Fairyland Consciousness Projected on Ma-Ae-Yeongs in the Basin of Hancheon

Abstract

This study conducted a full-blown research on the fairyland consciousness occasionally reported for Ma-ae-yeongs engraved in scenic spots in the basin of Hancheon, presenting the results. As the estuary of Hancheon into the sea, Yongyeon, for instance, had a mixture of many different perceptions. In some cases, they regarded Yongyeon as a sacred place to hold rituals for rain. In others, they had an objective perception of Yongyeon as a scenic beauty with no fairyland consciousness or recognized it for its picturesque scenery that would attract Taoist hermits with miraculous powers to take a walk. In still others, they added stories based on the motif of Tao Yuanming's Land of Peach Blossoms in the Wei-Jin period to Yongyeon, concluding it as an entrance to a paradise and strolling about there. Similar fairyland consciousness was also found in Ma-ae-yeongs of Bangseonmun and Baekrokdam.