The Relation between the Monuments of WuWuzhuanggong shrine and the Overseas Chinese Community: Focusing on the Monuments of Modern Period

Abstract

This paper aims to clarify the historical significance of each relic and its relationship with the Overseas Chinese Community through a survey of relics produced during the modern period preserved by the Wu Wuzhuanggong shrine. The WuWuzhuanggong shrine enshrines Admiral Wu Changqing, who was dispatched from the Qing dynasty to Choseon to suppress the Im-O Military Revolt. King Gojong established it in 1885 in the name of Jeongmu shrine to commemorate Wu Changqing after his death, and hold national memorial service every year. Japan's colonization of Choseon-Korea was actively promoted, and in 1909, the memorial service and management was transferred to the Qing Consulate General in Choseon-Korea, and the ceremony was held jontly with the Kyeongseong Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In this paper, we first surveyed all the relics in the collection of WuWuzhuanggong shrine and deciphered all the characters on each relic of the monument stone, plaque, couplet, and mortuary tablet. After deciphering, through the work of translating all relics, we fully grasped the content of each relic, and examined the historical meaning of each relic, focusing on its relationship with overseas Chinese community. Each relic not only contains the history of the WuWuzhuanggong shrine as it is, but also clearly shows the actual situation of its transformation. The overseas Chinese community in Gyeongseong is directly involved in the management, repair and maintenance of the WuWuzhuanggong shrine, as well as the rituals, and has served as a historical space that unites the overseas Chinese community