People who live in Seoul and the metropolitan area are probably not familiar with the place called 'Momyeongjae'. However, it is highly likely that those living in Daegu have visited a place called 'Momyeongjae' without missing out when enjoying cultural experiences.

Many people must have visited Momyungjae, but I think there are many cases where they do not know the history of the place or only think of it as a tourist attraction. What is the history of Mo Myung Jae? And what is the origin of the name 'Momyeongjae'? This time, I will tell you about the history of Mo Myung Jae.

History and introduction of Momyungjae

Momyeongjae is a historical chamber located in Suseong-gu, Daegu. Jaesil refers to a building or space built to honor ancestors. Momyeongjae is an ancestral room built by his descendants to honor Dusachung, a Ming Dynasty general who helped Joseon during the Imjinwaeran and Jeongyujaeran. The name Mo Myung-jae means to miss the Ming Dynasty, and is a combination of Du Sa-chung's pen name 'Mo (慕) to miss' and 'Ming Dynasty name Myeong (明)'. Momyeongjae is known as the first place that Chinese tourists visiting Daegu visit.

Source: Introducing Momyeongjae, a cultural heritage of Suseong-gu - YouTube

Momyeongjae is built as a tile-roofed house with double eaves, with 4 rooms on the front and 2 rooms on the side, with ondol rooms on the left and right of the daecheong, and a half-room toekan in the front. At the gate of Momyeongjae, there is a plaque reading Mandongmun, which was taken from the words Baekcheon Yusupiljidong [白川流水必之東], meaning that we will not forget the origin of Yi Dohan.

At a point 100m west of Momyeongjae, there is Hyojagak called Myeongjeonggak. This filial piety was issued by the court in order to widely publicize the filial piety of Du Han-pil, the 7th descendant of Du Sa-chung. Jeongryeol is an honor bestowed on a filial son or loyal subject, and it is to erect a filial piety or loyal subject and erect a monument with their names and achievements written down. Du Han-pil was extremely filial to his parents from a young age, and after his death, Jeong Ryeo came down and he was promoted to Tonghun Daebu Gyujanggak Jikgak (通訓大夫 奎章閣直閣), a third rank official.

Source: The story of Dusachung and Mo Myung-jae (Taegu Story) (tistory.com)

About 1km east of Momyeongjae is the tomb of Du Sa-chung. Du Sa-chung was from Dureung, China, and made a close friendship with Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the joint operations between Joseon and Ming during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 and the invasion of Jeongyu. As a mother, it was an unbearable grief for Chungmugong to be captured and imprisoned by the Japanese, so whenever she had time, she would visit the prison. That day, too, I was on my way back from visiting my son in Daegu prison. We reached the Gomoryeong Pass, and it started to rain that day. The mother, who had passed Gomoryeong with longing and sorrow for her son, kept looking back without realizing it. To go to Gyeongsan, you must cross that pass, and once you pass that pass, Daegu is no longer visible, so I kept looking back. In this way, this pass is said to have been called Gomo-ryeong by attaching Go (顧), which means to see by turning one's head, and mother (母). Hyoja and Dongjasam Once upon a time, a good married couple lived in poverty here with their elderly single mother.

tourist information

When you visit Momyungjae, you can see the exhibition room and cultural experience room where you can learn about the life and achievements of Dusachung. In the exhibition room, portraits and artifacts of Du Sa-chung, exchanges with Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin, and stories of Du Sa-chung's descendants are introduced. In the cultural experience room, you can apply for various experience programs related to Ming Dynasty culture. For example, you can wear Ming Dynasty clothing and take pictures, make crafts related to Ming Dynasty culture, taste Ming Dynasty food, and learn Ming Dynasty music and dance.

Source: Mo Myung-jae Nurigil (tistory.com)

Around Momyeongjae, there are the tombs of Dusachung, Myeongjeonggak, which is a filial piety, and Gomoryeong, which has a legend related to Dusachung, so it is good to visit together. We also recommend a walking course called Momyeongjae Nurigil. This one-way course, starting from Momyeongjae and passing through Hyeongbong, Jebong, and Gomoryeong to Yeongnam Jeilgwan, is a 7.2km one-way course of moderate difficulty. If you follow this course, you can appreciate the nature and history of Daegu at a glance.

Momyeongjae is one of the cultural heritages of Daegu, and it is a place where you can learn about the friendly relationship between Joseon and the Ming Dynasty and the great figure of Du Sa-chung. If you come to Daegu, please visit at least once.