[Seoul] - Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (경회루)

We visited Gyeongbokgung with kids in 2013, and this was the second-time we've stepped feet in this magnificent palace.

 

  Gyeongbokgung (경복궁)

Picturesque Hyangwonjeong Pavilion (향원정)

There are 2 pavilions within the palace, but we only made our round to Hyangwonjeong Pavilion without getting a single sight of Gwanghaeru Pavilion because our 2 kiddos were moody and hungry.

 

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (경회루), National Treasure No. 224.

It's usually inaccessible to the public, but we applied from this link. It's a first-come
first-serve and we are lucky to obtain the entrance as it's only for 60 Koreans and 10 foreigners.

There are three bridges and gates to the pavilion. The king used the first gate because it leads directly to the stairs on the second floor.

 
11 Japsang (잡상) sitting on the roof eaves represent that Gyeonghoeru is
very important building as it has the most animal-shaped statues!

There were only 7 Japsang installed at Geunjeongjeon (Main Throne Hall) and 9 Japsang at Sungnyemun. The more Japsangs there are the important a building is.

The name Gyeonghoeru means the king will succeed and be
a great leader when he has the right people surrounding him.

The pavilion is built on an artificial island surrounded by a pond. 

The King used it to host important events such as banquets for foreign envoys 

or his court officials during the Joseon era. 

Gyeonghoeru is one of the largest elevated two-story pavilions in Korea.
This pavilion is representative of "Nugak" (multiple-storied building).

It was built in 1412 during the reign of King Taejong and rebuilt during the reign of
King Seongjong (1469-1494) because it had tilted about 60 years later.

It was burned down by the Japanese in 1592 during the Imjin War. 

The current structure had been rebuilt in 1867.

There are 48 granite pillars on the first floor to support the second floor.

The outer pillars are squares and the inner pillars are round. The outside is the land,

and the inside is the sky which together they represent the idea of Yin & Yang.

    

Doesn't this 'framed' landscape look awesome?

Gyeonghoeru represents the number associated with the 36 palaces symbolic of the royal palace. The pond surrounding it symbolizes the sky, the rectangular stylobate in the pond symbolizes the earth.

Geunjeongjeon (main throne hall) and the pond can be seen from 2nd story.

Magnificent view of Mount Inwangsan in background.

Hahyangjeong (하향정), the small pavilion was built by Syngman Rhee, the first President of Korea. It's used for fishing and resting.

The views were slightly obstructed because of the netting which used 

to prevent birds from flying in and nestling there.

I should stand a bit further so the net is not so obvious.

We were the only foreigners that joined this tour, so there's no English

translation. I only understood less than 20% of the guide's explanation about this room.

The basic Trinity Heaven-Earth-Human (천지인 / Cheon Ji In / 天地人)
the root of all Oriental philosophy was also applied on the pavilion floor.

The King sat at the 3-room in the centre has the highest level which symbolizes Cheon (천=Heaven). The 12-room symbolizes Ji (지) was the mid-level which also represent each month of the year. And the lowest level is 24-room which symbolizes In (인) and represent the 24 Solar Terms of Traditional Chinese Calendar.

I'm sitting at the 2nd level which was for the highest-ranked officials.

Pretty Dancheong decoration on the attic and ceiling.

Let's stroll for a while before exiting palace grounds...

Related Posts:

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Omokdae Pavilion

Buseoksa - Anyang Pavilion

September in Seoul - Gyeongbokgung Palace [Day 6]

Back in Seoul from Gangneung City. Maybe we bought the wrong bus ticket, as the bus stop at Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station) instead of Express Bus Terminal. Anyway, we arrived in Seoul... ㅋㅋㅋ 

Bus fare from Gangneung to Dong Seoul is cheaper than from  Express Bus Terminal to Gangneung. Adult: 14,600 Won  and Child: 7,300 Won. 

Took a taxi from Dong Bus Terminal directly to Capt Ryan's Nest. Instead of hotel room, we booked this entire apartment in Yongsan-gu through BnBHero.

Cosy and beautiful apartment 

Kids love this quite spacious loft apartment. It's new, neat, clean and comfortable. It's accessible to the city's must-see places. clean and spacious. Essential amenities and wifi facilities are provided too.

The owner, Mr. Ryan Kim is a very nice guy,  and very helpful and responsive to our messages. Overall, I felt it was worth the price as it was a pleasant experience throughout our stay.

1.  Gyeongbokgung (경복궁)

Gyeongbok (경복 = Greatly Blessed by Heaven)

Gung (궁 = Palace)

Gyeongbokgung was the first royal palace built by the Joseon Dynasty, built in 1395, three years after the Joseon Dynasty was founded. It served as the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty.

 Gyeongbokgung is situated in the middle of Seoul city.

Admission Ticket: 3,000 Won (Adult) and 1,500 Won (Child)

The most prominent and grandest of the Five Grand Palaces (Gyeonghuigung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, Changdeokgung), which consisted of 330 buildings. It's also called Northern Palace because of its location.

 Geunjeongjeon (근정전 = Imperial Throne Hall), where the king was

formally briefed by his officials and the central venue for various

coronation ceremonies of the royal household.

