The Palace 궁전

Introduction

It was in 1395, three years after the Joseon Dynasty was founded by Yi Seong-gye (King Taejo), when the construction of the main royal palace was completed and the capital of the newly founded dynasty moved from Gaeseong to Seoul (then known as Hanyang). The palace was named Gyeongbokgung, the "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven." With Mount Bugaksan to its rear and Mount Namsan in the foreground, the site of Gyeong-bokgung Palace was at the heart of Seoul and, indeed, deemed auspicious according to the traditional practice of geomancy. In front of Gwanghwamun Gate, the main entrance to the palace, ran Yukjo-geori (Street of Six Ministries, today's Sejongno), home to major government offices. Along the central axis upon which Gwang-hwamun Gate stood was the nucleus of the palace, including the throne hall, reception hall and king's residence.


The government ministry district and main buildings of Gyeongbokgung Palace formed the heart of the capital city of Seoul and represented the sovereignty of the Joseon Dynasty. After all the palaces in the capital were razed by the Japanese during the Hideyoshi invasions of 1592-'98, Changdeokgung, a secondary palace, was rebuilt and served as the main palace. 


Gyeongbokgung Palace was left derelict for the next 250 years. It was finally reconstructed in 1868 by the order of the Prince Regent. The palace the Prince Regent created was markedly different from the original. Some 500 buildings were built on a site of over 40 hectares and constituted a small city. The architectural principles of ancient China were harmoniously incorporated into both the tradition and the appearance of the Joseon royal court. 


Gyeongbokgung Palace was largely torn down during the Japanese occupation. Eighty-five percent of the restored buildings were dismantled, Gwanghwamun Gate was removed, and an enormous building housing the Japanese Government-General was constructed in front of the main sector of the palace. An effort to fully restore Gyeongbokgung Palace to its former glory has been ongoing since 1990. The colonial Government-General building was removed, and Heungryemun Gate was restored to its original state. The royal quarters and the East Palace for the crown prince were also restored to their original state.

History

1300'

1392 (the first year of King Taejo) - Joseon Dynasty is founded.
1394 (the third year of King Taejo) - The Office of Palace Construction is established in the new capital. The capital is moved from aegyeong(currently Gaeseong) to Hanyang (currently Seoul).
1395 (the fourth year of King Taejo) - The Royal Ancestral Shrine(Jongmyo), the National Altars of Earth and Harvest(Sajikdan) and Gyeongbokgung Palace are established and the walls of Gyeongbokgung are built.

to be continued...

cr: royalpalace.go.kr - english