E2024-G110
Mujingoseong Fortress: A Glimpse of Gwangju in the Unified Silla Period
Narrative
Mujingoseong Fortress is presumed to have been built in the Unified Silla period (668-935) to serve as a refuge where people could hide in the case of an emergency and resist a siege. The name Mujingoseong means “Old Fortress of Mujinju,” referring to Mujin-ju Province, a Unified Silla administrative district corresponding to today’s Jeollanam-do region, including Gwangju. Thus, Mujingoseong Fortress provides a glimpse into government administration in the Gwangju area during the Unified Silla period. It was designated as a Gwangju Monument in 1989 due to this historical significance.
Centered around Jangwonbong Peak, the fortress spans several valleys in the northern part of Mudeungsan Mountain. It has an oval shape measuring 1 km in diameter from north to south, 0.5 km in diameter from east to west, and 3.5 km in circumference. The outer side of the wall was built of stacked stone, while the inner side was filled with a mixture of stone and earth. The fortress has an east gate and a west gate, both of which were renovated following archaeological excavation, along with the adjacent walls of the west gate. Inside the fortress, various building sites were confirmed. Excavated from the building sites were roof tiles inscribed with Chinese characters meaning “government office” and “fortress,” as well as roof-end tiles decorated with images of auspicious birds and goblin faces. These excavated artifacts are mostly kept at the Chonnam National University Museum.
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Resources
| type | resource | title | description/caption | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 해설 | Cultural Heritage Wiki | Mujingoseong Fortress Site | https://dh.aks.ac.kr/~heritage/wiki/index.php/무진고성지 |
