Skip to main content

Featured

DANCHEONG

Dancheong: The Art of Symbolic Ornamentation      Dancheong  is the traditional practice of Korean architectural ornamentation in which wood is painted and decorated with vibrant colors and symbolic motifs. More than decoration, this practice expresses cultural values rooted in both Buddhism and Confucianism in its preservation of traditional and historic Korean architecture.  Geunjeongjeon at Gyeongbokgung, photo by author Color Systems in Dancheong     The term dancheong literally translates to "red-green," referencing the dominant hues often used in structures: reddish-brown on lower elements and blue-green on upper ones, evoking the colors of a tree trunk and its canopy. This natural palette reflects Buddhist ideals of harmony with nature.   Example of red-green color scheme at Gyeongbokgung, photo by author     However, dancheong employs a much broader system of color rooted in  obaengsaek , or the five cardinal colors. Th...
Post a Comment
Read more

GYEONGHUIGUNG

Gyeonghuigung: The Palace of Serene Harmony

Seungjeongjeon, photo by author

    Gyeonghuigung was used as a secondary palace for temporary residencies, emergencies, or administrative backup when other palaces were unavailable for use. Originally constructed in 1616, it was heavily damaged and fragmented under Japanese colonial rule during the late 19th and 20th centuries. However, it was majorly restored in the 1990s including reconstruction of numerous original buildings. 

    As a secondary palace, it features less ornate dancheong than is found at the main palaces of Gyeongbokgung or Changdeokgung. Sungjeongjeon, the throne hall, features many of the same dancheong as is found at other throne halls, representing its authority as a place for the king, though it is kept in simpler forms as its function was still secondary compared to other main palaces.

 Dancheong of Sungjeongjeon

   Two symbolic motifs visible in the support buildings of Gyeonghuigung are the plum blossom and gingko leaf. The plum blossom represents perseverance and new beginnings, while the gingko leaf represents longevity and resilience. Though these are not prominently featured motifs, their symbolic meanings of endurance and renewal reflect the functions of the emergency palace.

PALACE INFORMATION

website: https://museum.seoul.go.kr/eng/about/annex/gyeonghuigungPalace.jsp


opening hours/cost:


general viewing:

* closed on Mondays and New Year’s Day


Jan. - Dec.: 9AM - 6PM


general admission: free!

address/location: Gyeonghuigung (Historic Site No. 271), 55, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul


closest major transit:

10 min on foot:

Line 5 Gwanghwamun Station

Line 5 Seodaemun Station


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts