Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korea

1600x1200   1024x768   200x150

Gyeongbokgung Palace

 

Known as the Northern Palace because of its almost northern location, the Gyeongbokgung Palace

was built in 1395. As compared to its sister palaces such as the Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung, it is largely argued that Gyeongbokgung Palace is the grandest and most beautiful of all the 5 palaces.

With Japanese occupation of Korea from 1592 to 1598, the premises of the Gyeongbokgung Palace were largely destroyed by fire. Nevertheless, all of the over seven thousand rooms of the palace were later reconstructed under the mantle of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong (from 1852 to 1919) .

Korea’s National Palace Museum is situated on Heungnyemun Gate’s south side, and east of Hyangwonjeong is the National Folk Museum.

The name “Gyeongbokgung” in Korean means the "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven."

The particular site of this palace was declared auspicious because of its location between two

important mountains, with Mount Bugaksan behind it and Mount Namsan in front of it. Gwanghwamun Gate, the palace’s main entrance, has facing it the Street of 6 Ministries or Yukjo-geori (present-day Sejongno), which is the location of major state offices. On the central axis on which Gwang-hwamun

Gate is located was the center of the palace, including the reception hall, throne hall, and the residence of the king.