<#312 Reporter’s Sketch>

 

Bigginaeunlim Village Is a Tourist Spot, not a Village

 

By Lee Ji-song, Tribune Reporter

      

      Many people think of Jindo first when it comes to the culture of Namdo. Especially Bigginaeunlim village, where traditional artists have gathered together, is one of the most famous attractions on the island. The village, along Mountain Cheomchal, is well known for Unlimsanbang, Sochi Memorial Hall, and Jindo History Hall. It has certain charms of Namdo, which has rich natural resources and cultural heritage. Let’s take a look at Korean paintings and calligraphic works around the village.

When I arrived at Jindo, I paused to look at the ‘evergreen’ view. The whole island is surrounded with a variety of green trees and onion fields, the specialty of Jindo. It took about 10 minutes to go to the Bigginaeunlim Village from Jindo-eup. The name “Bigginae” comes from the shape of a brook which streams by the village, and “Unlim” comes from Unlimsanbang, which means a small room in the forest of the clouds. The village felt refined and calm because of the landscape, which includes a pavilion (a meeting place for village elders) and some traditional houses. It is a quiet and peaceful place. Unlimsanbang is surrounded with lotus and pond lilies on a pond. The landscape has a magical power to attract people.

I visited Sochi Memorial Hall, a traditional Korean tiled house that the village rebuilt. The hall exhibits pieces by Sochi Heo Ryeon and his descendants for three generations to commemorate his artistic work. Sochi was a master of Namjonghwa, a style of ink-and-wash painting only for Sadaebu (scholar-officials). He lifted the spirit of artistic mind and the age from the late JoseonDynasty to these days. Next to the Memorial is the Jindo History Hall, which is a modern building in harmony with the traditional Korean style houses. The Bigginaeunlim village does its best to preserve history and arts such as ancient houses and artifacts. Shin Jung-im, from Ansan said, “Seeing an old fashioned lamp reminds me of my childhood. It is very warm and friendly.” Therefore you could stand on a pathway of traditional Namdo art and traditions in Jindo's Bigginae Unlim Village. ‘The whole town is an art gallery’. Here you have a chance to enjoy the impressive views and art works ‘with slow eyes’.

 

However, I feel that this beautiful village is so regulated that it does not fit the true definition of a village, for example there is a ticket office at the entrance of the village. Also the majority of people are tourists, so only a few people actually live the village. Rural places and historic sites are becoming more and more commercialized and capitalist, merely focussing on making profits. I think the ‘village’ should preserve not only its heritage but also its inhabitants.

이지송 기자 jee-song@hanmail.net

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