Gomakcheon Seokgyo, Hampyeong

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1372

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

고려 말∼조선 초

Designated year

2003

Location

함평군, 전라남도— 전남 함평군 학교면 고막리 629번지

Coordinates

35.033124, 126.593301

Gomakcheon Stream flows through Hampyeong-gun and Naju. The bridge over the stream is said to have been built with the magic power of Monk Gomak of Beopcheonsa Temple in Muan in 1273 (the 14th year of the reign of King Wonjong of Goryeo). The stone bridge is 20m long, 3.5m wide, and 2.5m high. It is composed of five piers supporting spans. Recently, a concrete section was added to the end of this olden-day bridge. Despite being a stone bridge, it adopted the technique of combining parts of wooden furniture. The spans display the adoption of technique of dovetailing “井”-shaped parts, telling us that it got the idea from the wooden architecture skills of the period. The western edge of the bridge shows that the “井”-shaped part was replaced with a wooden floor-shaped one when it was repaired. As for the foundation, wooden stakes were driven into the bottom of the stream, and large-sized, flat stones were laid there. Its solid foundation structure has withstood floods. The stone pedestrian bridge, believed to have been built between 1390 and 1495, is one of the oldest bridges that still maintain their original shape. As a bridge that used a rare construction technique, it is regarded as a valuable material by those studying the history of bridges.

Location