| A Gomsol is in the pine tree family. As its leaves are stronger than
those of usual pines, it's called Gomsol (Bear Pine). While a winter bud
of a pine tree is red, a light gray winter bud is a characteristic of a black
pine tree. It is called a Haesong (marine pine tree, a species of pine)
because it inhabits along the beach. And also it is called Heuksong, a
black pine tree because its black colored trunk is darker than that of regular
pine trees. It is usually used as a windbreak forest or a tide-break forest
because of its feature which is resistant to sea breeze and salt.
The black pine tree in Jeju-si (city) is estimated to be about 500~600 years
old and 28m in height and 5.8m in girth. Aside from the tree designated
as a Natural Monument, there are 8 more black pine trees and hackberries, mallotus,
bead trees, etc. around here.
Residents have performed religious services to heaven on Baengnokdam (Crater
lake) of Hallasan (Mt.) in Jeju since time immemorial. But when it was
bad or the path was too steep, they performed the services on Sancheondan (Altar)
where black pine tree stands. Long time ago, our ancestors believed that
when the gods of the heaven came down to the human world, they would take a
rest on a big tree for a while on the way, and the village inhabitants also
believed that this black pine tree was the passage the gods came though. Therefore
they have protected it as a sacred tree.
|
Item
:
Natural Monument No 160 
