Ancestors of Korea believed that there were spirits within the natural settings such as the mountains, water, villages, grounds for house, and most of all within trees. This primitive state of religion has been handed down generations in the various n...
Ancestors of Korea believed that there were spirits within the natural settings such as the mountains, water, villages, grounds for house, and most of all within trees. This primitive state of religion has been handed down generations in the various names of trees such as Seonangdang tree, Dangsanmok, Dangmok and Seonghwangmok.
These old and great trees are not merely big trees that has lived for a long time but rather a heritage that has captured the tradition and history and is the cultural symbol of the life of the villagers throughout history. Eversince ancient times, Koreans have lived in harmony with nature, and these great old trees importantly functioned as the agent between nature and human. In recent times we have designated some of these old and great trees as a Natural Monument to carefully preserve the cultural and natural values of the tree.
As of May 2007, there are a total of 369 Natural Monuments designated, and of these 77 are animals, 229 plants, 53 geological features, and 10 natural reserves. 145 old and great trees are part of the 229 plants designated.
However most of the species that are designated as natural monuments are mostly zelkova, pine, and Chinese juniper trees, thus with inadequate coverage on traditional fruit trees.
Traditional fruit trees of Korea have important historical and cultural value in that they have been used in traditional weddings, ancestral rituals and also as motifs for poetry, prose, paintings, and traditional games. Also the appreciation of the shapes and scents of these fruit trees have heightened the human sentiments and the fruits have been effectively functioned in times of hunger or pain as part of our everyday life.
As such, these traditional fruit trees are greatly connected to our culture and yet the reasons for its inadequate designation are as follows. Fruit trees are mostly weeded out once it fails to produce the necessary quality and quantity therefore there are little that survives to be old and great. Also nowadays the quality of the fruits fall short compared to foreign and breeded plants, resulting in lesser growing of such traditional trees. Where there are some of these traditional fruit trees left, they are prone to be damaged and exterminated due to rash developments.
In the survey of old and great trees in 1919, during the Japanese colonial rule, a total of 5,330 trees were consisted of 7 species and 87 trees of fruit trees, but in recent times, out of the 145 old great trees that are designated and protected as natural monuments, there are only 4 trees of 4 species such as Bower Actinidia and walnut trees, which is only 2.75% of all old and great trees that are Natural Monuments. Protected trees have also greatly reduced in number since 1972 when there were 182 kinds of fruit trees protected, whereas today there are only 62 trees of 11 species left, consisting of 0.7% of all protected trees. These include persimmon tree, pear tree and Chinese quince.
However in North Korea that has the similar system of designating Natural Monuments, out of 158 old and great trees, fruit trees make up 15.2% with 24 trees of 8 species, setting a different example from us.
In order to study the protective measures for traditional fruit trees that has been insufficient so far, this study has examined and researched the fruit trees within the country. As a result it is found that there are many traditional fruit trees in the country that are not recognized and that there are many old and great traditional fruit trees that have historical and cultural values.
Active research and investigations from expert groups and related administrative organs on such species is greatly needed to create a databas of such tress and raising the awareness on the importance of these disappearing trees. Designation as natural monuments as well as devising effective means to better protect and manage these species should be achieved to protect the diversity in species and also to protect better genetic resource.