[Opinion] Chinese Scholar Trees

Chinese scholar trees are often found in such places as ancient palaces, lecture halls, temples, tombs and mansions. Their milk-colored blossoms, rosary bead-like fruits, and straight-extending branches remind us of a man of grace and pride. That’s why our ancestors believed that a scholar tree in backyard brings for the family a baby destined to become a scholar. They used to plant a scholar tree when some in the family passed a scholarly writing test or retired from a government post. The trees were also seen in places where lectures were held. That must be why they have the name `Chinese scholar trees.`

▷ Some hundreds-year-old Chinese scholars trees are scarcely dispersed across the country. Most of them are very old and therefore, have stories to tell. A 600-year-old scholar tree in Haemi-eup of Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do tells a story of Catholic believers who were hung to death under persecution by Daewon-gun. So it is called a hanging tree. When a scholar tree in the yard of Youngil Folk Museum in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do were withering away some times ago, people in the area poured about 400 liters of Makkgoli (Korean traditional rice wine) around the tree in an attempt to save it with the liquor known to promote growth of old trees. Bark, blossoms and fruits of scholar trees are also known as good ingredients for herbal medicines.

▷ A 400-year-old scholar tree in Dosan Lecture Hall in Andong, Gyeongbuk-do is now standing barely after losing most of its branches. Having been sick for some time since spring last year, it was found last summer having an incurable disease. It’s too sad that we must let go the old tree that features in the 1,000 won bill - on the backside of the bill, there is a picture of Dosan Hall with a lush tree on the left side. It’s even so if the death of the tree resulted from maltreatment.

▷ Dosan Hall is saying that it will let vines grow around the stump of the dead tree, which doesn’t sound like a good plan. It also hurriedly began to treat other old tress in the hall, and we are just hoping that it isn’t too late. We realize something big is missing only after it has gone. The tree is not there any more. The death of the scholar tree appears telling the bitter reality of the country’s education system, which makes us feel sorry.

Song Young-eon, Editorial Writer, youngeon@donga.com