Features
Sotdae were generally set up alone, but sometimes, along with jangseung (Korean totem poles), doltap (돌탑, a pagoda built with stone) or sinmok (신목, sacred trees). It was worshiped as a village guardian. The birds may look like wild geese, crows or ibises in some areas, but ducks are the most common. Sotdae have different names according to regions; soju (소주), sojutdae (소줏대) in Jeolla Province, soldae (솔대) in Gangwon Province and Hamhung district, byeolsindae (별신대) in coastal areas of Gyeongsang Province,and sotdaek (솟댁) in Hwanghae and Pyeongan Province. Pyojutdae (표줏대), georitdae (거릿대), susalmok (수살목) and seonangdae (선앙대) are other names.
Nothing precise is known about the sotdae's origin. However, sotdae was believed to be sanctified as a village guardian from when people started agriculture and the unit of society formed based on agricultural villages. Later, as a concept of feng shui prevailed and values of success and honour became important, its meaning seemed to be differentiated from an object of worship to a totem for abundant harvest. Ducks, as migratory birds, had various religious symbols and made the meanings of sotdae more diverse.
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