Dol hareubang are a common enough sight on Jeju Island. These iconic symbols of Jeju can easily be found welcoming visitors at each of the island’s tourist destinations. Dol hareubang is Jeju dialect for “stone grandpa,” so called because they resemble old men. The name dol hareubang became the official term for these stone statues on August 25th, 1971, when they were designated Folk Material No. 2 of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Then what were the dol hareubang originally called? In some ways, it is difficult to tell whether there was a specific name for the dol hareubang prior to 1971, when the dol hareubang had a variety of different names due to being scattered across different areas and having different appearances. These names include useongmok, museongmok, beoksumeori, dol yeonggam, sumunjang, janggunseok, dongja-seok, mangjuseok, and ongjungseok, all of which seem to have been used interchangeably to refer to what we now know as dol hareubang. The name ongjungseok (翁仲石) appears in official records, but most Jeju islanders seem to have called this type of statue useongmok. Useongmok is a compound formed from the words useok (偶石) and mok (木). We find a similar usage of the character 木 which stands for “tree” in the term jeongjumok, the three wooden columns erected in front of houses on Jeju Island to act as de facto entrances. The gates of Jeju-mok, Jeongui-hyeon, and Daejeong-hyeon, which served as government offices during the Joseon Dynasty, were guarded by useongmok to prevent outside invasion. However, the useongmok were believed to provide spiritual protection against evil spirits rather than being charged with defeating physical intruders. Due to such variance in the names used to refer to dol hareubang, it is difficult to determine the exact purpose, age, and use of these stone statues. To date, there are largely three explanations as to how the dol hareubang came to be part of Jeju culture. One contends that the dol hareubang are native to Jeju Island, while the others view them as having come from southeast Asia or the Mongols. Nevertheless, we do know that dol hareubang existed as early as 1754. The Tamnaji, first compiled by Wonjin Lee in the fourth year of King Hyojong’s reign (1653), attests to this fact as follows.
“The ongjungseok (dol hareubang) were raised in the 30th year of King Yeongjo’s reign (1754) by Monggyu Kim and positioned at the eastern, western, and southern gates of the town of Jeju. However, after the three gates were demolished, two of the ongjungseok were moved in front of Gwandeokjeong and the other two to the entrance of Samseongsa.” There are currently 47 dol hareubang in Korea--21 in Jeju City, 12 each at Jeongui and Daejeong, and two at the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul--one dol hareubang out of the original 48 having been damaged. Though dol hareubang dot the entire island of Jeju, their folkloric origins and historical significance remain unclear. However, these statues, once the patron gods of old Jeju, now stand as a cultural heritage that not only bridges the past and the present but will lead the island into the future. Those interested in seeing the dol hareubang up close are encouraged to visit the Dolharbang Park in Bukchon during their visit to Jeju Island.
Volume 01 | Toscana Sentimental Trip with Junsu Kim
Volume 01 | Magic Comes to Yusuam Rest Stop '1950 House'
