The Traditional Enjoyment of Noted Natural Places in Urban South Korea

Park Park,Nakamura Nakamura,Yamamoto Yamamoto,Shimomura Shimomura

doi:10.3390/urbansci3030092

Abstract

Records indicate the existence of noted natural places, where several people from various classes used to enjoy the natural environment in a part of present-day city of Seoul during the Korean Dynasties period. This study aimed to clarify the traditional methods of enjoying noted natural places in South Korea’s urban areas by classifying the relationship between the method of enjoyment and the locations of the noted natural places, including their geomorphological features. Literature analysis was employed, and 29 noted natural places were extracted from the descriptions and pictures of old documents. The results revealed that six types of scenery—plants and mountain streams—were enjoyed and the ways of enjoying were classified into 15 subtypes. Additionally, the methods of enjoyment were related to five types of geomorphological features, including mountain streams and rivers, high grounds, etc. In conclusion, it was determined that a combination of scenery and geomorphological features determined the methods of enjoying noted natural places. Knowledge on the relationship between traditional methods of enjoyment and location types is considered to provide important findings to provide urban citizens with various methods of enjoyment and more effectively develop and utilize urban green spaces.

Highlights

The South Korean capital of Seoul has a large population, and its forests in the periphery of the city center are used extensively by its citizens
This study extracted urban citizens’ enjoyment, and the characteristics, of the environment in each of the noted places described in the old documents and clarified how people enjoyed these places in the late Joseon Dynasty
Hanyang is a part of present-day Seoul and is said to have formed a city similar to the present one during the late Joseon period

Summary

Introduction

The South Korean capital of Seoul has a large population, and its forests in the periphery of the city center are used extensively by its citizens. Contact between people and nature has existed since ancient times. This contact primarily occurs at valleys, the feet of mountains, rivers, and city squares. In the Korean Dynasties period (1392–1910), noted urban natural places [1] with great scenery were used, and several records remain of people from different classes and ranks enjoying a variety of activities throughout the four seasons. Did the urban citizens of that time admire the flowers, the mountain streams, the moon, and the winter landscapes of these noted natural places merely for their excellent scenery, but they wrote poetry and enjoyed food and drink, and tried to plant flowering trees, as well as protect the trees and shrubs. Urban South Korea’s noted natural places have a history of utilization and management

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Discussion

Conclusion