• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.21-30
• /
• 2007

This study aims to understand the characteristics of dangsan forests and rural community forests (RCF), and seek for a landscape management scheme. Dangsan forests and RCF have been maintained by local residents since hundreds of years ago. However, many of them have been disturbed. The case sites were derived from the twenty villages previous investigated where dangsan forests and RCF's remainrd. The two sites were remodelled to restore what have been degraded. Hanbam village has maintained its dangsan forest with good management practices, whereas the dangsan forest and RCF of Goiran village showed relatively poor management. The size of dangsan forest at hanbam village was 13,784$m^2$, and major tree species was Pinus densiflora. In total, 151 trees with more than 30cm in DBH were standing on the site. As a cultural activity, the dangsan festival have been held in January $5^{th}$ by lunar calendar to the 2005 at the Jindongdan, a dangsan tree made of stone. The RCF of Hanbam village has disappeared due to the event of landslide in 1930, which needs to be restored. Goiran village has a dangsan forest and a RCF. The forests in Goiran village revealed many problems due to bad management practice. The prototype of the dangsan forest was deteriorated by introduced Prunus serrulata and the facilities for physical training. A systematic management scheme for dangsan forests and RCF's should be established with a close partnership among local residents, experts, and local government.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.345-354
• /
• 2015

In this study, the landscape characteristics and culture of the sacred Dangsan forests at Dongnae-ri, Seonae-ri, Namnae-ri, Pyeongchon-ri and Gyochon-ri were investigated. And the potential for registration in the World Heritage List has been discussed by linking the Dangsan forests at the five sites. Dangsan forest, a traditional village forests of rural Korea is a representative cultural heritage with a history of more than several hundred years of Dangsan ritual. The Dangsan forests in the neighborhood of Naganeuoseong have retained the landscape of town fortress during Choseon Dynasty and the Dangsan ritual as a living culture. The three villages inside Naganeuoseong have kept their Upper Dang, Middle Dang and Lower Dang. There were 21 old trees in total; Zelkova serrata (2), Celtis sinensis (7), Aphananthe aspera (5) trees, Carpinus tschonoskii (2) and Ginkgo biloba (3). The three Dangsan trees and an old Aphananthe aspera, known as to be planted by the Admiral Yi Sun-sin were recognized. The two villages located outside of village fortress also have kept their Dangsan ritual. It is important whether the sites possesses authenticity in order to be listed in the World Heritage. The Dangsan forests in the neighborhood of Naganeuoseong have been verified for the authenticity, which should be focused. The places need to be clarified for their landscape features formed as a Dangsan forest, and sustainable protection and management plans are to be devised.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.188-209
• /
• 2009

Dangsan forests had been established by local residents several hundred years ago. They were disturbed in various ways, but still remain in many villages where dangsan festivals are held every year. Although the remaining Dangsan forests represent korean rural cultural landscapes, their characteristics still remain to be uncovered. The objectives of this study were to understand the three elements, Dangsan tree (Divine tree), shrine and stone tower, and to investigate the culture at inland areas and seashore areas relation to Dangsan forests. Twenty cases of Dangsan forests at inland areas and twenty at seashore areas were investigated. There were nine shrines and six stone towers found out of twenty inland Dangsan forests. Fifteen shrines were found out of twenty seashore Dangsan forests. Stone tower was not found at seashore areas. Fifteen events of dangsan festival were investigated. Dangsan festival appeared to have played an important role to preserve Dangsan forests. Based on the findings of this study, Dangsan forests are, as landscape elements at inland and seashore areas, proved to have a potential for the improvement of cultural and natural landscapes in the country.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.82-91
• /
• 2007

