• Journal of architectural history
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2020

This study focuses on the architectural changes of stele pavilion at the royal tombs of Joseon Dynasty. Throughout the survey on overall forty two stele pavilions, they were classified into basic type, expanded type, and 4-side corridor type. Basic type was usually used for general small stela, while expanded type was for extraordinarily large ones. 4-side corridor type, however, turned out to be used for both small and large stela and has appeared only during King Gojong period(高宗年間, 1863-1907). When it was first applied at Geonwolleung(健元陵) in 1870s, the purpose of 4-side corridor type seemed to stabilize the enlarged structure due to the size of the larger stele. Later, 4-side corridor type was repeated for small stela at Hongneung(洪陵) and Yureung(裕陵) in 1898 and 1904 respectively, to express higher dignity of Daehan Empire(大韓帝國). This type of plan continued to other pavilions in the center of Seoul such as Kinyeombijeon(紀念碑殿) and Seokgojeon(石鼓殿) that were built in 1903 with sophisticated proportion and multiple brackets. This architectural change implies that stele pavilion itself has become more significant than stele inside.