Trifoliate Orange of Sagi-ri, Ganghwa

Basic information

Designation

Natural Monument No.79

Category

동식물

Designated year

1962

Location

강화군, 인천광역시— 인천 강화군 화도면 사기리 135-10번지

Coordinates

37.616809, 126.458113

Trifoliate orange trees are found in the southeastern area of Korea, and are thought to have been introduced to both Korea and Japan from China. The seeds and fruit of the tree are used as medical substances. Because these trees have many thorns, they are planted to form protective fences around orchards. The trifoliate orange tree in Sagi-ri in Ganghwa-do is thought to be about 400 years old, and is 3.56m tall. As the tree’s main branch large and thick, it must have been much larger in the past. Most of its branches have died, and only the eastern branch is alive now. Ganghwado is the island to which King Gojong (r. 1213-1259) of the Goryeo Dynasty fled from the Mongolian army and to which King Injo (r. 1623-1649) of the Joseon Dynasty escaped during the first Manchu invasion of Korea in 1627. Sometime after that, trifoliate oranges were planted beneath the walls of fortresses to protect them from foreign invasion. The trifoliate orange tree in Sagi-ri, Ganghwa-do appears to have been planted at that time, and is historically important as it was planted to protect against foreign invasion. It has been designated as Natural Monument (No. 79).

Location