Every Dolhareubang looks alike, but each of them has own story and appearance. Jeju Dolhareubangs can be classified into Jejumok, Junguihyun and Daejunghyun Dolhareubang, and these are so characteristic in each town and differ in forms of a nose, mouth, and eyes even the position of their hands. Recently, "Bookchon Dolhareubang Park" opened in Jochun-eup of Jeju City. Five artists of Jeju completed the park through a data study and survey since 1999. In the park, we can see many Dolhareubangs that we usually see and those that we haven't seen.
Regional Appearance of Dolhareubang
Jejumok Dolhareubang is the familiar Dolhareubang that we see from a souvenir of Dolhareubang. Jejumok Dolhareubang is a model Dolhareubang for the souvenirs. Jejumok Dolharebang is the biggest one an average 189cm and has a O-shaped and ㄱ-shaped stylobate stone. This Dolharebang is wearing a twisted horsehair cap and has a wide forehead, a large nose, and bulbous eyes, so we can feel a vigorous warrior's spirit from the Dolhareubang. His hands are on his abdomen and his chest or he is clenching his fists; also, his rough shoulders give the feeling of movement. From the various facial expressions of Dolhareubang that bring out an indomitable spirit, we can meet Jeju Islanders who had good-nature and lived with tenacity in life. It is such a valuable and characteristic cultural heritage of Jeju that can't be found in other places.
Daejunghyun Dolhareubang is smaller than Jejumok. He is wearing a hat, and it seems to be a tree gourd put on upside down. Also, he has eyes of oval shape that were double embossed. It seems to be wearing swimming goggles which Jeju women divers (Haenyeo) used. Ears form curved lines like a bow, and we can feel simple and intimate humanity on the whole. Among the Daejeonghyun Dolhareubangs, there is an incomplete Dolhareubang. It is located in an orchard of Daejeong Bosung-ri now. The Dolhareubang was made of a whinstone. He is wearing a hat like a wooden cap, and his eyes and a part of his nose were carved by engraving in relief or half-relief. A professional says that on the whole of its state, it looks incomplete or like a failure.
Jeongyeehyun Dolhareubang is smaller than Jejumok too. Jeongyeehyun Dolhareubang has an egg-shaped face, and a nose is embossed greatly. Also, it has upward slanting eyes which look sharp and fierce. On the other hand, two hands crossing in the center of the chest look like a child's hands because wrists and fingers are very small. Also, it leaves a neat impression behind because of the shape of hands that are located uniformly on the abdomen.
Dolhareubang's Various Functions
Gija (to pray for having a baby boy) Faith
Gija Faith is originated from valuing life and devotion preferring a son to a daughter, and even now the faith is continuing as an important thread of connection of life. A Dolhareubang is the object of a respectful bow as a symbolic image of prayer hoping for having a baby. It is traditionally said that a woman who does not have children can be pregnant if she secretly drinks water mixed with the powder pecked from the Dolhareubang;s nose at midnight. On the contrary, if a woman who wishes to cause abortion uses the powder pecked from the Dolhareubang's nose, she would have a miscarriage. Jeju Islanders believed this. If we carefully look at Dolhareubangs with this understanding, we can find many sparsely broken noses.
Dolhaeubang and Preventing Misfortune
We often can see Bangsa towers in Jeju. A Bangsa was built to prevent misfortune. Even though the shape of Bangsa towers and Dolhareubangs are different, they have the same function. In other words, a Dolhareubang was made to prevent from causing the disturbances of war and to prevent epidemics in villages.
Dolhaeubang as a Chief of Garekeepers
About five hundreds years ago, the administrative district of Jeju was divided into Jejumok, Daejeonghyun, and Jeongehyun. At that time, the atmosphere in the region was completely different from outside. To enter the region, people had to pass a S-shaped road, and in front of the corner, a Dolhareubang couple was standing stately face to face. People bent their bodies and payed their respects to the Dolhareubangs, then people came to have a pious attitude by themselves. As a resolute spiritual and mysterious being, Dolhareubangs made visitors have the dignity of the village.
In Bookcheon Dolhareubang Park, besides looking around the park, visitors can experience making a print and take it to their home. The five artists who made this park are enhancing the Dolhareubang's scientific and artistic value through continuous works. Also, by making creative Dolhareubangs which reflect the times, they make visitors think that Dolhareubang are our valuable folk cultural heritage again. "Dolhareubang and a band," "Dolhareubang as a preacher of Peace," and "Dolhareubang conveying love?are just a few of them. They wish to have more opportunities to inform the world of Jeju through Dolhareubangs. Also, they hope many people are interested in various styles of Dolhareubangs so that people can feel the culture peculiar to Jeju.
1. Jejumok Dolhareubang
2. Dolhareubang as a preacher of peace
3. Dolhareubang conveying love
4. Dolhareubang and a band