Historic Site of Anti-Japanese Army in Ssangsan Mountain, Hwasun

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.485

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Designated year

2007

Location

화순군, 전라남도— 전남 화순군 이양면 증리 산12번지 외

Coordinates

34.886289, 127.079895

This is one of the local bases of the righteous army’s struggle against Japan toward the end of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Since ancient times Gyedangsan Mountain in Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do has had various nicknames such as Ssangsan (meaning “twin mountains”), Ssangbong (“twin peaks”) and Ssangchi (“twin passes”), hence the name of this righteous army headquarters. On the site are the remains of the Jeolla provincial righteous army command offices, a training ground, a weapons factory for supplying arms and ammunition, a sulfur storage, and barracks for troops, all of which are surrounded by low stone walls. It is assumed that a large number of righteous army troops were stationed here, producing weapons and fighting against the Japanese police. The site of the weapons factory has a stone terrace littered with remnants of a furnace and iron scraps. It is believed that the righteous army stationed here produced weapons by processing iron ore carried from an iron mine some 4km away at Hwajeong-dong, Bongnae-myeon, Boseong-gun. Low stone walls approximately 80cm high surround the headquarters site. The lower stone walls inside, which appear to be the remains of the barracks, are irregularly shaped, some circular and some square. As the Jeolla provincial headquarters of civilian struggle against Japan during the waning years of Joseon, this site is important for study of the history of Korean righteous army activities. The local righteous army was raised in 1907 at Ssangsan under the initiative of Yang Hoe-il, Im No-bok, Im Sang-yeong and An Chan-jae, and further spread to the Neungju, Dongbok and Hwasun areas. The gallant campaigns led by Yi Baek-nae and An Gyu-hong were also waged around this site.

Location