by Ra Hwakjin / An Hayeon

[ENG] Plum Blossoms

 

▲ This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration, shows the Seonammae of Seonamsa Temple in Suncheon city, one of the four major Maehwa in Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Maehwa refers to plum blossoms or the tree itself. Maehwa is one of the first Spring flowers to bloom in Korea. Maehwa begins to bloom in late January in Jeju Island and fully bloom in March in the southern region.

 

▲ This photo, provided by Daejeon City, shows HongMaehwa (red plum blossoms). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)

There are various colors of Maehwa, including a white plum (Baekmae), red plum (Hongmae), and greenish plum (Cheongmae).

Maesil, the plums that wind up growing on the trees and ripens in late May and early June, are used to make juice or to make alcohol.

Maehwa is familiar to Koreans that they occupy the first place of the four noble plants, which were loved by scholars during the Joseon Dynasty. Scholars in Joseon Dynasty highly appreciated the plum blossoms in that they were the first to bloom in the early spring cold, and thus appeared frequently as materials for poems and paintings.

 

▲ This photo shows the Gwangyang's Maehwa Village in South Jeolla Province. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

◇ Maehwa Festivals around Korea

Maehwa has been loved since ancient times and so many famous plum blossom spots and festivals are held in time for blooming in Korea.

One of the most famous festivals, Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, takes place at Gwangyang city in South Jeolla Province. However, due to COVID-19, the festival hasn’t been held for three consecutive years since 2020.  

▲ A train is passing along the Gyeongbu Line railroad along the Nakdonggang River in Wondong-myeon, Yangsan-si, where plum blossoms are in full bloom. (Yonhap)

 

In Wondong-myeon, Yangsan City, South Gyeongsang Province, plum trees planted along the Gyeongbu Line railroad along the Nakdonggang River, will be in full bloom in March. Yangsan City also holds the Wondong Maehwa Festival at this time, but it has not been held for three years due to the coronavirus.

Yangsan City is hosting virtual events ever since the plum festival has been canceled. The city sells Wondong Maehwa trees online, puts a post with family names and photos on the trees they sell, provides Maesil picking experiences, and gives out the harvested plums. It also holds photos and video contests with the topic as Maehwa.

Haenam County, in South Jeolla Province, also holds the Ttangkkeut(End of land) Maehwa Festival at Bohae Plum Farm, though the festival was held online last year and canceled this year.
 

▲ This photo, provided by the Naejangsan National Park Baekam Office, shows the Gobulmae of Baegyangsa Temple in Jangseong county. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

◇ Korea’s Four Maehwa as Natural Monumnet

 

The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) of South Korea, designated four famous Maehwa trees as Natual Monument in 2007.

These plum blossoms, so-called the "four major Maehwas in Korea," include ▲Gobulmae of Baegyangsa Temple in Jangseong county ▲Maehwa in Hwaeomsa Temple in Gurye county ▲Seonammae of Seonamsa Temple in Suncheon city ▲Yulgongmae of Ojukheon House in Gangneung city. The estimated age ranges from 350 to 600 years. 

 

▲ This photo, provided by the Naejangsan National Park Baekam Office, shows the Gobulmae of Baegyangsa Temple in Jangseong county. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Gobulmae of Baekyangsa Temple is a red plum planted when the temple was relocated in 1863. It is considered one of the five plum trees in Honam and is said to be the best Maehwa with pale red flowers. The plum blossoms of Hwaeomsa Temple in Gurye are trees that grow in the bamboo forest on a steep slope in front of the Gilsangam hermitage.

Seonammae is said to have been planted together when Seonamsa Temple was rebuilt during the Goryeo Dynasty, and it refers to two of the 20 old trees around Muwoojeon and Palsangjeon Hall of Seonamsa Temple.

Yulgongmae is a plum tree that was planted around the year 1400, when the Ojukheon House was built and it is said that Shin Saimdang and her son Yi I, personally took care of it.

Among them, Yulgongmae is now nearing its end of life and is expected to be canceled as a natural monument. Except for Yulgongmae, the rest of the Maehwas are in full bloom. Hwaeomsa Temple is holding a "Hongmaehwa and Wild Maehwa Photo Contest" until April 3, 2022.

 

▲ This photo, captured from SBS, shows the poster of SBS’s “Iljimae" (2008), starring Lee Joon-gi. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

◇ Maehwa in K-drama

Maehwa frequently appears in Korean historical series. There are two representative dramas, including SBS’s “Iljimae” (literal meaning: One plum blossom branch), a story about leaving a branch of Maehwa in the scene of a robbery, and MBC’s “Moon River.” The SBS series, which was a success with star actor Lee Joon-gi, emphasized the image of Maehwa from the poster.

In the drama “Damo,” starring Ha Ji-won and Lee Seo-jin, the famous line "Does it hurt? It hurts for me too,” unfolds against the background of a Maehwa field. The scene was filmed in Gwangyang Maehwa Village.

 

 

▲ This photo, captured from MBC, shows the gift box "Sadaham’s Maehwa" in the drama "Queen Seondeok." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"Queen Seondeok," an MBC drama in which Go Hyun-jung was greatly loved for her mysterious role as Lady Mishil, a gift box called "Sadaham’s Maehwa" left by Misil's lover, Sadaham, drew the attention of the viewers.

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