Accurate Meanings of Letters of the 'Neungpadae' Rock Inscription in Hahoe Village

A new interpretation challenges the long-standing belief that the 'Neungpadae' rock inscription in Hahoe Village, a UNESCO-listed Goryeo-era clan village, signifies resilience against flooding. The study debunks the widely accepted translation—'Look down on waves (flood)'—by rigorously analyzing the Chinese characters' meanings and historical context. Unlike previous interpretations that stretched linguistic evidence to imply flood resistance, this research argues for a more precise reading, grounded in philological analysis rather than speculative extrapolation. The findings underscore the need for cautious interpretation of inscriptions, particularly those lacking clear contextual clues.

Lee, H.-S., & Son, Y.-H. (2012). Accurate Meanings of Letters of the ‘Neungpadae’ Rock Inscription in Hahoe Village. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 11(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3130/jaabe.11.1