Rural areas dominate country landscape, where the population is rich in traditional and natural heritage. Dangsan forests and Rural community forests (RCF) have been maintained by local residents for hundreds of years. However, many of these forests have been disturbed, and only small amount of Dangsan forests and the RCF remain due to the efforts of local residents. Recently, the remnants of Dangsan forests and RCF have been regarded as living traditional landscapes representing the cultural and rural background of Korea. But the value of Dangsan forests and the RCFs has not been recognized by many. This study aims to understand the characteristics and management status of Dangsan forests in Sungnam-ri, Wonju. Sungnam-ri has four villages, each of which is bordered by a Dangsan forest at the riparian buffer. Sungnam-ri has been selsected as a site for a rural village development project by the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry of Korea. Sunghwanglim (the Upper Dangsan forest) is designated as Natural Monument No.93 and entrance is limited in this area. The size of Sunghwanglim is $21,133m^2$, and the major tree species are Kalopanax pictus (Dangsan tree, Divine tree), Pinus densiflora, Abies holophylla, Acer triflorum, Ulmus davidiana, Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Quercus serrata. In total, 124 trees with more than 40 cm in DBH are at this site. As for cultural activities, the Dangsan festival is held on April 8th and September 9th of the lunar calendar at shrines in the forests. Although other Dangsan forests are smaller than Sunghwanglim, they also have similar cultural activities. The landscape of the Dangsan forests have been managed for several hundred years by the local people, and they intend to continue maintaining the Dangsan forests for the purpose of festivals and other cultural activities. The findings in this study suggest that Dangsan forests have the potential for the development of rural villages and for the improvement of cultural and natural landscapes in Korea.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.535-554
• /
• 2013

This study was to investigate the characteristics and management condition of the Singeum village's Dangsan forest, and to seek the revitalization of rural village by improving management scheme. The Dangsan forest in Singeum-ri, Goheung-gun was composed of a Dangsan forest and a Bibo forest. The Dangsan forest was designated as natural monument # 362, and named 'Evergreen forest of Bongnae-myeon, Goheung'. The Dangsan forest area has been disturbed by the building of student training center. Even the local resident couldn't enter the forest due to the fence at the forest boundary except for Dangsan ritual which used to be serviced once a year. The Bibo forest was included in a beach area, and disturbed by lack of management. The Dangsan forest did not stay in good condition with various problems, such as wrong naming as a natural monument and misuse. The driving force of the Dangsan forest maintaining the beauty for several hundred years originated from the conservation of the forest with Dangsan ritual by local residents. Today, the Dangsan forest is in danger of being vanished and not regarded any more as a holy place due to inaccessibility for Dangsan ritual. The Dangsan forest in Singeum village needs to enhance its value as a traditional and cultural landscape, and improving the management scheme will contribute to revitalization of the village.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.347-359
• /
• 2016

Landscape characteristics and the culture of the sacred Dangsan forests located at Mulgeon village, Eunjeom village and Daejipo village in Mulgeon-ri, Namhae-gun were investigated. The potential of Dangsan forests for agricultural heritage, linked with paddy fields, has been discussed. Dangsan forest is a traditional village forest and a representative cultural heritage with a history of more than several hundred years. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea evaluates that the agricultural heritage is a new means and will provide a potential for the development of rural areas. The Dangsan forests were located in the neighborhood of paddy fields. The Dangsan forests are to be related to paddy fields in order to get attention as an agricultural heritage. Especially, the Dangsan forest of Mulgeon village was designated as Natural Monument ＃150 with the name, Windbreak forest of Mulgeon-ri, Namhae. It was suggested that the national monument to rename as Dangsan forest of Mulgeon village, Namhae. The size of this forest was measured to be 735 m in length and 31 m in width. Mulgeon-ri will be better recognized as a candidate place of agricultural heritage with three Dangsan forests associated with paddy fields.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2016

