Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung
Changdeokgung Injeongjeon
Korean name
Hangul	창덕궁
Hanja	昌德宮
Revised Romanization	Changdeokgung
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'angdŏkkung

Changdeokgung (Changdeok Palace) is a palace 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.

See also

• Culture of Korea
• Gyeongbokgung

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

External links

• UNESCO: Changdeokgung Palace Complex
• Changdeokgung Palace
• 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