E2024-G066

Trees of Gwangju: Living Cultural Heritage Embracing People and Memory

Narrative

The trees of Gwangju are living cultural heritage that have long embodied the region’s history and the memories of its people. Beyond their ecological value, they stand as symbols linking the faith, collective memory, and history of local communities. The Population of Red Leaf Willows in Chunghyo-dong, located at the foot of Mudeungsan Mountain, is said to have been planted by Kim Deok-ryeong (1567-1596), a righteous army commander during the Japanese invasions of 1592-1598. The Old Red Leaf Willow in Wonsan-dong is believed to have been planted by Yi Seon-je (1389-1453), a scholar of the Joseon period. It is said that when a member of his family passed the state examination, a drum was hung on this tree to celebrate the achievement. Since the Memorial Tablet of Yi Seon-je was returned from Japan in 2017, the Old Red Leaf Willow Festival has been held annually beneath the tree to commemorate the event. The Horned Holly in Yangnim-dong stands on the Horned Holly Hill in Yangnim-dong, where Western missionaries once lived and worked. Rising about six meters tall, it is unusually large for its species. The Ginkgo Tree of Chilseok-dong is estimated to be about 800 years old, and every year on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, villagers gather beneath it to hold the Village Guardian Ritual of Chilseok Village, praying for peace and abundance in the community.