Rank Stones with numbers carved on them

Court officials would line up according to rank using the rank stones

in the courtyard outside Geunjeongjeon Hall.

   

Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbokgung,

It's comprised of three arched gates called Hongyemun, with the middle gate

reserved for the king and the other two for his officials. Gwanghwamun was

severely damaged during the Japanese occupation and the Korean War.

Heungnyemun (흥례문) is the second largest gate of Gyeongbokgung,
and the first gate that visitors see after Gwanghwamun Gate.

This gate was totally demolished during Japanese occupation, and 

restored to its original form in 1995.

Pictureque Hyangwonjeong Pavilion (향원정)

This hexagonal pavilion was constructed by order of King Gojong on an artificial

island in a lake (Hyangwonji) and was connected to the palace grounds by a bridge.

Hyangwonjeong means ‘Pavilion of Far-Reaching Fragrance’

 and Chwihyanggyo bridge translates as ‘Bridge Mesmerized with Fragrance’


Geoncheonggung (건청궁)

Jangandang is a part of Geongcheonggung. living quarter of Gojong, the last emperor.
King Gojong built this palace (gung) inside Gyeongbokgung (palace) in 1873.
I particularly like this unpainted wooden quarter, but there's sad story behind it

Too bad we're late to join the free guided tour. I really recommended this free tour because we're just wandering around over 40 hectares of this palace but not knowing what are the purposes of each halls.  We joined Changdeokgung free guided tour in our previous trip and we can really appreciate and learn more about this historical site. The guide will show you around and briefly explain some of the major buildings with their functions and their own stories behind them. It's available in English and other languages too.

We missed out Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (경회루) on another side of the palace




and walked pass this National Folk Museum, located on the Gyeongbokgung grounds.


National Folk Museum with blue-tiled 5-story pagoda on top of it.

This photo was taken when we just arrived... still full of energy and smiles.

But, they decided to go out and had dinner as they're tired and hungry...

2.  Tosokchon (토속촌)

Chicken stew with Wild Mountain Ginseng

Tosokchon is famous for their Samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup). Samgyetang is a whole spring chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng and other healthy ingredients like jujube, garlic, ginkgo nut and different types of medicinal herbs and and grains. It makes Samgyetang not only delicious but also healthy because each ingredient of samgyetang has its own special functions. Ginseng is effective in tackling multiple symptoms, rejuvenates body, boosts metabolism, reduces stress, treats diabetes, improve respiratory illnesses, and many more.

Koreans especially enjoy eating it on three hottest days in July and August, called Chobok (초복), Jungbok (중복) and Malbok (말복) for restoring their stamina and health due to exhausted of the summer heat.

Tosokchon restaurant

Tosokchon is located near Gyungbokgung. You can easily identify this unique Hanok style restaurant. It's quite big with few halls/rooms. You need to take off your shoe, as you'll sit and eat on the floor.

We ordered Chicken stew with ginseng (15,000 won) and another one with wild mountain Ginseng (21,000 won). Basically it's the same chicken stew, just additional a small bottle of wild ginseng to pour on the soup for Chicken Stew with wild ginseng.

They also served 2 small cups of ginseng wine... I like the taste of ginseng wine.

We reached around 5:45pm, and it was quite crowded... and very fast our room was fully occupied with the rest of the customers. It's better to avoid lunch and dinner hours.

You can see the immediate effect after healthylicious Samgyetang...

Cute and happy faces! LOL!!!

3.  Caffe Bene

to make them even happier and wider smiles...  but they couldn't smile,

 as they couldn't scoop and eat until I finished taking photos. Hahaha... sorry~!



Caffé bene served this sweet and tasty bingsu (빙수= shaved ice usually with sweet red beans, nuts, or fruits toppings). It's our favourite dessert as a small treat after tired walking...

Actually we wanted to order 3 glasses of bingsu, but the staff kept saying that it's very big glass.... So we ordered Green Tee Bingu and Oreo Bingsu... and the cute staff still told us that it's very big glass and showed us the glass. Maybe she was afraid that we're unable to finish them and wasting food. But, we insisted to order 2 glasses and finished them cleanly :P

Then, we rushed to Kyunghyang Newspaper Building to catch Fantastick show. But there's no show on 8pm. Actually, I'd asked my Korean friend to reserve it, but blamed me that didn't ask him the timing and thought it's only one show on 8pm everyday. But, actually they have 2 shows (5pm and 8pm). So, we changed it to 5pm show the next day.

Since it's cancelled, we just went back to Capt. Ryan's nest to rest and pack our luggage as it's our last night in Seoul...

And today is the last day of 2013... and before 2013 ends, I would like to thank all of you, who made this 2013 beautiful for me.

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and fantastic year ahead. 새해 복 많이 받으세요~! Cheers...^^

Related Posts:

~ Samcheongdong has Something for Everyone~!

~ Bukchon Hanok Village  

~ Insight Into Insadong

~ [Trazy] Gyeongbokgung palace 경복궁

~ [Trazy] Tosokchon Samgyetang 토속촌 삼계탕