• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.139-153
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• 2014

This study contemplates the utopian landscape recognized by the scholars with twenty three pieces of 'travel record'. Consequently, five key words - Mureungdowon(武陵桃源), Byeolcheonji(別天地), Dongcheon(洞天), Chonghakdong, Eungeoji(hermitage) - are chosen for comprehending the utopia and their landscape characteristics are organised as follows. Mureungdowon in Jirisan Mountain which the scholars dreamed of is a flatland with the full energy for local vegetation and domestic animals in the mysterious and deep gorge. This utopia eventually reflects the rural landscape. Byeolcheonji is a utopia combining the concept of a fairyland and beautiful scenery. The scholars also used the term 'Dongcheon' for naming the enclosed landform which is suitable for seclusion and defining the some areas of beautiful scenery. Cheonghakdong, which is set only in Jirisan Mountain, has been formed by the stone scenery of gorges and Buril waterfalls around the whole area of Burilam Hermitage, the vegetation scenery of pine trees and bamboos with the legend of Choi Chiwon and his engraved inscription on a rock. Adding to the utopia passed down, the scholars perceived the village with geographical features with back to the mountain and facing the water, the river practising the trade, the flatland enclosed by bamboo forests, the vegetation mainly consisting of fruit trees and beautiful scenery as the utopia realized on earth. It is equivalent to the world of human beings laboring appropriately and living in Mother Nature. As mentioned above, this study has significance for apprehending the relevance between the culture of strolling in the mountains by the scholars of Joseon Dynasty and the fairyland and explaining the various traditional utopias from the inherited concepts from China to the naturalized realistic utopia.