• Journal of architectural history
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.7-18
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• 2019

This study analyzed "Bukgwol Dohyeong (Drawing Plans for the Northern Section of Gyeongbokgung Palace)", which is an important source material for the restoration of the palace, by applying Paltaekron, the geomantic principle of bearings, in order to clarify the building layout principle of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Gyeongbokgung Palace shows the typical geographical conditions that meet the principle of Baesan Imsu (mountain in the back and water in the front) which takes Baegaksan Mountain as the main mountain and the overall layout of the buildings that meet the principle of 'Jeonchak Hugwan (narrow in the front and broad toward inside)' by using the natural topography that meets the principle of 'Jeonjeo Hugo (low in the front and higher toward back).' It is estimated that this layout and arrangement must have been led by geomantic principle of bearings. The analysis of the building layout plan of Gyeongbokgung Palace in the late Joseon Dynasty Period suggests the application of two methods: one is to divide central area from Gwanghwamun Gate to Geoncheongung Hall into eight layers and the other is to apply the bearings of the Eight Trigrams based on the building that becomes the center. As a result, the gate, main hall, and kitchen of all major buildings where the royal family lived are located in the auspicious bearings according to the geomantic principle of bearings while the spaces where people other than the royal family such as those who served the royal family and the officials operated in the palace or the hall that enshrines the ancestors such as Taewonjeong Hall are located in the ominous bearings. Therefore, the buildings of Gyeongbokgung Palace are arranged based on the geomantic principle of bearings.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.1-17
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• 2016

The main aim of this study is to provide an overview of the characteristics the Oungak (五雲閣) area on the north of rear garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace which was constructed during the time of king Kojong. This study also consider the aspect of functional elements of Ocryucheon (玉流川) located in Changdeokgung Palace and how the Oungak area was used as a substitute for the Ocryucheon. The Oungak area is the private space of the king. It was built in a natural setting which used existing environment including spring water and the rock carved with inscriptions 'Cheonha-Jaeil-Bokji (天下第一福地). King Kojong tried to replace Ocryucheon with Oungak area which had played a important role of relaxation and leisure for royal family at the Ocryucheon to reconstructed Gyeongbokgung Palace. Despite being away from each other, Oungak area seems quite similar to Ocryucheon area. Oungak area and Ocryucheon have a common conditions of a location and structure of the building. Both constructed on the northernmost part of rear garden, composition of buildings and the design of waterway estimated to function as Curve-Stream Banquet. Oungak area was consisted of Ocryeonjeong (玉蓮亭) Pavilion, Oungak Building, Byeokhwasil (碧華室) Building and Cheonha-Jaeil-Bokji-Cheon (天下第一福地泉) Spring and Streams. Except Byeokhwasil Building, spatial compositions of Oungak area showed pattern that were similar to Ocryucheon area. The area was developed, moreover, to unconventional space that depended on the conditions of topography, slope, water system. First, The Ocryeonjeong Pavilion constructed to view the landscape of Seoul to Namsan Mountain. Second, the peculiar form of Cheonha-Jaeil-Bokji-Cheon Streams is estimated the shape imitated from Curve-Stream Banquet on Ocryuchon. Third, Oungak Building was constructed like a habitable house with Nongsanjeong Building in Ocryucheon. The Oungak area was constructed to improve Gyeongbokgung Palace, Consequently, the Oungak area specially characteristic of Joseon palaces's rear garden.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.72-89
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• 2012

