Byeokgol embankment crosses the middle of Buryang-myeon to
the south, started from Choseung-maeul, Weolseung-ri on the
south and extended as long as 2,500m to Pogyo on Weonpyeoncheon
on the north that borders Weolchon-dong. Water sourced from
the mountains such as Moak, Guseong, Sangdu and other small
hills gathers to this reservoir through streams of Weonpyeong,
Duweol, Gamgog, Geumgu, Sinbok and Oju, and was used to irrigate
Jeongeup and Buan as well as Geumman Plains.
* Constructin of Byeokgolje
Byeokgolje is the oldest reservoir in Korea, which was constructed
in AD 330 or 329, during the reign of King Heulhae of Shilla,
according to the records of Samguksagi and Samgukyusa. The
record of "during the reign of Shilla" seems to
be mistaken, because Gimje and its vicinity were the territory
of Baekje instead of Shilla at the time.
* Size of Byeokgolje
'Donggukyeojiseungram' tells us in detail the size and function
of Byeokgolje in its chapter of "Byeokgolje Junsubimun".
We can also estimate the size of this reservoir from the village
names. The name, "Gangjeong-maeul" at the foot of
Hwangsan, 8km away to the northeast, means the water of Byeokgolje
had risen up to the height. The village names of Sogeumsan
or Sogeumbaemi have connections with salt vessels, which means
salt vessels sailed to Geomsan-dong through the water of Byeokgolje
in ancient times. Considering the point that those villages
would have been villages on the lake-side, we can conclude
that Byeokgolje would have been the biggest reservoir in Korea
at the time.
* Repairs
As Byeokgolje was very important in cultivating rice on Gimje
Plains, repairs for it had been conducted through many times
since its completion of construction and it seemed the repair
work was not so easy, as the reservoir was so big. For unidentified
reasons, Byeokgolje had been left unattended until on September,
the 8th year of King Taejong of Chosun, the Jeonra army commander,
Gang Sadeok proposed the repair of the reservoit to the central
government. As the King showed favorable response to the proposal,
Byeokgolje was restored, after unattention for 300 years,
by the repair work for 20 days from September 20 to October
13. After 5 years from the restoration, however, the reservoir
was again destroyed by heavy rainfall in 1420. Since then,
the broad area of the reservoir was gradually converted into
fields and rice paddies amid plenty of discussions contending
the restoration or abandoning.
* Development of Byeokgolje
The Necessity of the Development
1. The excavation and preservation of the Korea's oldest and
greatest irrigational relics
2. Arrangement and damage prevention of the collected folk
and currently preserving irrigational relics
3. Provision of education about the development of assorted
irrigational facilities
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