by Oh Sang-Jo
Dangsan trees hold a distinct and venerable position in Korea's history. Deliberately stationed at the village entrance by the village founders, these magnificent trees stand as living monuments to old Korea's history and spiritual consciousness. Around these trees, rich folklore and customs evolved and thrived.
With over ninety stunning black and white photographs, this photo journal delicately unveils a unique and disappearing part of Korean history and culture. This is the third work from acclaimed photographer Oh Sang-jo, who has dedicated his life to preserving Korean culture through his unique style of photography.
Particularly passionate about preserving Korea's disappearing cultural history, Oh Sang-jo published this book only after the culmination of exhaustive research and trips to the field. Many of the photographs are of historical subjects no longer in existence, thus adding to this work a significant historical value.
The trees captured in this book represent without exception a Korean epic. They tell specific stories from within a long history about how the trees and people lived together; stories that represent both the histories of single villages and of the trials and tribulations of Koreas yesteryear.
THE DANGSAN TREE is a nostalgic throwback to the days when things were not so complex and hurried, and life's essence and mysteries more appreciated.
178 pp
Pub. date: Jan 2008
ISBN-13: 978-9810801953(pbk)
ISBN-10: 9810801955(pbk)
US $36 £18
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