Donhwamun
| Donhwamun | |
|---|---|
 The gate (2022) | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Changdeokgung, Seoul, South Korea |
| Coordinates | 37°34′37″N 126°59′20″E / 37.577°N 126.989°E |
| Completed | 22nd day, 5th month of 1412 |
| Designations | |
| Official name | Donhwamun Gate of Changdeokgung Palace |
| Designated | 1963-01-21[1] |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 돈화문 |
| Hanja | 敦化門 |
| RR | Donhwamun |
| MR | Tonhwamun |
Donhwamun (Korean: 돈화문; Hanja: 敦化門; MR: Tonhwamun) is the main and south gate of the palace Changdeokgung in Seoul, South Korea. It is a designated Treasure of South Korea and the oldest extant gate of all Joseon palaces.[2] It was completed in 1412, destroyed in 1592, rebuilt in 1607 or 1608, and has since survived to the present.
Name
[edit]It is named after a phrase "大德敦化" from the Chinese text Doctrine of the Mean. That phrase has been interpreted in this context as "to govern with a warm heart and edify with virtue".[3]
History
[edit]It was completed on the 22nd day, 5th month of 1412.[4] In 1413, a bill was hung at the gate.[5] It was renovated in 1418.[6] It was destroyed in 1592, during the Imjin War.[7] It was reconstructed in 1607[8] or 1608.[9] There are no records of it being destroyed thereafter, although it was restored or remodeled on a number of occasions.[7] There is a wŏltae (월대; elevated platform) in front of the gate. The wŏltae was demolished in the early 1900s to accommodate the entry of royal vehicles.[2] The wŏltae and gate were restored to their pre-colonial states in 1997.[10] The gate has a second floor that contains a bell and drum used to signal emergencies. The head of a rebel leader was hung at the gate in 1728.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Donhwamun Gate of Changdeokgung Palace". Korea Heritage Service. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ a b Yi 2015, pp. 13–14.
- ^ a b Yi 2015, pp. 29–30.
- ^ 이강근 et al. 2011, p. 27.
- ^ 이강근 et al. 2011, p. 7.
- ^ 이강근 et al. 2011, p. 28.
- ^ a b Yi 2015, pp. 61–62.
- ^ 이강근 et al. 2011, p. 24.
- ^ Yi 2015, p. 29.
- ^ Cultural Heritage Administration 2009, p. 163.
Sources
[edit]- 이강근; 이혜원; 이경미; 안병찬 (August 2011). 조선왕실의 건축, 창덕궁 학술연구 (in Korean). National Palace Museum of Korea – via Korea Heritage Service.
- 조선시대 궁궐 용어해설 [Glossary of Joseon-era Palaces] (in Korean). Korea Heritage Service. 2009-12-07. ISBN 978-89-6325-247-6.
- Yi, Hyang-woo (2015-01-30). Na, Gak-sun; Mark, Patton (eds.). Korean Royal Palace: Changdeokgung. Translated by Won, Hyeon-suk; Yi, Choonsun. 인문산책. ISBN 978-89-98259-06-8.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Donhwamun at Wikimedia Commons
