|
|
|
Changgyeonggung |
Changgyeonggung is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" of the Joseon Dynasty, built in 1418 (during the reign of King Sejong the Great), in Seoul in what is now Jongno-gu. It was originally called Suganggung (수강궁), and Sejong built it for his father King Taejong. The grounds were significantly enlarged by King Seongjeong, who also gave it its present name. Destroyed by fire during the Imjin Invasion of 1592, it was rebuilt in 1616 but destroyed again by an accidental fire in 1830, though a few buildings (notably Myeongjeongjeon) survived intact. During the period of Japanese colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century, a zoo and botanical garden were built as its status was officially downgraded to a park; its palatial status was restored with independence.
A reconstruction project commenced in 1983, restoring it to its original size. The palace itself designated as Historic Site no. 123, and contains several Treasures and two National Treasures.
[edit] Grounds
Visitors enter through the main gate, Honghwamun (홍화문, pictured above and designated Treasure no. 384), cross over the Okcheongyo (옥천교) bridge (Treasure no. 386, and pass through the Myeongjeongmun (명정문) gate before entering the main courtyard of the Myeongjeongjeon (명정전) hall, which was the main hall of the palace and is designated National Treasure no. 226. As in other palaces, the stone markers in the courtyard were used to place civil and military officials during royal functions. Visitors who look into the hall can see the royal throne just as it was nearly 400 years previous.
 Behind the hall, visitors can walk through to the main grounds of the palace; to their left will be a large park and the rest of the buildings will be on the right. Notable structures include Haminjeong (하민정), where King Yeongjo greeted the top scorers of the civil and military exams; Chundangji (춘당지), a pond built by the Japanese in 1909 and reconstructed in a Korean style in 1986; the still-functioning botanical garden behind the pond; the Seongjong Taeshil of King Seongjeong, which houses his placenta; Tongmyeongjeon, Treasure no. 818, used at times as a queen's residence or a banquet hall; and Gwancheondae (관천대), an astronomical observatory built in 1688 and now designated Treasure no. 851.
[edit] Visitor's info
- How to get there:
- By subway: Go out Hyehwa Station exit 4, turn left and walk down Daehakro street, turn right and cross the street at the end. Turn right and walk straight down until you come to the main gate; you should pass the Seoul National Science Museum along the way.
- By bus: The blue buses 101, 102, 104, 106, 17, 108, 140, 143, 149, 150, 160, 161, 162, 171, 172, 272, and 301, the green 1018, and the red 9410 all stop basically in front of the main gate.
- Address: 2-1 Waryong-dong, Jongno-du, Seoul, South Korea
- Telephone: 02) 762 4868~9
[edit] External links
|
| |
|
|
