Independence Gate
| Independence Gate (Dongnimmun Arch) | |
|---|---|
| Native name 독립문 (Korean) | |
.jpg) Front side of the Independence Gate in Seoul, South Korea | |
| Type | Memorial Arch |
| Location | 941, Hyeonjeo-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul |
| Coordinates | 37°34′21″N 126°57′34″E / 37.5724101°N 126.9595249°E |
| Area | 2,715.8 m2 |
| Built | January 1898 |
| Architect | Korean: 심의석(沈宜碩)[1] |
| Architectural style(s) | Triumphal arch |
| Governing body | Seodaemun District |
| Owner | Government of South Korea |
| Official name | Dongnimmun Arch |
| Designated | 1963-01-21 |
| Reference no. | 32 |
  Location of Independence Gate (Dongnimmun Arch) in South Korea | |
| Independence Gate | |
| Hangul | |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Dongnimmun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Tongnimmun |
Dongnimmun (Korean: 독립문; Hanja: 獨立門) or Independence Gate is a memorial gate at Seoul, built by Soh Jaipil in late 19th century, as a symbol of Korea's commitment to independence around the world. It is designated as Historic Sites of South Korea in 1963, and relocated to 70m northwest from original location in 1979 for preservation.[2]
History
Background
In 1895, the Government of Joseon abandoned its long continued diplomatic policy of Sadae (flunkeyism). Under this policy, Joseon was respecting political influence of China. To celebrate it, the Government of Joseon demolished Yeongeunmun in February 1895, which was a traditional symbol of flunkeyism built in 16th century as a symbolic gate only for welcoming Chinese diplomats to Joseon.[3] In March 1895, this movement of the Joseon Government got recognized by the Treaty of Shimonoseki following the First Sino-Japanese War.[4] Yet it was also important to promote the Joseon's public to discard spirit of excessive reliance on China. To achieve this, Korean-American freedom fighter Soh Jaipil planned building a new gate near site of Yeongeunmun's ruins to symbolize diplomatic independence of Joseon around the world. His plan was agreed by King Gojong of Korea, and he named it Independence Arch (Korean: 독립문).[5]
Plan for construction
To support construction of the Dongnimmun, he constituted a association named as 'Independence Club' (Korean: 독립협회), and published Korea's first modern newspaper named Tongnip Sinmun (Korean: 독립신문). Through broad public campaign by Tongnip Sinmun, construction of Dongnimmun could be propelled by funds of various citizens in Joseon.[6] In English edition of Tongnip Sinmun, called as The independent, Soh Jaipil wrote reason for building Dongnimmun as following;
The croakers may croak and the pessimists may growl and the independence of Korea may be treated as a joke by those who can see nothing but the fact that His Majesty is still enjoying the hospitality of the Russian legation but they all argue from their fears and not from either present facts or future probabilities. Today we rejoice in the fact that the King has decided to erect upon the ruins of the arch outside the West Gate, a new one to be entitled Independence Arch. 독립문. We do not know as its inscription will be written in on-mun but we wish it might. For centuries the arch stood there as a constant insult to the autonomy of Korea, an autonomy which China always hastened to assert when called upon to stand responsible for any tremble in the peninsula but which site always denied when it was safe to do so. She denied it once too many times and now her "suzerainty" is where the old arch is, namely op-so. And now an arch is to be raised on the same spot to stand forever as a negation of Manchu dominance to show that Korea is once and for all cut off from the blighting influence of Chinese patronage; cut off, we hope, also from the system of fraud, corruption and trickery which today makes that most populous empire the laughing-stock of the world. This arch means independence not from China alone but from Japan from Russia and from all European powers. …
— Soh Jaipil, Editorial, The independent, June 20, 1895[7]
Construction and relocation
Soh Jaipil planned model design of Dongnimmun as Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Its specific design was delivered by unknown Swiss architect working for the German legation in Joseon.[6] Its construction began in 1896, and finished in January 1898. The construction process was overseen by Korean engineer named 'Korean: 심의석'.[1] Dongnimmun measures 14.28 meters in height and 11.48 meters in width, and is made of approximately 1,850 pieces of granite.[4]
The Government of South Korea designated it as Historic Sites of South Korea in 1963. At the time of construction, it was built on north of Yeongeunmun's ruins. Yet later it was relocated to 70m northwest from its original place with Plinths of Yeongeunmun Gate, Seoul, due to construction of modern city road.[2] It is now located in Seodaemun Independence Park, where Dongnimmun is located, is easily accessed from Exit 4 or 5 of Dongnimmun Station on Seoul Subway Line 3.
Gallery
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An editorial in Tongnip Sinmun promoting fund raising for construction of Dongnimmun, July 4, 1896 -
An image of the invitation to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Independence Gate in November 21, 1896 -
Scene of Dongnimmun looking down the Plinths of Yeongeunmun Gate, Seoul before relocation -
View of Dongnimmun from northern side in 1955 before relocation -
Dongnimmun and Plinths of Yeongeunmun Gate, Seoul after relocation -
Letters of '독립문' and Taegukgi is carved on arch via Vertical writing. Below sign of flower is symbol of House of Yi
See also
References
- ^ a b "독립문(獨立門)". nrich.go.kr (in Korean). National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ a b "Dongnimmun Arch, Seoul". cha.go.kr. Cultural Heritage Administration, Republic of Korea. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ Kong Chan, Robert (2018). Korea-China Relations in History and Contemporary Implications. Palgrave Macmillan Cham. p. 173. ISBN 978-3-319-62265-1.
- ^ a b Pratt, Keith (2007). Everlasting Flower: A History of Korea. London: Reaktion Books. pp. 188–189. ISBN 978-1-86189-335-2.
- ^ "History of Korea > The Establishment of Independence Gate (Dongnipmun)". National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ a b Kim, Hyung-eun (2009-06-07). "Gate of independence, spirit of triumph". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Koreajoongangdaily. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ Soh, Jaipil (1895-06-20). "The Croakers May Croak and the Pessimists May Growl and the Independence of Korea May …". nl.go.kr/newspaper. The independent (digitally archived by National Library of Korea Newspaper archive). Retrieved 2022-07-25.
