Gyeonbokgung
Palace or Gyeonbok Palace is located in northern part of Seoul,
South Korea. Built in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main
and largest palace of the five Grand Palace built by Joseon Dynasty.
Afterward, the palace was continuously expanded during the reign of
King Taejong and King Sejong the Great. It was severely damaged by
fire in 1553 and its costly restoration, ordered by King Myeongjong,
was completed in the following year.
In
1867, during the regency of Daewongun, the palace building were
reconstructed and formed a massive with 330 building and 5,792 rooms.
Two of the grandest architectural sights in Seoul are here. The first
is the ornate two-storey Geunjeongjeon, the main palace building,
where kings were crowned, met foreign envoys and conducted affairs of
state. With its double-tiered stone platform, flagstone courtyard and
surrounding open-sided corridors, Geunjeongjeon is an impressive
sight.
In
the early 20th century, much of the Palace was destroyed by Japanese
Empire, since then the walled palace complex has been gradually
restored back to its form.
The
name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as "Palace
Greatly Blessed by Heaven." Today the palace is open to the
public, and houses the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National
Palace Museum of Korea.
The
National Museum of Korea, also previously located in the palace
grounds, was relocated to Yongsan-gu in 2005. Heavily destroyed by
the Japanese government in the early 20th century, the palace complex
is slowly being restored to its original form prior the destruction.
As of 2009, roughly 40 percent of the original number of palace
buildings still stand or are being reconstructed.
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