Mungyeong Saejae

Historic Site · Korea

Joryeong · Chaekbawi

Exams & Study

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In short

The highest and hardest pass on the road from the southeast to the capital, with three gates strung along six and a half kilometres.

Juheulgwan, the first gate of Mungyeong Saejae, its arched opening set in a stone wall across the pass. — Tungdangthanh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Quick facts

Address: Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

About this place

Mungyeong Saejae is the pass between Mungyeong in North Gyeongsang and Goesan in North Chungcheong, written in Chinese characters as Joryeong. It was the highest and most difficult crossing on the Yeongnam-daero, the road linking the Han and Nakdong river basins, and mattered for travel, defence and trade alike. Three gates run along it over six and a half kilometres. The gates were designated a Historic Site in 1966, the area a provincial park in 1981, and the pass a Scenic Site in 2007.

Origin and history

Joryeong is the pass between Mungyeong-eup in Mungyeong and Yeonpung-myeon in Goesan, called Saejae or Mungyeong Saejae. In the name Saejae, "sae" refers to the silver grass and scouring rush that grow there and "jae" means a high pass that can be crossed.

It was the highest and hardest crossing on the Yeongnam-daero and carried weight in travel, defence, trade and culture; with Jungnyeong and Chupungnyeong it was one of the roads joining the capital to the southeast. The gates were designated a Historic Site in 1966, the provincial park followed in 1981, and the pass became a Scenic Site in 2007.

What it is locally associated with

Power spot
Three gates
Juheulgwan, then Jogokgwan, then Joryeonggwan, over six and a half kilometres.
documented history
Origin
The name Saejae
"Sae" refers to silver grass and scouring rush; "jae" means a high pass that can be crossed.
documented history
What people do hereExams & Study
Chaekbawi
Scholars bound for the examinations are said to have piled stones here, and people facing exams still come.
folk tradition

The link between this pass and examinations comes from its being the road to the state examinations. Scholars from the southeast crossed here on their way to the capital, and it is told that at Chaekbawi, a rock along the path, they piled stones while praying to pass. People facing examinations still come.

The Chaekbawi story is not in the state record. Nor is the widely repeated account that scholars chose this route because Mungyeong means "hearing joyful news": the name of the pass, Saejae, derives from the grasses growing on it, not from that phrase.

Claims and evidence levels 4

Joryeong, called Saejae or Mungyeong Saejae, was the highest and most difficult pass on the Yeongnam-daero linking the capital to the southeast, and carries three gates over six and a half kilometres. documented history
In the name Saejae, "sae" refers to the silver grass and scouring rush of the pass and "jae" means a high crossing. documented history
The gates were designated a Historic Site in 1966, the provincial park established in 1981, and the pass designated a Scenic Site in 2007. documented history
It is told that scholars travelling to the state examinations piled stones at Chaekbawi along the path while praying to pass; the rock does not appear in the state record. folk tradition