Draft Palaces

Title	Palaces of Joseon
Author	Lyndsey Twining
Actor	Joseon, Gojong, Imperial Japan
Place	Hanyang, Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Unhyeonggung, Suwon Fortress
Event	Japanese invasions of 1592-1598, Japanese Colonial Period
Concept	dancheong, official palace complex, seconary palace complex, travel palace, residential palace, inner, outer, and administrative quarters, throne hall

In Korean, the term “palace” – gung – can refer to an official palace complex, secondary palace complex, travel palace, and residential palaces of the extended royal family. Smaller “palaces” for various royal family members were also located within the large official and secondary palaces complexes.

The first palace built within Joseon’s capital, Hanyang, was Gyeongbokgung. It was called the “official” palace because it contained the “required” six palaces for: the king, the queen, the queen dowager, the prince, the princess, and the king’s consort(s). However, Gyeongbokgung was considered inauspicious and was left in ruins after the Japanese invasions of 1592-1598 for 250 years. The royal family preferred the “Eastern Palace Complex” – Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung, together – because it was considered more auspicious, provided enough room for the royal family, and followed a layout that better suited the Korean aesthetic and harmonized with the environment. In 1897, the Korean Empire imperial palace, named Deoksugung, was built on the site of a former residential palace that was briefly used during and after the Japanese invasions. An example of a residential palace remaining today is Unhyeonggung, where King Gojong was born. Travel palaces, located in the provincial capital fortresses, were all destroyed during the Japanese colonial period. But some, such as the one in Suwon Fortress, have been recently restored.

Large palace complexes contain three sections: outer quarters, inner quarters, and administrative quarters. The outer quarters were where meetings, rituals, and ceremonies were held. Three gates, including the main palace gate, must be passed through to get to the main throne hall where important events were held. Behind or next to the main throne hall is a smaller throne hall where the king would have his daily meetings with top officials. The inner quarters were where the royal family lived, with separate spaces for king, queen, queen dowager, prince, princess, and consorts. The administrative quarters were where the royal staff and government officials lived and worked. Some of the palaces also contained shrines, gardens, and farming areas where the royals could learn about agriculture. All buildings had their own courtyard and were decorated with elaborate and colorful dancheong.

During the Japanese colonial period, over 95 percent of palace buildings were destroyed. Due to this tremendous loss of Korea’s royal architecture, it is impossible to experience the scale of the palaces as they once were.