| Nutmeg trees inhabit in the south of Naesangsan (Mt.) in Korea and Japan.
For the beautiful figure of the tree, it is usually used as an ornamental
tree, its fruit is used as an vermicide, a stool softener pill or oil.
The nutmeg tree in Byeongyeong-myeon is estimated to be about 500 years old
and 11.5m in height and 5.8m in girth. It is divided into four branches
at around 1.5m high from the ground. There are two opinions about why
the tree has been able to avoid cutting down for over 500 years. One is
although most useful trees were cut to build Jeollabyeongmajeoldosayeong (military
headquarter buildings for Jeolla arms and war horses) in 17th year of Taejong
(King, 1417), this tree was not cut because it was too small and bent to be
used as wood for construction and so it could survive. The other is as its fruit
was the only vermicide at that time, inhabitants had to protect it.
Since inhabitants of that village have considered it as a guardian deity,
they have prayed for peace of the village going around it on every January 15th
(a full moon day) of the lunar calendar. It is also a place to rest and
cool down the heat in summer. As the nutmeg tree in Byeongyeong-myeon
is very valuable as historical and cultural material which has been looked after
by the village inhabitants for a long time, it is designated and protected as
a Natural Monument.
| 
Item
:
Natural Monument No 39
