• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2010

This research was conducted to understand the characteristics and traits of Baekje's palace backyard by studying and analyzing the usage, shape, size, material, and place of origin of the odd-shaped stones found at the remains of Baekje's palace in Waggung-ri, Iksan. The results of the research are as following. The odd-shaped stones found at the Baekje palace backyard were used for two purposes. Some of the stones were used as heaping stones(疊石) for the stone waterfall in the backyard while others were used as ornamental stones(置石) to exhibit the uniqueness and beauty of the stone themselves. The stones used for the waterfall had various shapes and materials and were arranged to symbolize the beauty of natural scenery. On the other hand, the ornamental stones were used to exhibit their beauty of forms. Among the twenty six ornamental stones, four were large, four were mid-sized, and eighteen were small. The twenty four heaping stones used for the waterfall were all categorized as small. All of the stones were not too big, easily coming into sight of human beings. The heaping stones were mostly limestones, and some of them were metamorphic rocks such as marble, quartz, green rock, slaty rock, and phyllite. Almost all of the odd-shaped stones used for Baekje's palace backyard have beautiful patterns and specific forms that resemble natural scenes or animals such as a turtle, terrapin, pig, bear, or elephant. Some of the ornamental stones apparently went through carving to emphasize the unique shapes. Considering the usage and characteristic of the odd-shaped stones, one of the most characteristic feature of the Wanggung-ri palace backyard can be said to be 'the garden of odd-shaped stones'. Meanwhile, according to references, interviews, questionings, and on-the-spot surveys on the people who quarried the stones, the stones found at the remains of the Wanggung-ri palace came mostly from Mt. Cheonho in Hosan-ri, Yeosan-myeon, Iksna, and Mt. Shidae in Dosoon-ri, Wanggung-myeon.