This study aimed to reconsider the theory that the renowned Amisan(峨眉山) terraced garden at north of Gyotaejeon(交泰殿) was artificially made, by reviewing the historical records and drawings. It has been widely accepted that Amisan was made of the digged soil from Gyeonghoeji(慶會池). But several arguments about artificial mountain theory of Amisan that completely not be found in historical records have been raised in this study. The results were summarized as follows; the inherent contradiction in existing opinion, the discordance between the time of building Gyeonghoeji and Gyotaejeon, the existence of the mountain range which connect Baekaksan and Amisan appeared in Dohyeong(圖形), historical documents written in the years of kingdoms of Youngjo(英祖) and Gojong(高宗), a high position seen from Heungbogjeon(興復殿) in the north Amisan through the wall in the east but impassable, an opinion about realization Amisan as geomantic term of Amisa(蛾眉砂) at the time of Gyeongbok Palace reconstruction, and preservation of the mountain range in Gyeongbok Palace that comes from the result of the arguments in main mountain of Gyeongbok Palace in the year of Sejong(世宗). In addition, it was investigated why the slop in the north of Gyotaejeon was named as Aminsan and why the artificial mountain theory is appeared and made a conclusion that the Amisan comes from the change of the pronunciation of the geomantic term "Amisa", and modeling the yijing[意景] of Amisan which is a sacred place of Taoism and Buddhism in Sichuan[四川] of Chinaand the view of construction to mean defeating a spirit of smallpox which had to be cured. And it seems to be a result which retroactively applied the artificial mountain theory of Amisanis the technique of 'constructing mountain with digged pond dirt' to the relationship between Gyeonghoeji and Amisan. The greater part of mountain range which was connecting with Baekaksan and Amisan was seriously disconnected with large scale of exposition by the Japanese colonial period in 1915. But low slope is kept about 70 meters along the trail northeast of Gyotaejeon. Accordingly, it is judged that the range has not been entirely destroyed. And according to the result of elevation analysis, discontinuous slope form certain axis is found, so the mountain range of Amisan is approximately estimated. This basic research about the mountain range of Amisan might provide a critical clue about restoration of topography in Gyeongbok 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.40 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2022

This paper examined the history and development of Gyeongbokgung Palace's back garden based on historical materials and drawings such as Joseon Ilgi(Diaries of Joseon Dynasty), Joseon Wangjo Sillok(the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), Doseongdaejido(the Great Map of Seoul), Bukgwoldohyeong(Drawing Plan of the Northern Palace), the Bukgung Palace Restoration Plan, Restoration Planning of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the following results were derived. First, it was confirmed that the Back Garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace was famous for its great location since the Goryeo Dynasty, and that it was named Namkyeong at that time and was a place where a shrine was built, and that castles and palaces were already built during the Goryeo Dynasty under the influence of Fengshui-Docham(風水圖讖) and Zhouli·Kaogongji(周禮考工記). Although the back garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace in the early Joseon Dynasty stayed out of the limelight as a back garden for the palace, it has a place value as a living space for the head of the state from King Gojong to the present. Second, in order to clearly identify the boundaries of back garden, through literature such as map of Doseongdo (Map of the Capital), La Coree, Gyeongmudae Area, Japanese Geography Custom Compendium, Korean Photo Album, JoseonGeonchukdoJip(The Illustration Book of Joseon Construction), Urban Planning Survey of Gyeongseong, it was confirmed that the current Blue House area outside Sinmumun Gate was built outside the precincts of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was found that the area devastated through the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, was used as a space where public corporations were combined through the process of reconstruction during the King Gojong period. In Japanese colonial era, the place value as a back garden of the primary palace was damaged, as the palace buildings of the back garden was relocated or destroyed, but after liberation, it was used as the presidential residence and restored the place value of the ruler. Third, in the back garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace, spatial changes proceeded through the Japanese Invasion and Japanese colonial era. The place with the greatest geographical change was Gyeongnongjae area, where the residence of the Japanese Government-General of Korea was built, and there were frequent changes in the use of the land. On the other hand, the current Gyeongmudae area, the forests next to the small garden, and the forests of Baekak were preserved in the form of traditional forests. To clarify this, 1:1200 floor plan of inner Gyeongmudae residence and satellite images were overlapped based on Sinmumun Gate, and as a result, it was confirmed that the water path originating from Baekak still exists today and the forest area did not change. Fourth, in the areas where the traditional forest landscape was inherited, the functional changes in the topography were little, and major old-age colonies are maintained. The old trees identified in this area were indicator tree species with historical value. Representatively, Pinus densiflora for. multicaulis Uyeki, located in Nokjiwon Garden, is presumed to have been preserved as one of Pinus densiflora for. multicaulis Uyeki planted next to Yongmundang, and has a historicality that has been used as a photo zone at dinners for heads of state and important guests. Lastly, in order to continuously preserve and manage the value of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Blue House, it is urgent to clarify the space value through excavation of historical materials in Japanese colonial era and establish a hierarchy of garden archaeology by era. In addition, the basis for preserving the historical landscape from the Joseon Dynasty to the modern era from Gyeongbokgung Palace should not damage the area of the old giant trees, which has been perpetuated since the past, and a follow-up study is needed to investigate all the forests in Blue House.