Changgyeonggung Seoul Korea

As a main gate of Changgyeonggung Palace, 'Honghwa(弘化)' literally means 'promoting harmony,' in other words, 'inspiring the public through exercise of virtue.' This gate was constructed at the same time when Changgyeonggung was established, destroyed during Imjinwaeran (Japanese Invasion of Joseon in 1592~1598), and rebuilt in 1616.

Honghwamun served as a platform where a king met the citizens. King Yeongjo (1694~1774, r. 1726~1774) collected public opinion in 1750 before enforcing Gyunyeok Act (Equalized Tax Act). In 1795, King Jeongjo (1752~1800, r. 1776~1800) handed rice out to the poors commemorating the 60th birthday of the Queen Mother Hyegyeonggung (1735~1815). This event is well depicted in the painting titled as Honghwamun Samido (Handing Rice Out at Honghwamun Gate).

Changdeokgung garden

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