In this study, the landscape characteristics of the sacred Dangsan forests at Singi-ri, Namwon-si were investigated as an agricultural heritage, and the management scheme for revitalization of the village was introduced. FAO established the term of 'GIAHS' (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems) for conservation of each country's farmland, unique agricultural landscape, and cultural diversity. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea evaluates that the Agricultural Heritage is a new means and potential for rural development. Dangsan forest, a traditional village forests of rural Korea is a representative 'agricultural heritage' with a history of more than several hundred years of Dangsan ritual. The Dangsan forests were closely linked with paddy fields. This forest was composed of two Dangsan forests, and one Bibo forest. Especially, the Dangsan forest 2 was established on the mounding with 395m in length and 15m in width. Although, most of Dangsan forests do not have accurate records about forest establishment, this forest has retained a stone monument that illustrated the history of the forest. These aspects of Singi-ri's Dangsan forest indicated clear difference and characteristics compared to other ones. This Dangsan forest has been left alone from the public attention. The Dangsan forest at Singi-ri need to be recognized for their valuable landscape characteristics. By linking the Dangsan forest with 'Jirisan trail', the trail path will lead people to the agricultural heritage at Singi-ri. Enhancing the management scheme will contribute to revitalize the village.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.106-115
• /
• 2014

Traditional village forests called Dangsan forests represent unique cultural landscape as a national cultural asset in Korea with a history of more than several hundred years. Cultural heritage can retain their value when they are fully sustained their authenticity and management scheme. The Dangsan forests established in a large area have been designated as a natural monument by Cultural Heritage Administration. Small scale Dangsan forests, however, are not introduced to the public and on the verge of disappearance. Dangsan forests have a value as a core landscape element in rural landscapes of Korea. The two villages at Ijeon-ri, Cheongsong-gun have small Dangsan forests where Dangsan ritual is performed. At one of the villages, there is Jusanji Reservoir designated for Scenic Site # 105, from which the water is used for growing crops. In this study, the landscape characteristics of the Dangsan forests were investigated including rice paddy field, stream, and the Jusanji Reservoir. A conservation measure of rural landscape for sustainable management scheme was suggested by designating 'Conservation area of agricultural landscape ecology'. Dangsan forests, especially where they are in small scale like those of Ijeon-ri, tend to be neglected. The Dangsan forests ought to be recognized for their value and by providing a management scheme including neighborhood elements such as farm fields and streams they can be revitalized to be core areas for conservation of rural landscape.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.28-55
• /
• 2010

Currently, the natural monument system of Korea for naming and designation of natural monuments is based on "Chosun Natural Monument Conservation Acts for Treasure, Ancient Landmark, and Natural Beauty" enacted in 1934 during Japanese colonization period. The framework of natural monument system is still in effect, which is pointed out as a problem. The Dangsan forests and Bibo forests are Korean traditional cultural resources representing countryside of Korea. Cultural Heritage Administration follows and relies on the 'Limsu of Chosun' (1938), a report written by a Japanese, for naming and classification of natural monuments. A Dangsan forest at Yesong-ri was named "Yesong-ri evergreen forest" in 1938. They followed the naming system of "evergeen forest" until today. The objective of this study is to review the issues and problems of 'Limsu of Chosun' and natural monument naming system begun during Japanese occupation period, and suggest an alternative to the current situation where naming natural monument accordingly without discretion. Eighteen dangsan forests bibo forests were selected for examination and analysis. The names of the dangsan forests bibo forests were evaluated to find out whether various aspects of the forests are reflected in the name. The study suggests that many forests and old trees designated as natural monument should be named as "~Dangsan forest", "~Dangsan forest Bibo forest", or "~Dangsan tree" with consistency accordingly. The new names will bring a momentum to overcome the limitation of natural monument naming system continued since Japanese occupation period, and also enhance the value of Dangsan forests and Bibo forests as Korean traditional and cultural landscapes.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.444-457
• /
• 2014

Dangsan forests are traditional village forests which have been established by local residents. They represent unique cultural landscape of Korea with a history of more than several hundred years. It is necessary for a cultural contents to have locality and globality so as to represent Korea. Cultural heritage can retain their value when they are fully sustained their authenticity and management scheme. Although many Dangsan forests have been on the verge of disappearance, the four villages in Sinwon-ri have retained Dangsan forests with Dangsan ritual. In this study, a designation of 'Conservation area of agricultural landscape ecology' including Dangsan forests, Bibo forests, rice paddy field, and stream in Sinwon-ri was suggested. This 'Conservation area of agricultural landscape ecology' can be developed to unique glocal cultural content of rural Korea, and will contribute to enhance the value of the Dangsan forest's, and revitalization of rural villages.