Byeokgolje Reservoir, Gimje

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.111

Category

유적지

Era

삼국시대

Designated year

1963

Location

김제시, 전북특별자치도— 전북 김제시 부량면 월승리 119번지

Coordinates

35.754488, 126.853382

These are the embankment and the monument of the reservoir made for the first time in the country. According to Kim Bu-sik's Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), in the 21st year of the reign of King Heulhae of Silla (330), Byeokgolje Reservoir was made for the first time, and it had a circumference equal to 1800 steps. Since this area belonged not to Silla but to Baekje at that time, it was highly likely that the date of construction was forged by Silla to take the achievement in the Silla Period. It was restored in the 6th year of the reign of King Wonseong of the Silla Period (790) and the 21st year of the reign of King Injong of the Goryeo Dynasty (1143) and was rebuilt in the 15th year of the reign of King Taejong (1415). Since it was assessed to have more demerits than merits, it was torn down. Today, the remaining part of the embankment spans about 3km. In 1925, however, the Association of Dongjin Land Improvement repaired and used it as an irrigation ditch for agricultural affairs, so its original form has been changed a lot. On the north of the embankment stands a monument, but it was worn-out. In 1975, two sites of the water gate to manage the water quantity of the reservoir were found; thus confirming that a high-level technique of large scale measurement was used. Byeokgolje gives us the epochal fact that the country had a high-level engineering technique in large construction at that time, beyond being the first reservoir.

Location