Performance set for Aug. 22 at Suncheon Arts Center ... legend says juniper walking sticks took root where they were planted
A creative Korean traditional arts fantasy performance inspired by Ssanghyangssu — a pair of ancient juniper trees designated as Natural Monument No. 88 — at Songgwangsa Temple on Jogyesan Mountain in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, is set to take the stage.
Suncheon city said the performance, titled "Ssanghyangssu," will be staged at 5 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the main theater of Suncheon Arts Center in Seokhyeon-dong.
The work explores the values of unwavering balance and intertwined coexistence through a fusion of Korean traditional music, dance and folk performance arts.
A sweeping melody blending Korean traditional instruments with Western strings, combined with contemporary artistic elements, is expected to leave a strong impression on audiences.
The performance was selected as a "New Work of the Year" by the Arts Council Korea and was created based on the legend surrounding Ssanghyangssu at Cheonjaam Hermitage of Songgwangsa Temple.
The production was chosen in the traditional arts category of the Arts Council Korea's 2025 Performing Arts Creation Incubator program and drew critical acclaim when it premiered at Daehangno Arts Theater in Seoul earlier this year.
The two ancient trees that give the performance its name stand 12 meters tall, with trunk circumferences of 4.10 meters and 3.30 meters respectively, and are notable for their trunks twisted in a spiral pattern.
According to legend, the trees grew from juniper walking sticks planted side by side by the Goryeo-era Buddhist monks Bojo Guksa and Damdang Guksa upon their return from China — the sticks took root and sprouted branches and leaves.
Damdang Guksa was a prince who became a disciple of Bojo Guksa, and the way one tree appears to bow toward the other is interpreted as a symbol of their respectful teacher-student relationship.
When the trees were designated as a national natural monument on Dec. 3, 1962, their age was estimated at around 800 years; by current reckoning, they are estimated to be approximately 870 years old.
"We are proud to have transformed the story of Ssanghyangssu — a unique asset of our region — into a polished work of art," a city official said.
Admission is 20,000 won ($14) for all seats. Tickets are available through Ticketlink (www.ticketlink.co.kr) or at Suncheon Arts Center. For more information, contact the city's arts center office at 061-749-8612.
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