• Journal of architectural history
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.39-52
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• 2020

Seonjeong-jeon, the semi-great hall in Changdeok Palace, was constructed in a highly formal and conservative style and accommodated official ceremonies. However, the contemporary modification of the building has distorted or eliminated features including the two side doors on the front, the floor coverings, and the throne base (Jwa-tap) that consisted the most significant part of the throne. Seonjeong-jeon originally had three doors that stood between each pair of columns on the front side, respectively. The courtiers accessed the building through the side doors, while the central door was exclusively designated for the king. However, the renovation in 1999 ignored the political context of the architectural form of the building and changed the side doors into windows, damaging the traditional structure inherited from the early Joseon Dynasty. Although the building currently has traditional wooden floor structure (Woomul-maru), it was originally covered with square brick tiles (Bang-jeon) before the Japanese occupation, following the customs of early Joseon Dynasty. The throne was placed to the north of the central door and consisted of the throne base and a decorative roof (Dang-ga). A canvas (Jang-ja), which featured the royal symbolic painting of Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks, was also installed between the two columns that connected the base and the roof. Nevertheless, only the columns and the blank canvas remain nowadays after the removal of the base.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-102
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• 2008

As a result of analyzing the floor plan shown in the three drafts, there were a great deal of differences in composing the space of the inner main hall. The inner room facing to the east with the arrangement crossing the inner floor at right angles in the 'Baekdangguje Draft' faces to the south in the east or west in front of the main house thereafter. This represents that it reflects the intent of the owner of the architecture emphasizing the size increase and ceremonies of the main house in the 'ㅁ shape', which has changed to the directions of easily accommodating the Confucian ceremonial activities in the floor plan of the inner house as the size of the main house was gradually increasing from 24 sections to 30 or 38 sections. The expansion in the size of main house further divided the functions of floor into one for daily life and the other for ceremonies as well. In other words, the 30 Sections in Yijeong Draft as being the first planned draft for reconstruction had a hall for memorial services in the main hall of the inner house, whereas the 'Draft with 38 Sections' as being the second planned draft for reconstruction was planning a room with a floor (two sections of Bangdang) for memorial purpose in the back of the inner main hall. The variations in the guest house (or space for men) shown in the drafts confirms the establishment of space for men as the size of the main house increases. We can see the change that a large guest house is placed over the south and in the south and east of the main house as the number of main house increases by 30 sections or 38 sections. Especially, a guest house with a wide space in a 'ㄴ shape' is arranged from the south of main house to the east wing in the Draft with 38 Sections. In addition, the backward sections are advanced in the front and back of guest house in the drafts with 30 and 38 sections, while a back floor or a back floor connecting to the back room or sleeping room or inner house is installed in the backward sections.