Castor Aralia of Gungchon-ri, Samcheok

Basic information

Designation

Natural Monument No.363

Category

동식물

Designated year

1989

Location

삼척시, 강원특별자치도— 강원 삼척시 근덕면 궁촌리 452번지

Coordinates

37.314564, 129.260942

Carstor aralia is called Eumnamu or Eomnamu in Korean. In the old days, Korean people made a hexagonal toy with twigs of this tree and gave it to their child to protect them from evil spirits. This Korean custom is called Eum in Korean and this is why a carstor aralia is called Eumnamu in Korea. (Namu means ‘tree’ in Korean.) The carstor aralia in Samcheok is about 1000 years old, with height of 18m and girth of 5.43m. It is protected by a stone wall. This tree has long been worshipped by the local community as a village guardian, so they cordoned off the perimeter to prohibit unauthorized access around this tree. All villagers gather together under the tree and pay homage to it on New Year’s Day. The place where this tree grows was the yard of the safehouse where King Gongmin of the Goryeo Dynasty dwelt. According to tradition, if the leaves in the eastern branches sprout earlier than the other sides, the eastern region of the Daegwanryeong Pass will have a rich harvest; if the leaves in the western branches sprout earlier than the other sides, the western region of the Daegwanryeong Pass will have a rich harvest. This tree has been preserved by Korean ancestors' care and concern. Therefore, it has been designated and conserved as a Natural Monument for its historical value as biological data.

Location