Changgyeonggung: The "Summer Palace"

Before we went to the palace we stopped by the nearby Daehan Hospital, which was built during the Japanese Occupation.	It was a very western style building. Red bricks were commonly used for building during the Japanese Occupation.	This is the front gate of Changgyeonggung Palace. This is also sometimes referred to as the "King'sPalace." It costs 1,000 Won to enter (about $1) but unlike the Queen's Palace, you can tour it at your liesure rather than following a scheduled tour group.	Changgyeonggung was once called Suganggung.
All of the buildings were burned down in the Japanese invasion of 1592 and the palace was rebuilt in 1616.	Another fire broke out in 1830 and many of the palace's buildings burned down. These buildings were rebuilt in 1834.	In 1909 a public zoo and conservatory were built in Changgyeonggung. During the Japanese occupation, in 1911 a muesuem was added in the palace and the area was called Changgyeon Gardens rather than Changgyeonggung removing its palace status.	This is a lake in the palace grounds. It is rare to see so many trees and so much grass in Seoul.
I think this was the first butterfly I saw in Korea (I had only been here a whole year by this time).	The grounds has lots of breezy paths lined with trees. This path has a small bridge over a stream.	We didn't get very close to this glass structure but it houses the Botanical Gardens that were set up here during the Japanese occupation when they converted the palace into a zoo. When I took this picture the Crystal Palace came to mind, but this really doesn't look anything like it.	Another tree lined walkway.
This Octagonal Seven Storied Stone Pagoda was made in China in 1470. It was bought from an antiques dealer and was placed here when Changgyeonggung was transformed into a museum in 1911. It is engraved with flower patterns.	Here is another view of the lake.	This is a taesil. A taesil is a stone object similar to a stupa where the placenta and umbilical cord are kept. This is King Seongjong's taesil. He was the 9th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. He began his rule at the age of 12 in 1469 and ruled for 25 years.	Next to the taesil is Seongjeontaesilbi, a stone monument sitting upon the back of a turtle. The engraving states that the stele was erected in 1471 and was reerected three times after that. I'm sure you wanted to know that.
Angbuilgu is a sundail that was used during the Joseon era. Angbuilgu means "upward-looking kettle that catches the shadow of the sun." The thirteen horizontal lines mark the 24 periods of seasonal change from the winter solstice to the summer solstice and allow the season of the year to be determined.	The verticle lines are time lines. It is aligned to face the North Star and is marked with pictures of animals rather than letters for the sake of the common people who could not read. It was first made in 1434 but the present one was created in the second half of the 17th century.	This is a granite wind flag base.	A view looking down the hillside on other buildings below.
Another picture of a building from the hillside.	Looking down on the courtyard from the hill above.	A nice shot of one of the buildings through the trees.	Here is a building surrounded by a small moat and stone walkway.
This stone in the middle of the moat was for wishing. You tried to toss a coin from the edge and if it lands on the top of the stone then you'll be wealthy and live a long life. Yes, you will be wealthy, by throwing money away. It wasn't too hard to do and I think I got two Won coins to land on it.	Here are some of the stone walkways that circle this building and it's small pond.	Yes, another roof picture. I'll bet you're wondering, "How many more pictures of roofs will I see on this website?" My answer to you is everytime you ask that question, my reply will be, "At least one more."	A long shot of a building. Someone left a stroller there. There was no child in the stroller. I think they did it just to mess up everyone's pictures.
A view of this small stone and grass courtyard.	Here is that same building again. I liked the wood and paper screens on the doors. And there is that stroller again.	This is a nice building, I like this photo.	Look grass in Seoul! This is a rare sight. No seriously I'm not being facetious, there is almost no grass in Seoul.
Haminjeong pavillion was used as the place where those who passed the military and civil service examinations with the highest scores were received.	A view of the chair from a different angle so the screen isn't in the way.	A closer view of the chair and the painting. It's a nice chair.	This is a shot of the outerwall. It was obviously repaired many times with whatever materials they had on hand. Notice how none of the stone matches.
Here is another hall. I like this picture too.	Roof ornaments over the building.	Here is a large doorway and some carvings.	This is one of my favorite pictures of this place. I just loved all the shapes that the roofs made in this area.
Here is a detail of one of the roof beams. Blues and greens seem to be the favorite colors for traditional Korean architecture.	Here is a shot of a large stone courtyard outside of Jeongjeon Hall.	Jeongjeon hall is the main hall where the coronation of a king and other official ceremonies were carried out.	Here is a detail of the carvings above the throne area.
Way up on the ceiling were beautiful carvings of two circling phoenixes. I wish all these ceiling carvings you see were illuminated somehow. They are easy to miss, but I think I've found some over every throne I've ever come across.	Here is a slightly closer detail of the circling phoenixes. They were really neat.	A stone walkway over a small stream.	Two Korean girls sitting on the bridge over the stream.
This is a view over the wall of the King's Palace into what is known as the "Secret Garden" which is part of the Queen's Palace.	This is Eosuksil. Eosuksil is the building where a king bathed and purified himself before performing rituals.	Antoher view of Eosuksil.	This is the Octagonal Pavillion of Tapgol Park.
The Octagonal Pavillion of Tapgol Park was built in 1897. It was originally used for musical performances for the royal family. It is also the place where the Korean Declaration of Independence was read aloud during the March First Independence Movement in 1919.