[Suwon City Tour] - Hwaseong Haenggung Palace (화성행궁)

Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace (화성행궁)

with 600 kan was the biggest rural palace in Joseon Dynasty.

It's the travelling lodge when King Jeongjo paid visit to his father's royal tomb.

Due to party's rivalry, his grandfather, King Yeongjo issued a royal decree that ordered his father, Crown Prince Sadoseja to climb inside a rice chest. Sadoseja tragically died of starving and suffocating after 8 hot days being locked inside. 

I can feel his sadness when watching Sageuk drama Secret Door (비밀의 문).  He'd to witness his father's death and unable to do anything as he's still a young teenager.

King Jeongjo began making plans to move his father's grave after thirteen years after ascended to the throne (1789). He scoured the entire country and decided upon Suwon’s Yungrung Tomb as the mountain was considered as the best place to build tombs according to the theory of geomancy.

The most important reason of King Jeongjo built Hwaseong Fortress was showing his filial piety to his father... Therefore, Suwon is know as 'City of Filial Piety'.

After our first destination at Haewoojae Toilet House, the bus pass through Hwaseomun, It's the West Gate of the 5.52km fortress with one-story gate tower over the rainbow gate surrounded with parapet. Unlike Paldalmun or Janganmun, it has a half-moon type ravelin with one side open in the front of the gate with an elegant hipped and gabled roof.

Admission ticket is included in Suwon City Tour.
Add: Namchang-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.

We arrive at Hwaseong Haenggung. The guide told us that there's Muye24Ki Traditional Korean Martial Arts Performance will start soon. We've to be quick if we want to take a look inside the Haenggung Palace.

 Wow... they're preparing for the performance behind the door :)


 Bongsudang Hall (Jangnamheon), which means
"to plead for a long enough life," for King Jeongjo's mother.

The central building of the palace is the royal audience chamber at Hwaseong Haenggung , appears in scenes of “Love in the Moonlight” as the living quarters of the Crown Prince. Early into the second episode, Eunuch Jang introduces the building to Ra-on as “the palace of the Crown Prince.” Hwaseong Haenggung Palace is also the location of the scene in episode three, when Ra-on is slapped by Queen Kim. (Source) 

 

Hyegyeonggung Hongsi (King Jeongjo's mother) stayed in 

Jangnakdang (장락당) during the Eulmyowonhaeng

(King’s long journey in the year of eulmyo)  in 1795.

Jangnakdang was built at the same time as Hwaseong Fortress in 1794.

it was located south of Bongsudang facing the east.

  

The name Jangnakdang originated from the palace called 

Jangnakgung in Janganseong. King Jeongjo inscribed the tablet himself.

King Jeongjo celebrated his mother 60th birthday here.

  He also lived with his mother after abdicating the crown to his son, King Sunjo.


  In peacetime, the Hwaseong yusu stayed at this building,
but when King Jeongjo paid a visit to Hwaseong, he used
Yuyeotaek (유여택) as reception room to meet his subjects here.


 Yuyeotaek is located between the east side of Bongnaedang and Oejeongniso.
When this building was constructed in 1790, it was called Eunyakeon,
 but changed its name to Yuyeotaek when it was extended in 1796.

Namgunyeong (남군영) was built in 1789 and was extended to 62 rooms in 1794.

 200 mounted warriors stayed, 100 each on the left and right side of this structure. 

 From 1798, only 100 soldiers were posted here following a military reorganization. 

 Seoricheong (서리청) was the place for Seori. Seori was a town official 

that in charge of recording, receiving, and issuing documents. 

Seoricheong It faces the south and is located in front of Bijangcheong. 

In 1795, it was used as a royal kitchen at the time of Eulmyowonhaeng.

Bijangcheong (비장청) was the place for Bijang. Bijang was a staff member
who accompanied local officers like Gwanchalsa or Jeoldosa. In the latter part
of the Joseon Dynasty, it became a custom for various levels of officers to be
accompanied by a Bijang. It was constructed in 1789 as a Seoricheong,
but remodeled as a Bijangcheong in 1796.

In 1795, a feast was held for King Jeongjo's mother's 60th birthday.

70 kinds of food decorated with 42 artificial flowers were arranged on
this royal banguet  Jinchan-yeon for Lady Hyegyeong-gung Hong-si,
mother of King Jeongjo. It's held at the front yard of Bongsudang.

 Now it's time to watch 24 Korean Traditional Art Performance!

King Jeongjo ordered Lee Deok-mu and Park Je-ga, who were Silhak Scholars,
and Baek Dong-so to record  24 Martial Arts in the book "Muyeodobotongji".

 

The goal of this book was  to standardize the martial arts and battle tactics

 that adapted from Joseon Dynasty and from Joseon Dynasty 

and some from China and Japan.

 ‘Mooyedobotongji’ describes total of 24 battle techniques and tactics in drawing

to explain the movements of each of the martial arts techniques.

This performance including: long spear, spear with flag attached, Dangpa spear,
Nangseon spear, Woldo (curved sword), Hyeopdo (a type of sword), short sword.

You can watch their awesome performance here...

 Wow... there were so many people standing behind us

including this group of young and old carrying flags

in front of sacred Hongsalmun (Red Gate).

 That day was 1st of March...
They're celebrating Independence Movement Day.

After this Suwon tour ended, we visited 

Seodaemun Prison History Museum (서대문형무소역사관)

대한민국 만세~!!!