• Journal of architectural history
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.43-64
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• 2008

Kyeongbokgung succeeded in regaining its status as a royal palace after the reconstruction that began in the second year of King Gojong(1865) only to have most of its buildings taken down in the early 20th century. Fortunately, however, there is the Pukkwoldohyong(Map of North Palace), which drew out each of the buildings of Kyeongbokgung and their arrangement in details in 1907 when the royal palace lost its original appearance. And there is another plot plan of the royal palace at the Korea University Museum, which labeled it Kyeongbokgung-Baechido(Planning Map of Kyeongbokgung Palace). The map presents almost the same plan as Pukkwoldohyong in terms of making and expressive methods, being estimated to have been made in 1888 since its building arrangement doesn't show the changes made after 1890. The map also offers more information about the uses of each building than Pukkwoldohyong and matches the excavation results of the relics. Kyeongbokgung-Jeondo(Map of Kyeongbokgung Palace), which is recorded to be made during the reconstruction of the palace in the early years of King Gojong in historical materials, describes the shapes and arrangements of the buildings in a concrete and realistic fashion. The Kyeongbokgung-Baechido seems to be one of the plans made in the process of restoring and repairing buildings that were lost or destroyed in fire. The Kyeongbokgung-Baschido has the following historic values; 1) it provides dues to estimate the early state of the palace after the reconstruction during the reign of King Gojong. In fact the Sujeongjeon and Heungbokjeon show the early state of the reconstruction; 2) it contains data with which to understand the changes to the palace after 1890, around which they added Hamhwadang and Jibokjae; and 3) it offers information about the uses of the palace's buildings from 1885 to 1880 with its descriptions of the building purposes and relationships regarding the life in the palace.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.120-145
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• 2018

This study intended to examine the drainage facility of Gyeongbokgung Palace based on the traces of the relic found during the excavation survey. Historical records indicate that various efforts have been made for smooth drainage facility for the palace since the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty. Although there are no drawings showing the image of early appearance of Gyeongbokgung Palace during the foundation, it is possible to estimate it through the drawings prepared after the King Yeongjo's reign. The image of the palace after reconstruction can be seen through the "Bukgwoldohyeong" and other relevant documents. At this present, since the survey intends to determine the image of Gyeongbokgung Palace during the reign of King Gojong based on the standard restoration plan of the Cultural Heritage Administration, this study also focused on the drainage facility of Gyeongbokgung Palace during King Gojong's reign, particularly on the collecting wells and culverts of six areas including "Chimjeon Hall", "Taewonjeon Hall", "Geoncheongung Hall", "Sojubang Hall", "Hamhwadang - Jipgyeongdang - Yeonghundang Hall", and "Heungbokjeon Hall". Gyeongbokgung Palace is divided into various zones composed of the central halls and surrounding corridors, and the drains also primarily start from each hall and later join the central drain of the zone. The central drain then leads to the "Eo-gu(御溝)" and the water led to the "Eo-gu" is finally discharged through the water gate. It appears that this series of processes were basically devised to coordinate artificial drain with the natural drain using the natural geographical features of the palace. Research showed that the collecting well where the draining begin was installed in the area where a large amount of household sewage was generated but mostly in the corners where corridors met or corridors and wall met. This appears to be an arrangement to handle the water falling from the roof and household sewage. Also, "Ju(廚)" was installed mainly at the end of the corridor to handle household sewage. The installation of these drainage facilities shows the possibility that the drainage of Gyeongbokgung was very compact under a series of plans.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

Noksan is a green area in the form of a hill located inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, unrecognized as a cultural heritage space. This study analyzed the literature and the actual site to derive its landscape meaning by examining the background for the formation of Noksan and how it changed. As a result, the identity of Noksan was related to the geomagnetic vein, pine forest, and deers, and the following are its landscape meaning. First, several ancient maps, including the 「Map of Gyeongbokgung Palace」 depicted the mountain range continuing from Baegaksan(Bugaksan) Mountain to areas inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Noksan is a forest located on the geomantic vein, which continues to Gangnyeongjeon Hall and Munsojeon Hall. On Bukgwoldo(Map of Gyeongbokgung Palace), Noksan is depicted with Yugujeong Pavilion, Namyeogo Storage, office for the manager of Noksan, the brook on north and south, and the wall. It can be understood as a prototypical landscape composed of minimal facilities and the forest. Second, the northern palace walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace were constructed in King Sejong's reign. The area behind Yeonjo(king's resting place) up to Sinmumun Gate(north gate of the palace) was regarded as the rear garden when Gyeongbokgung Palace was constructed. However, a new rear garden was built outside the Sinmumun Gate when the palace was rebuilt. Only Noksan maintained the geomantic vein under the circumstance. However, the geographical features changed enormously during the Japanese colonial era when they constructed a huge official residence in the rear garden outside the Sinmumun Gate and the residence of the governor-general and road in the site of the Blue House. Moreover, Noksan was severed from the foothill of Baegaksan Mountain when 'Cheongwadae-ro(road)' was constructed between the Blue House and Noksan in 1967. Third, the significant characteristics and conditions of the forest, which became the origin of Noksan, were identified based on the fact that the geomatic state of the northeastern side of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the naecheongnyong area in geomantic terms(the innermost 'dragon vein' among the veins that stretched out from the central mountain toward the left side), and they planted pine trees to reinforce the 'ground vein' and the fact that it was expressed as the 'Pine Field' before the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. The pine forest, mixed with oaks, cherries, elms, and chestnuts, identified through the excavation investigation, can be understood as the original vegetation landscape. Noksan's topography changed; a brook disappeared due to mounding, and foreign species such as acacia and ornamental juniper were planted. Currently, pine trees' ratio decreased while the forest is composed of oaks, mixed deciduous trees, some ailanthus, and willow. Fourth, the fact the name, 'Noksan,' came from the deer, which symbolized spirit, longevity, eternal life, and royal authority, was confirmed through an article of The Korea Daily News titled 'One of the seven deers in Nokwon(deer garden) in Gyeongbokgung Palace starved to death.'