The Sorrow of Monuments of Gratitude 功德碑 悲哀

in #culture7 years ago (edited)

You could see a lot of monument of gratitude in old town of Korea. The monuments of gratitude had been build for the memory of good officials who had worked for their people.

Not like Europe, there was no feudalism in middle age of korea. In Korea, feudalism had been existed in exceptionally short period. The centralized national system had been built for long time in history. The centralized kingdom had sent the officials to rule the local people. Naturally the officials had an all power to rule the people.

From time to time, the local people had suffered a bad governing from the officials. The monument of gratitude was build to memory a good officials at first. But it became burden to the local community. They should’ve built the monuments of gratitude for all officials, more over bad official who harassed people had forced the local people to build the monument for himself. The good officials had never wanted to build the monument for themselves.

So there would be high possibility that the monuments of gratitude you could see are for the bad officials. It is sad story.

I had taken the photos when it comes to the monuments of gratitude in Gongjoo and Chuncheon during my business trip.

In Gongjoo

There was written “We never forget your service forever”.

It is hard to read in some case.

In Chuncheon

Life is short.
The officials had expected their name to be remembered.
But I don’t know who they were.
Everything in this world is end up forgotten.

Sort:  
There are 2 pages
Pages

Very interesting this thing ... also because I am a state official! Reminding people's work is not a common thing ... Thank you for the curiosity you demonstrate for these past signs of your region.

A very heartwarming historical post, good luck continue @slowwalker

Very nice! :)

Interesting article! Amazing photos and good post my dear friend @slowwalker! I write very interesting post about my excursion in adult life! Looks please!
https://steemit.com/life/@bugavi/excursion-bugavi-in-adult-life-smoke-eyes-shoes-from-gucci-wolkswagen-car-and-modern-hairdo-let-s-go-with-me

Interesting... Forgotten I think not... You sharing this post, you acknowledging there presence shows honor be it good or bad officials... Plus by posting this you have made their tombs immortalized in the web of digital data. RESPECT!

thank you so much

Thanks for sharing!

people are foolish who want to build monuments more lasting than bronze. The English poet Shelly wrote of finding a ruins of such a monument in the desert:

And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

So it is with both the great and small, the evil and good. It is a somber feeling looking at your photos of aged stone and realizing the lettering is faded and the deceased official's name, even if legible, means nothing.

This was a dramatic post, @slowwalker, filled with the irony of forced gratitude and pathos for the plight of the local people who were abused.

thank you for yourcomment

@slowwalker the beautiful

We learn so much about your culture from your posts. Thank you!

Nice photos! Thanks for sharing.

Very interesting pictures of Tombstone , thanks @slowwalker for sharing....

Nice picture with detail history .. Thanks for sharing with us

1.png
Feel Free To checkout my blog : https://steemit.com/@sumayia

Upvote Resteem follow.gif

it's all about leaving behind a legacy. it's more than money, power, or even fame.

Good posting @slowwalker
The country that inherits history is a very fortunate country Because of the grandchildren can inherit it now, they can be proud because their ancestors left history for those who they can make learning materials And contemplation in the present, they can remember the people who render against the country

Thank you for posting @slowwalker, nim.

Lovely photographs and commentary.

'In times of peace, God and the soldier are forgot'......from a poem...apologies do not have a name.

All the best to you and your family...and especially your mum. Cheers.

thank you

i wish i could upvote this post twice !

Thank you for impotent post you're country..

Nothing lasts forever :)

It can be either the good officials or maybe the bad one! We will never know finally @slowwalker!
But like you said everything will be forgotten sooner or later!
Cheers
@progressivechef

@slowalker Even this colossal write up will one day fade, this is life.

the beautiful culture from korea @slowwalker

I really like your post you always catch the best architecture and history places in each place you visit

Great pictures and nicely written as usual.

Thank you, very useful information, do not forget please vote me too.
@slowwalker

Nothing last forever everything is end up is this world. but i'm sure they are still remembered with their work

Life is indeed too short... Great pictures as usual :]

Great corner stones.. thanks for this

Everything is impermanent my friend :)

"If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do".

insightful

Nice photography and description. Thank you.

Very interesting. There are so many of them!

It is sad that many of them might be for bad officials

@slowwalker,
Great traveling experience, great photography, but I like this part more than others. Because it meant a lot, the truth about our lives:

"Life is short.
The officials had expected their name to be remembered.
But I don’t know who they were.
Everything in this world is end up forgotten."

Thanks for sharing this great traveling experience with us!

Cheers~

Very true everything in this world ends up forgotten.

I'm glad that the good official's names can live on for now but unfortunately, it will all fade away and they will be forgotten like us.
Live life to the fullest and if you want to be remembered try to do something revolutionary that doesn't only lead to your family remembering you but the whole world.
RIP to all the forgotten

thank you for your comment

Thanks for the interesting story

Isn't everything in the world going to become a dust, it does not matter whether you are ruled by a wise man or an evil tyrant in the end :p

um....

I mean, surely it's awful to have bad officials but in the end, everything becomes a dust. Can't even recognise most of the names on the tombstones.

Names might be forgotten but meanings don't.

you are what you are when no one is looking...i still believe in values and culture of korea... have you heard a president resign for some issues...

in our country politicians do corruption in obvious way... but they still elected by people... money matters...

aside from that korea is one of the most rich country in terms of heritage and cultural values... the buildings, temples, artifacts, clothes as well as foods...

for me korea is still my #1 to go to visit... next would be japan...

Great Pictures. It tells more the words!!

and we will never forget your photography of ancient places @slowwalker :p
Do check out my photography portfolio
https://steemit.com/photography/@arvindsingh/delicious-food-photography

Love the write up. There aren't many out there posting of places like this. Thanks for sharing. Upvoted! Cheers!

#f4f

Monuments serve many purposes, reminding us of important lessons learned & others still to discover. Gratitude to veterans 4 everything

It is very interesting to learn about the various cultural characteristics of different peoples. I am very glad to read your posts about Korean culture, it's great that you post it.

>> Much Respect<<
Capture.PNG

Great post.
I've just realised i know very little about Korea and it's history.

Information of interest, thanks for sharing @slowwalker

Those are very touching. Thank you for sharing .

There are 2 pages
Pages