Family Farming Knowledge Platform

Traditional Gudeuljang Irrigated rice terraces in Cheongsando

Traditionally, Cheongsando Island had an agricultural environment that was somewhat disadvantageous for paddy agriculture due to steep slopes, sandy soil with rocks and rapid drainage, and a scarcity of water for paddy farming. “Gudeuljangnon,” a product of efforts of Cheongsando Island residents, are rice paddies created by re-engineering the natural environment to increase rice production in areas with disadvantageous soil and water conditions. The main characteristics of Cheongsando Island Gudeuljangnon are culverts constructed by stacking stones; these culverts are used as aqueducts of underground irrigation and drainage systems so as to preserve effective surface of paddies. The Cheongsando Island residents call these paddies constructed on stone walls, “Gudeuljangnon,” because the techniques and forms of stone stacking used to construct them is similar to the Gudeuljang, a flagstone used for Ondol-the traditional Korean home heating system.

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Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Other organizations: Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
Year: 2013
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Country/ies: Republic of Korea
Geographical coverage: Asia and the Pacific
Type: Case study
Content language: English
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