• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.110-125
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the constructional facts and the operational features of Hamchunwon(含春苑), a wonyu(苑?, a royal garden) constructed in Dongbu(Eastern District) of the capital city of Hanyang. As the living quarters of the queen dowagers were scheduled for relocation after the construction of Changgyeonggung Palace(昌慶宮) during the reign of King Seongjong(成宗), it is presumed that the screening tree planting project discussed around tongmangcheo(通望處, a place allowing open view) was the original form of Dongbu Hamchunwon. Dongbu Hamchunwon was a longitudinal royal garden built in the area across the section from Wolgeunmun Gate(月覲門) to Seoninmun Gate(宣仁門), which were both attached to the east side walls of Changgyeonggung Palace. The area corresponds to the west side area of the newly built main building of Seoul National University Hospital today. During the Joseon Dynasty, only royal gardens built within a palace were referred to as geumwon(禁苑, a palace garden). But Dongbu Hamchunwon which was built outside a palace was recognized as a symbolic and hierarchical space comparable to geumwon. The site location of Donbu Hamchunwon was an important place that corresponded to Naecheongnyong(內靑龍) according to Hanyang's geomancy, and large-scale public works were prohibited in order to protect the vein of Naecheongnyong. During the reign of King Injo(仁祖), part of Dongbu Hamchunwon was partitioned as a ranch. The area around the ranch was called Madongsan(馬東山) and Bangmawon(放馬苑) and was an open space used for rest and pleasure (amusement). In the early days of Hamchunwon's construction, fast growing trees were planted to screen the view to Changgyeonggung Palace. However, after the construction of Gyeongmogung Shrine(景慕宮), a broad scale tree planting project was undertaken to complement Naecheongnyong's vapor of the earth. In particular, after the construction of Yugeunmum Gate(?覲門) and Yucheommun Gate(?瞻門) during the reign of King Jeongjo(正祖), Dongbu Hamchunwon functioned as a key point on the King's progress for paying respects to the ancestors, which followed the route of Palace(Changgyeonggung)-Wonyu(Hamchunwon)-Ancestral Shrine(Gyeongmogung).