The Sorrow of Monuments of Gratitude 功德碑 悲哀
You could see a lot of monument of gratitude in old town of Korea. The monuments of gratitude had been build for the memory of good officials who had worked for their people.
Not like Europe, there was no feudalism in middle age of korea. In Korea, feudalism had been existed in exceptionally short period. The centralized national system had been built for long time in history. The centralized kingdom had sent the officials to rule the local people. Naturally the officials had an all power to rule the people.
From time to time, the local people had suffered a bad governing from the officials. The monument of gratitude was build to memory a good officials at first. But it became burden to the local community. They should’ve built the monuments of gratitude for all officials, more over bad official who harassed people had forced the local people to build the monument for himself. The good officials had never wanted to build the monument for themselves.
So there would be high possibility that the monuments of gratitude you could see are for the bad officials. It is sad story.
I had taken the photos when it comes to the monuments of gratitude in Gongjoo and Chuncheon during my business trip.
In Gongjoo
There was written “We never forget your service forever”.
It is hard to read in some case.
In Chuncheon
Life is short.
The officials had expected their name to be remembered.
But I don’t know who they were.
Everything in this world is end up forgotten.
Very interesting this thing ... also because I am a state official! Reminding people's work is not a common thing ... Thank you for the curiosity you demonstrate for these past signs of your region.
lol
A very heartwarming historical post, good luck continue @slowwalker
Very nice! :)
Interesting article! Amazing photos and good post my dear friend @slowwalker! I write very interesting post about my excursion in adult life! Looks please!
https://steemit.com/life/@bugavi/excursion-bugavi-in-adult-life-smoke-eyes-shoes-from-gucci-wolkswagen-car-and-modern-hairdo-let-s-go-with-me
Interesting... Forgotten I think not... You sharing this post, you acknowledging there presence shows honor be it good or bad officials... Plus by posting this you have made their tombs immortalized in the web of digital data. RESPECT!
thank you so much
Thanks for sharing!
people are foolish who want to build monuments more lasting than bronze. The English poet Shelly wrote of finding a ruins of such a monument in the desert:
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
So it is with both the great and small, the evil and good. It is a somber feeling looking at your photos of aged stone and realizing the lettering is faded and the deceased official's name, even if legible, means nothing.
This was a dramatic post, @slowwalker, filled with the irony of forced gratitude and pathos for the plight of the local people who were abused.
thank you for yourcomment
you're welcome, @slowwalker
@slowwalker the beautiful
We learn so much about your culture from your posts. Thank you!
thank you
Nice photos! Thanks for sharing.