Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and father of King Gojong, started to rebuild it in 1865. Gojong moved in during 1868,
but the expensive rebuilding project bankrupted the government.
Four months after the assassination of his consort Myeongseong, Gojong fled to the
nearby Russian legation building and never returned to Gyeongbokgung. During Japanese
colonial rule, most of the palace was destroyed.
Palace Layout
Having been shuffled to various locations in the city, the palace's impressive main gate
Gwanghwamun is back in its rightful place. It is flanked by stone carvings of
haechi,
mythical lion-like creatures traditionally set to protect the palace against fire; they never
really did work and, appearances to the contrary, are superfluous today as the gate is now
a painted concrete rather than wood structure.
Moving across the palace's broad front courtyard, you pass through a second gate
Heungnyemun and over a small artificial stream (for good feng shui a palace should have
water in front and a mountain to the rear, which in this case is Bukaksan) to face the or-
kings were crowned, met foreign envoys and conducted affairs of state.
Left of the throne hall Gyeonghoeru, a large pavilion resting on 48 pillars, overlooks an
artificial lake with two small islands. State banquets were held inside and royals went
boating on the pond.
Living Quarters & Gardens
A series of smaller meeting halls precede the king's living quarters Gangyeongjeon, be-
hind which are Gyotaejeon, the queen's chambers. Behind that is a terraced garden, Amis-
an; the brick chimneys decorated with longevity symbols on the garden's top terrace are to
release the smoke from the palaces
ondol
(underfloor heating) system.
On the eastern side of the grounds is Donggun, the living quarters for the Crown Prince.
To the rear, King Gojong built more halls for his own personal use and an ornamental
pond with Hyangwonjeong, an attractive hexagonal pavilion on an island.
Museums Within the Palace
artefacts that highlight the wonderful artistic skills of the Joseon era - royal seals, illustra-
tions of court ceremonies, and the gold-embroidered
hanbok
(traditional clothing) and ex-
