Donhwamun
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Donhwamun (Korean: 돈화문; Hanja: 敦化門) 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. It was completed in 1412, destroyed in 1592, rebuilt in 1607 or 1608, and has since survived to the present.
Name
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".
History
It was completed on the 22nd day, 5th month of 1412. In 1413, a bill was hung at the gate. It was renovated in 1418. It was destroyed in 1592, during the Imjin War. It was reconstructed in 1607 or 1608. There are no records of it being destroyed thereafter, although it was restored or remodeled on a number of occasions. 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. The wŏltae and gate were restored to their pre-colonial states in 1997. 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.
Sources
- 이강근; 이혜원; 이경미; 안병찬 (August 2011). (in Korean). National Palace Museum of Korea – via Korea Heritage Service.
- [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.). . Translated by Won, Hyeon-suk; Yi, Choonsun. 인문산책. ISBN 978-89-98259-06-8.
External links
- Media related to Donhwamun at Wikimedia Commons