Dongdaemun Gate(Heunginjimun Gate)

Heunginjimun Gate was built to protect Hanseongbu, which historically housed important government facilities. Heunginjimun Gate was the gate on the east side of the outer wall of Seoul Fortress among eight gates. It is referred to as Dongdaemun Gate as well. The gate was constructed during King Taejo’s 5th year in 1396, remodeled during the reign of King Danjong in 1453 and was newly built in 1869 during the sixth year of King Gojong’s reign in 1869.

The gate features a hipped roof which has five front compartments and two side compartments on a two-storied building. The thin and weak bracket system supports the eaves and is excessively decorated, reflecting the construction features of the late Joseon period. Also, outside of the fortress is the half-circle shaped Ongseong, a small wall, to protect the gate.

One of the unique factors of Heunginjimun Gate is that it is the only gate among Seoul’s eight to have Ongseong, further exhibiting the style of construction used during the late Joseon period as well.

Comments

Seoul City Hall(Seoul Plaza)

Founded in 1926, Seoul City Hall is a Renaissance-style stone building. The former Seoul City Hall, which was constructed in 1926, has been remodeled as the Seoul Metropolitan Library and is open to everyone. Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall is a historic site where the March 1, 1919 (Samil) Independence Movement and the pro-democracy movement in June 1987 were held. It is also a well-known place where tens of thousands of Korean soccer fans came to cheer at during the 2002 World Cup Games. This oval grass square in front of Seoul City Hall, re-established in 2004, is used as a place to hold various events and cultural festivals like “Hi! Seoul Festival,” and is enjoyed by many Seoulites as a place to rest. One of the attractions of Seoul Plaza is the Floor Water Fountain, which looks like a normal sidewalk but shoots water up very high from the floor when you walk across it. The 48 floor lights along the grass square and Fala- a round type outer wall clock- are other attractive

Jongmyo Shrine’s main building(Jeongjeon, Yeongnyeongjeon)

Jongmyo Shrine in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is the royal shrine interred with tablets of royal family of the Joseon Dynasty and the place where the memorial services for the kings and queens were performed. The place itself has the greatest religious implications from a Confucian perspective and it is a sacred site that has the legitimacy of political principal of the time. It is also a great representation of the culture and legacy in the royal history. The shrine was first built around the end of 14th century by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Unfortunately, it had to undergo reconstruction around 17th century after the complete destruction due to Japanese invasion in 1592. Fortunately enough, it was suggested that the shrine’s originality and structures are well maintained, preserving the spiritual beliefs valued by generations of Korean. Therefore, the unique atmosphere found from the ground and entire compound in sum are considered to be a one-of-a-kind historical monu

Deoksugung Palace

< Junghwajeon Hall> Located at the corner of Seoul's busiest downtown intersection, Deoksugung Palace is famous for its elegant stone-wall road. It is also the only palace that sits alongside a series of western style buildings that add to the uniqueness of the surrounding scenery. Deoksugung Palace originally belonged to Wolsandaegun (1454-1488), the older brother of King Seongjong (1469-1494) of the Joseon Dynasty. It became a proper palace when Gwanghaegun (1575-1641) ascended to the throne and gave this royal residence the name Gyeongungung Palace in 1611. Over the following decades, the palace alternated between being an official palace and a temporary residence. The name did not official change to Deoksugung Palace, meaning the “palace of virtuous longevity,” until 1907. While the palace incompassed a vast area with many buildings, the current palace grounds are just a small shadow of the prior splendor, with very few structures remaining. Upon entering Deoksugun

seokigraph

Search This Blog