Jeju Island’s Dol Hareubang (돌하르방), can be found everywhere on the island. The name of the statue stems from the Korean word for “stone” (dol) with the Jeju dialect word hareubang, meaning grandfather. Dol hareubangs are weathered stone statues with stoic expressions and robust forms, representing the island’s history, culture, and beliefs. The statues are made with porous basalt volcanic rock of Jeju Island, where they have a round face with bulging eyes, big nose, and a slightly smiling mouth. The statues typically wear a traditional hat, known as a “gat” They tend to have their hand on their stomach, one higher than the other. If the right hand is raised, it indicates that the figure is a civil official because they hold the brush with the right hand. Meanwhile, if the left hand is raised, it is believed that the figure is a military official, since they hold a bow and spears with the left.
Their main roles were to be protectors of the fortresses during the dynasties. Because of their appearance, they are called “grandfather” but they are considered to be the guardians of the island, warding off demons and evil spirits. Historically, they were placed at the entrances of Jeju’s three major counties, which were the three main gates, warding off danger and harms, playing their roles as a guardian deity. They were placed outside of the eastern, western, and southern gates of the Jeju City fortress between 1763 and 1765. The Dol Hareubang’s history goes back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918 to 1392) and later gained prominence during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1897). It is believed that the local artisans who created these statues have imbued them with spiritual energies, turning them into protectors of Jeju, explaining the reason why they consider these to be the protectors.
These statues are also associated with fertility, where couples that hope to start a family often visit these statues, believing that it brings blessings for fertility and safe childbirth. There’s a belief that newly married women can touch different parts of the statue in order to increase their chances of conceiving a desired gender: nose for a boy and ears for a girl. Because of this, you could see many statues having worn down features on the nose and ears compared to the rest of the statues. Therefore, these statues are important during weddings and celebrations.
In the modern day, these statues have become the main symbol of the island, and different replicas are sold in various sizes. Many locals still believe that the Dol Harebubang will watch over them, ensuring safety and abundance. These statues will be in traditional settings, but also modern locations such as museums, cultural exhibitions, in front of people’s houses, and even common locations such as restaurants or even tangerine fields. There are also parks in Jeju Island where there are wide varieties of statues, attracting not only visitors but also becoming a learning center for children and adults about the history and symbolization.
https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/whereToGo/locIntrdn/locIntrdnList.do?vcontsId=90845&menuSn=351
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/what-are-jeju-islands-dol-hareubang
https://blog.onedaykorea.com/dol-hareubang-jeju-stone-grandfather/
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