What I like about seeing waterfalls is how no waterfall is the same as the other. A river can look just like any other river, but when it comes to waterfalls, I feel like they each have their own personality. (This is one of those things that we cannot explain fully, so I’ll leave it at that.)
The next stop in our waterfall-hopping in the Seogwipo area is the Cheonjiyeon Waterfall or, as spelled on the slab of stone on the site, Cheongiyeon Waterfall. Tranquil. That’s the word I immediately associated with this place the moment we stepped on the bridge.
Arriving at the waterfall requires a bit of a walk, and a pleasurable one at that, since you’ll be passing through concrete paths lined with trees about to blossom. There are also a lot of interesting items or objects that you will be able to check out while you’re at it.
First, there is the Teu, a traditional raft once used for fishing and seaweed gathering by Jeju folks. It is also considered as the route Korean culture took in spreading to Japan during the prehistoric times.
On the back of the statues of these women is a mulheobeok, a traditional earthenware jar used to carry water by Jeju folks, usually by women islanders. It comes with the mulgudeok, a rectangular carrier made of bamboo that is fitted over the shoulders to carry the jar. This jar is also used as a musical instrument during festivities.
Cheonjiyeon is not just the waterfall. It is actually the entire valley, which is U-shaped and largely made of lava, and its subtropical evergreen forest is home to almost 450 species of plants and trees. It is also designated as National Monument No. 27, or the “Natural Habitat of Giant Mottled Eel in Jeju-do”.
And we’ve arrived at the end of the path, the gorge where the Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is.
22 meters high and 12 meters wide, Cheonjiyeon Waterfall drops down to the pond, which has a depth of 20 meters, then runs down to the Seogwipo Harbor.
Incidentally, “Cheonjiyeon” means “God’s Pond”. According to legend, seven fairies who are servants/handmaidens of the King of Heaven came down on this pond on stairs of cloud so they can bathe in its waters. Hence the annual Seven Fairies Festival, which occurs every month of May.
After spending at least 30 minutes by the pond, we started making our way back, taking another route.
Then we came upon this bridge.
What’s so special about this bridge, you ask? Well, aside from the serene view, it is where you can see the 3 Fortune Statues. Oh, by the way, the bridge is called “The Bridge of Prayer and 3 Fortune Statues“.
According to the tablet by the bridge, “there is a legend that you may have your three kinds of desires, if you cherish a desire for something in front of The Bridge of Prayer and 3 Fortune Statues. The statues of mandarin duck, carp and turtle are symbolizing the wish for marital harmony, the success in your life and the sound life in mind and body, respectively. The coin which has been thrown with your desires will be deposited in the foundation of welfare for the aid of unfortunate neighbors.”
So yes, I threw in my coin.
We also passed by this mound of rocks.
This mound is composed of basalt rocks, which are common in Jeju. These rocks are known for being strong and sturdy, which is why they are the rocks of choice when it comes to building fences and walls for homes, keeping bad weather and even intruders away. People in the past often make mounds of these stones and rocks as a place where they can pray and ask for their, and their family’s, well-being and health.
In Cheonjiyeon, it has been said that those who put a small basalt rock on this mound, then pray their wishes, will have those wishes came true. I tried it, too. Although I can’t be sure that I put a basalt rock or just a random stone on the mound. LOL.
Now check this out. It’s the “Yeo Ui Ju“, or the “Golden Magic Pearl“. The description on the tablet says that this is a present from the dragon of Cheonjiyeon.
Transcript:
Once upon a time, in the Josun dynasty, a very beautiful, kind and virtuous woman lived in the village of Seogwipo. Because of her beauty, many young and unmarried men in the village had a crush on her. Unfortunately, when she turned 19 years old, she got married to a man who lived in a neighbor village and moved there. That put many of her admirers in despair, especially one particular guy who became emphatically sad.
One day, out of desperation, he decided to harm the woman who was just passing by the Cheonjiyeon Fall. When he was about to put that wicked thought into action, a dragon suddenly appeared from the Fall, snatched him and vanished in the sky, leaving a golden magic pearl behind. She took the pearl home, and it was handed down as a family treasure. The family became prosperous and thrived, generation after generation, according to the legend.
I…. honestly do not get the plot. Haha! Anyway, it also says that if you rub the golden magic pearl and make a wish, you might become prosperous and thrive. Just as they did in the legend.
Need you even ask if I did it? Seeing as I’m not prosperous right not, I think the “might” part on the statement above prevailed.
By this time, it was close to 11, so we needed some snacks. Good thing the stores at the parking area had lots to offer. 🙂
