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[2] Totem poles

Totem poles always stood outside the entrance of a village or on streets in Joseon Dynasty. Totem pole was a kind of sign informing the location of a village and the milestone of a road, and is even more meaningful as the guardian that prevents disasters of the village.

Some regions only have Totem poles built and some other regions have tutelary shrine or Sotdae, or stone tower around the Totem poles where people can wish for the peace and stability of the town. Totem Poles usually had a pair of man and woman statues made of rocks or trees. To repel an evil spirit and bad energy entering the town, the face was scary and the middle of the sculpture was carved, great general on the sky for male totem poles and great general on the earth for female totem poles. Also, man and woman totem poles were stood facing each other on the first full moon day of the Lunar New Year and on the first day of October as if they were having a wedding, and townspeople gathered and had ritual service to wish for the prosperity of their town.