Changdeokgung was built as a secondary palace of the Joseon Dynasty in 1405, during King Taejong’s reign. Although it was originally secondary to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung was served as the residence for many kings and later it became the main palace.
After all palaces in
Seoul were destroyed during the Japanese invasion (1592-1598), Gyeongbokgung had been left
in ruins. Changdeokgung, however, was reconstructed in 1610 and served as the main palace for about 270 years, until Gyeongbokgung was finally rebuilt in 1868. Unlike Gyeongbokgung, where major buildings are arranged along a main axis, Changdeokgung is laid out in harmony with the area’s topography: Changdeokgung was
constructed on the base of a mountain. Buildings were positioned naturally, taking into
consideration the geographical features of the slope.
Even though some parts of the palace was destroyed under the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945. Restoration of the palace was begun in 1991, and the project still continues today. Changdeokgung is a unique case in the history of palace architecture in East Asia, as it retains remarkable asymmetric beauty in terms of layout,
and is exceptional for the way in which the buildings are integrated into harmony with
natural setting. Thus, the palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.
KOREA
Changdeokgung garden
Changdeokgung : ￦3.000
Changdeokgung garden : ￦5.000
