Most of the farmer's or commoner's houses in the Korean Folk Village have baskets and various other tools hanging on the outside walls.

Korean farmer's basket

I took a panorama in the backyard of the house that the straw sandals weaver was working in:

Joseon period Commoner's House, Korean Folk Village

View as 360° interactive panorama

I think that possibly this house was one of the ones from Jeju Island. I took a photo inside the house from the front of the weaver working as well:

Making Traditional Korean Straw Sandals

Hidden away atop a hill in a wooded area in the north-eastern area of the Korean Folk Village, there was a small area with a buddha statue. There were also small stone piles placed around the statue, a common sight in buddhist countries. I'm not sure what the exact relevance of the stone piles is, but apparently they are based on the stupa style of buddhist architecture.

Buddhist shrine, Korean Folk Village

We carried on looking round the folk village, and next went to look round the building Nae Ja-Won.

5 Responses to Korea day 4 pt. 6 – Korean Folk Village

  1. This is the English translation for the poem from a Korean poetry anthology book:

    “A Water-Mill”
    By Ha Yoon Yi (Translated by In Sob Zong)

    On the wheel of a water-mill rolling endlessly
    I hang my souvenir leaf by leaf;
    And when it rolls in water and out of it,
    Numberless souvenirs flutter and wave.

    The wheel rolling and crying endlessly
    Reminds me of the days gone by
    And offers to me tears and grief.
    ——————————————-
    An old miller, whose hair is white.
    What does his weak eye seek for?
    Each time when the huller pounds in the quern,
    It sounds with voice and water flows.

  2. And the poet’s bio can be seen here, although the google-translated page is difficult to understand.

    http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=1135778&cid=40942&categoryId=33385

  3. Hi. I have a question to ask
    I am a Korean . I have been writting poem,some Korean word and some English too.I am looking for Editor And Translator to help me.
    Where I can fine people to help me ?

    • Dave Kennard says:

      Hi Gina

      You could try a language exchange website, e.g. http://www.italki.com/?hl=ko

      Language exchange websites let you post text / questions, and people who know the language you want to write in e.g. English will offer you suggestions and corrections for your text. Usually, in return, you would be expected to do the same for people wanting to learn your language e.g. Korean.

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