Changdeokgung
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Changdeokgung Injeongjeon
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Changdeokgung, also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty and because of its location east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung is also referred to as the East Palace. The literal meaning of Changdeokgung(昌德宮) is "Palace of Prospering Virtue".
Changdeokgung was the favored palace of many kings of the Joseon Dynasty and retained many Korean elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period that were not incorporated in the more formalistic Gyeongbokgung. One such element is the fact that the buildings of Changdeokgung blend with the topography of the site instead of imposing upon nature.
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[edit] History
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Construction of Changdeok Palace began in 1405, and was completed in 1412 with the construction of the main gate Donwhamun during the reign of King Taejong. King Seonjo expanded the palace grounds by about 500,000 square meters, including Huwon (see below). The Palace was burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasion in 1592 and reconstructed in 1609 by King Seonjo and King Gwanghaegun. The next arson was in 1623 because of King Injo Political Revolt against Gwanghaegun. The palace was also attacked by the Manchu Qing but throughout its history of reconstruction and repair has remained faithful to its original design. Changdeokgung was the site of the royal court and the seat of government until 1872, when the neighboring Gyeongbokgung was rebuilt. Korea's last Emperor, Emperor Sunjong lived here until his death in 1926.
Today there are 13 buildings remaining on the palace grounds and 28 pavilions in the gardens, occupying 110 acres (45 hectares) in all and the area is designated as Historical Site No. 122. Buildings of note include Donhwa-mun (built in 1412, rebuilt in 1607, with a copper bell weighing 9 short tons or 8 metric tons), Injeong-jeon (main hall), Seongjeong-jeon (auxiliary office in the main hall), Huijeong-dang (the king's private residence, later used as a conference hall), Daejo-jeon (living quarters), and Nakseon-jae (former residence of Korean imperial family including Princess Bangja.
[edit] Structures of Changdoekgung
| Changdeokgung Palace Complex* | |
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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| State Party |  Republic of Korea |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv |
| Reference | 816 |
| Region** | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. |
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Structures of particular interest include:
- Donhwamun Gate - The main palace gate. Built in 1412, Donhwamun has a two-story pavilion-type wooden structure, and is the largest of all palace gates. Donhwamun was burned down during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and was restored in 1608.
- Geumcheongyo Bridge - Oldest bridge still extant in Seoul. Built 1411.
- Injeongjeon Hall (National Treasure) - the throne hall of Changdeokgung, it was used for major state affairs including the coronation of a new king and receiving foreign envoys. Originally built in 1405, it was rebuilt in 1610 after being burned down during the 1592 Japanese invasion, and a third time in 1804 after being destroyed by a fire.
- Seonjeongjeon Hall - An office for ruling officials, the king held daily meetings with ministers, reported on state affairs and seminars here.
- Huijeongdang Hall - Originally the king's bed chamber, it became his workplace after Seonjeongjeon was deemed too small for conducting routine state affairs. The original Huijeongdang was destroyed by a fire in 1917. The reconstructed structure is completely different from the original due to recent Western influences. Wooden floorboards and carpets, glass windows, and chandeliers can be seen inside the building.
- Daejojeon Hall - Official residence of the queen. Destroyed by fire in 1917, it was rebuilt with materials taken from Gyeongbokgung. Daejojeon was used as a residence for the last empress of Joseon, allowing us a glimpse into the final years of the royal household of the Joseon Dynasty.
- Juhamnu Pavilion (Kyujanggak) - Royal libraries stood in this area. State exams were conducted in front of the pavilion on special occasions in presence of the king.
- Yeon-gyeongdang Residence - Built in 1827, it was an audience hall modeled after a typical literati house.
Behind the palace lies the 78 acre (32 ha) Huwon (rear garden) which was originally constructed for the use of the royal family and palace women. The garden incorporates a lotus pond, pavilions, and landscaped lawns, trees, and flowers. The surroundings and the palace itself are well matched. There are over 26,000 specimens of a hundred different species of trees in the garden and some of the trees behind the palace are now over 300 years old.
The Ongnyucheon ("Jade Stream") area is of particular interest. It contains a U-shaped water channel carved in 1636 for floating wine cups, with a small waterfall and an inscribed poem on the boulder above it. The area also contains five small pavilions.
[edit] World Heritage
Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The UNESCO committee inscribing the site stated the place was an "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design" being exceptional because the buildings are "integrated into and harmonized with the natural setting" and adapted "to the topography and retaining indigenous tree cover." [1].
Portions of the palace were used to film the hugely popular Korean Drama Dae Jang Geum in the 2000s.
[edit] Tours and Admission
Admission to Changdeokgung is allowed by guided tours only, except on Thursdays from April through November. Each tour lasts approximately one hour and twenty minutes. Like all other palaces in Seoul, Changdeokgung palace is closed on Mondays. Admission fees are 3,000W for adults (19~64 years) and 1,500W for children (7-18 years). For non-guided tours on Thursdays which takes place from April through November, it costs 15,000W for adults (19-64 years) and 7,500W for children (7-18 years).
Anyone under 6 and over 65 years of age and qualified handicaps are allowed free admission.
| Language of Tour | Dates | Time of Day |
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| Korean | March 16 through March 31 | Korean tours start twice every hour at 15 minutes and 45 minutes past the hour
9:15 AM - 4:45 PM (16 times a day) |
| Korean | April 1 through September 30 | 9:15 AM to 5:15 PM (17 times a day) |
| Korean | October 1 through March 15 | 9:15 AM to 3:45 PM (14 times a day) |
| English | Year round | 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM(3 times a day) |
| Japanese | March 16 through October 15 | 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM (5 times a day) |
| Japanese | October 16 through March 15 | 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM (4 times a day) |
| Chinese | Year round | 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM (2 times a day) |
[edit] Gallery
 Daejojeon |
,_Changdeokgung_-_Seoul,_Korea.JPG) Huijeongdang |
,_Changdeokgung_-_Seoul,_Korea.JPG) Injeongjeon |
 Juhamnu |
 Nakseonjae |
 Ongnyucheon |
 Seonjeongjeon |
 Yeongyeongdang |
[edit] See also
[edit] References and further reading
- Yoon, Jong-soon (1992), Beautiful Seoul, Seoul: Sung Min Publishing House. PP. 4--51 are particularly relevant; each building has a picture and a historical description.
- Changdeokgung Palace, undated pamphlet available at the palace
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Changdeokgung |
- UNESCO: Changdeokgung Palace Complex
- Changdeokgung Palace (Korean)
- Life in Korea: Changdeok Palace / Biwon Garden
- Official guide from Cultural Heritage Administration
- The Architecture and Skyscraper Community of Korea (Find Changdeokgung under Seoul
- An English Teacher's Tour of Changdeokgung
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Coordinates: 37°34′46″N 126°59′30″E / 37.57944°N 126.99167°E
