Deoksugung, sometimes called Deoksu Palace in English and meaning "Palace of Virtuous Longevity", is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built in Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty. It served as the residence for various members of the royal family from the fifteenth century through the end of World War II and the Japanese occupation. Its architecture is notable for the wide variety of styles employed, especially compared its sister palaces.
In addition to the main buildings, there is also an art museum, a small forested garden, and a statue of King Sejong the Great. The changing of the royal guard can be observed at the main gate daily -- except Monday -- from 2:00 to 3:30, or from 3:00 to 4:30 in July and August.
[edit] History
The palace began as a relatively humble villa constructed in the late fifteenth century for Prince Wolsan, older brother to King Seongjong. After the Imjin Invasion of 1592, when the other palaces were destroyed, it served as the official home of King Seonjo and subsequent kings until the reconstruction of Changdeokgung. During that time King Gwanghaegun had his coronation ceremony there and renamed it Gyungwungung (경원궁).
for the next 270 years it would be used as an auxiliary palace under the name Seogung (서궁).
After Emperor Gojong left from hiding in the Russian Embassy in 1897, he made the palace once again the official royal residence and renamed it back to Gyungwungung, and began an expansion which saw the first and by far most extensive introduction of western architecture to a Korean palace. After his abdication to Emperor Sunjong, he gave the palace its present name and lived there until his death in 1919.
In 1897, after the incident when Emperor Gojong took refuge in the Russian Embassy, he returned to the palace and renamed it Gyungwungung again, and began to expand it. After abdicating the throne to Emperor Sunjong, he renamed it its present name of Deoksugung and made the palace his permanent residence, living there until his death in 1919.
[edit] Grounds
All buildings at the palace are presented here in the order recommended by the official walking tour.
[edit] Junghwamun and Junghwajeon
These are the third and fourth buildings, respectively, on the walking tour and the first from the bridge just inside the main entrance. After passing through the Junghwamun gate (중화문) and walking by the rows of engraved court stones, you come to the main hall of Deoksugung -- Junghwajeon (중화전). It was here that Emperor Gojong conducted all official functions and affairs of state, including the receiving of foreign dignitaries, and behind the throne you can see a folding screen depicting the sun, moon, and five mountains. Originally it was a two-story building but was reconstructed in 1906 with just one. The court stones each indicate where a particular civil or military leader should stand during official meetings.
[edit] Seogeodang
Building number 5 on the recommended walking tour, the Seogeodang (서거당) building was the residence of King Seongjo for 16 years following the 1592 invasion. With its simple, unadorned brown wood its style is markedly different from the other buildings at the palace.
[edit] Deokhongjeon
Deokhongjeon (덕홍전), number 6 on the tour, was used by Emperor Gojong to receive honored guests. Burned in the fire of 1904, it was rebuilt in 1911 with modern carpeting and electricity. It depicts the crest of the Great Korean Empire.
[edit] Hamnyeongjeon
Hamnyeongjeon (함녕전), building number 7 on the tour and just a few meters from Deokhongjeon, was the final residence of Emperor Gojong and he passed away on this very spot on January 21, 1919. Destroyed in the fire of 1904, it was one of the first to be rebuilt, having been completed that same year. All furniture is arranged to depict how it is thought to have been before the fire.
[edit] Jeonggwanheon
Jeonggwanheon (정관헌), number 8 on the tour, was constructed in 1900 in a European style as a resting place for Emperor Gojong and has modern electricity; today it is sometimes used to give lectures. Its wrought iron fence depicts a scene of deer and bats in a forest.
[edit] Jeukjodang
The ninth building as you follow the tour is Jeukjodang (즉조당), which was used for the coronation ceremonies of King Gwanghaegun, King Injo, and Emperor Sunjong. It was destroyed in the 1904 fire and and rebuilt the same year. A corridor connects it the the next building, Junmyeongdang, and the plaque on the building was written by Emperor Gojong himself.
[edit] Junmyoengdang
This is the tenth building on the tour and is actually connected to Jeukjodang; Jeukjodang is on the east and Junmyeongdang (준명당) is on the west. Emperor Gojong used this building to receive high ranking officers and foreign envoys, and after his death portraits of him and Emperor Sunjong were enshrined here. It was also used as a school for Princess Deokhye when she was very young. Like Jeukjodang, it was burned in the fire and rebuilt the same year.
[edit] Seokjojeon
Eleventh on the tour is Seokjojeon (석조전), a stone building constructed in a classical Greek style, begun in 1900 and completed in 1909. It has three stories; the basement was used for servants, the first as a reception area, and the second as a residence for the Emperor. After World War II it served as the meeting place for the US-USSR Joint Commission and was used as the Royal Museum from 1992 to 2004.
[edit] National Musuem of Art
Main article:National Museum of Art</br>
The National Museum of Art, built in 1938 as an adjunct to Seokjojeon, is the twelfth building on the tour. It was originally used as an art museum, but closed as such in 1945 and was not used again until 1998. In 2002 it was made the National Musuem of Art.
[edit] Gwangmyeongmun
The thirteenth and final building on the tour, Gwangmyeongmun (광명문) was originally the front gate of Hwangnyeongmun (building number 7), and was moved to its present location by the Japanese in 1938. Today it is used to display the Borugak Jagyeongju water clock (보루각자경주), the Heungcheonsa Bell, and the Singijeon carriage launcher.
[edit] Visitor information
- Admission: 1,000 won for adults under 66, 800 won for children 7 to 18; all else and the disabled receive free admission. Up to 4,000 won for museum admission.
- Hours: 9:00 am -- 6:00 pm on weekdays or 7:00 pm on weekends and holidays March through October; November through February they close at 5:30 pm every day. Tickets may be purchased up to one hour before closing. Closed on Mondays but open on national holidays.
- Guide service: Available in English, Japanese, Chinese, and of course, Korean. Call 02) 771 9955.
- Telephone: 02) 771-9951
- Fax: 02) 771 9953
- Directions: Five minute walk from Exits 2 and 12 of City Hall Station on lines 1 and 2, respectively. It's across the street from Seoul City Hall and the Seoul Plaza Hotel.
[edit] Further reading
- Yoon, Jong-Soon. Beautiful Seoul (Sung Min Publishing House, Seoul 1992)
[edit] External links
[edit] Gallery
