Kim Eugene - Joseons Royal Heritage: 500 Years of Splendor

Joseons Royal Heritage

500 Years of Splendor

KOREA ESSENTIALS No. 7

Joseons Royal Heritage

500 Years of Splendor

Copyright 2011 by The Korea Foundation

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

First Published in 2011 by Seoul Selection

B1 Korean Publishers Association Bldg., 105-2 Sagan-dong,

Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-190, Korea

Phone: (82-2) 734-9567

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Website: www.seoulselection.com

ISBN: 978-1-62412-041-1

INTRODUCTION

The Joseon Dynasty, ruled by an unbroken line of 27 kings from 1392 to 1910, was a time of great cultural development for the Korean nation. As with any royal dynasty, some kings were better than others, and the foreign invasions of the 16th and 17th centuries were an especially difficult time for the kingdom. Taken as a whole, however, the Joseon Dynasty provided Korea with five centuries of political and social stability, which in turn allowed for great cultural development. It was during this dynasty that many aspects of what is now considered Korean traditional cultureConfucianism in particulartook root and flowered.

This book will examine three of the better-known areas of Joseon cultural heritage: Seouls royal palaces, the Joseon royal tombs, and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. Each of these treasures, deeply imbued with Joseons Confucian culture, reveals unique aspects about the kingdom and its legacy.

Standing in the heart of Seouls old downtownwhich itself still largely follows the original plans set down by King Taejo when he established his new royal capital in 1394the five royal palaces are more than just buildings; they are architectural expressions of Joseon society and its ruling philosophy. The oldest and the largest, Gyeongbokgung, is one of the citys most recognizable landmarks, but even it cannot hold a candle to its slightly younger brother, the exquisite Changdeokgung, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the pinnacle of Korean traditional architecture and landscaping.

The royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty40 final resting places of Joseon kings and queens scattered about 18 locations in Seoul and the surrounding province of Gyeonggi-doare unique in their completeness. Through their layout, location and motifs shed much light on the world view shared by the kings of Joseon and their subjects.

Finally, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, which have experienced a dramatic history, especially over the last century. These records are unequalled in their richness as a source of historical and cultural information about Korean history. With technology providing greater public access to these priceless documents in recent years, the Annals have even begun to provide inspiration to the artists of today.

Palace architecture is a unique form of architecture that defines what Korean architecture is.... The palaces are a mini-museum of Korean architecture and landscaping.

Robert J. Fouser
associate professor, Seoul National University

O ver the course of Koreas 5,000-year history, the Joseon Dynasty (13921910) has stood at the forefront of Korean culture, especially in terms of the brilliance of its royal culture. Indeed, the royal palaces of this era are among the countrys most cherished national treasures and cultural relics.

A palace is the kings home. But the palace concept, as seen from the historical documents of the Joseon Dynasty, is much broader; it includes the places where the king resided, where he lived before he became king, and where he stayed while traveling the country, and even the shrine built for royal ancestors. There are five official Joseon palaces where the king resided and conducted formal business: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Gyeonghuigung, and Deoksugung (or Gyeongungung). But it was only for about a single decade that all five of these palaces existed at the same time.

Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, and Changgyeonggung (an annex to Changdeokgung) served as the primary palaces prior to the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1952, while Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung became the main palaces thereafter. Deoksugung was not really a Joseon palace, but an expansion built in preparation for the proclamation of the Deahan Empire in 1897.

Although several Joseon Dynasty palaces remain intact, Gyeongbokgung is especially noteworthy. Originally built in 1395, it served as the first and primary palace of the Joseon Dynasty. The main gate faced the Yukjogeori (Six Ministry Avenue, todays Sejong-ro), while to the rear of the palace stood Mt. Bugaksan and Mt. Inwangsan, making it an ideal site in terms of feng shui (pungsu in Korean) principles as well as its picturesque natural scenery. As the primary palace of the Joseon Dynasty, it stood as the foremost symbol of Joseon royal authority, while the name of each building reflects the founding spirit of the dynasty.

Gwanghwamun Gate, the front entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace and a major Seoul landmark

Gyeongbokgung Palace seen from above

FOUNDATION OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY

After 475 years of history, the final curtain fell on the Goryeo Dynasty in the summer of 1392 with the founding of Joseon. The new dynasty was founded through an alliance between newly emerged literati, who adhered to Neo-Confucianism, and the military officer Yi Seong-gye. Among the decisions that needed to be made by the new leadership, Yi Seong-gye first sought to leave the Goryeo capital of Gaegyeong (todays Gaeseong in North Korea) and find a new site for the capital. With the help of some of the finest feng shui experts in the landincluding his friend and close advisor, the Buddhist monk Muhakhe set about finding a suitable location for the new city.

Many were opposed to the idea of relocating the capital, however. Even those who had played leading roles in founding the new nation did not approve of selecting a new capital, and the controversy lingered for about two years. In the end, the site selected for the capital of Joseon was Hanyang, which had been built as Goryeos southern capital in the early 12th century. Known today as Seoul, Hanyang was situated on the north bank of the Hangang River, in a basin ringed by mountains. With a river flowing east-west to the south and mountains surrounding it to the north, the location was ideal in feng shui terms.