• Journal of architectural history
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.81-88
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to inquire original design and character of dancheong in Yeongnamnu P avilion which features unusual portraits of twisting dragons and four heavenly creatures. Its artistic value and originality can be found in the portraits of four heavenly creatures which are painted on the interior seonjayeon(fan shape rafter) and in the unique design of crossbeam meoricho(flower decorations on each side of pillars). Yeongnamnu's crossbeam meoricho is janggu-meoricho type(meoricho with hourglass figure) with full-shape lotus and half-shape flower decorations. And it can be said that, dragon portrait painted on the border of lotus and flower decorations in green and yellow is a very unique style of dancheong, for the reason that it has scarcely been used before and ever since. The portrait of four heavenly creatures painted on each corner of seonjayeon is also found to be unique in design, for the reason that the design has rarely been used throughout history, with only two exceptions in mural tombs of Goguryeo and folding screen in Injeongjeon Hall of Changdeokgung P alace. With its unique and authentic feature along with its rarity in number, the portrait of four heavenly creatures painted on Yeongnamnu can be considered as quite symbolic and important.