| As bitterwood contains quassin ingredient which makes bitter taste in the
bark of a tree, it is very bitter. Our saying, 'it is as bitter as gall', represents
the taste straightforwardly. Branches and fruit are used as medicine for
symptoms such as indigestion, gastroenteritis, etc. The age of bitterwood in
Songsa-dong can not be estimated but it is 20m in height and 4.65m in girth.
It grows on the backyard of Songgil elementary school and is forming a small
forest with about 10 trees such as Japanese pagoda trees, zelkova and hackberries.
Exact history has not been known about it, it seems to have been protected
as a forest of a tutelary deity to protect and defend the village because there
are the village shrine and several big and old trees together around it. The
Village inhabitants have still performed religious services on every January
15th for peace and a good harvest of the village so far.
As the bitterwood in Songsa-dong is well to be preserved for biological and
cultural reasons find out our ancestors' religious culture. It is designated
and protected as a Natural Monument.
| 
Item
:
Natural Monument No 174 
