Journal of the Korean Geographical Society ISSN:1225-6633(Print) 대한지리학회지

In this paper, I have explored the process of constructing a meaning as a fengshui place in the case of Ubokdong in Songnisan which has been famous for the oriental utopia and the traditional ideal place like ‘dongcheon’, ‘bokji’, ‘gugok’ with Cheonghakdong in Jilisan and Mansudong in Gayasan from the perspective of the social construction of place. In regards to the process of constructing the meaning of Ubokdong as a fengshui place, I focused on two stages of Ubokdong’s becoming places. First stage was related to the construction of Ubokdong as the oriental ideal place which was led by knowledge elites since the mid Joseon Dynasty. Next was just substitution process which Ubokdong as an oriental ideal place had become a fengshui place from the end of the 18th century through the 19th century. Ubokdong as a fengshui place is a ‘realistic utopia’ projected with the idea of the long-reaching chaos and wish of ordinary people compared with the existing social ruling class. Fengshui as a cultural code had been involved in such process.