Tuesday, October 21, 2014

World's Landmark : Sungnyemun


Seoul is city in South Korea that has been serving as a capital for centuries. In the 14th century, a fortress wall was built around Seoul, and it has 4 great gates and 4 small gates. One of the gate is called Sungnyemun.

Namdaemun, (남대문) or officially known as the Sungnyemun (숭례문 ) is a historic pagoda-style gateway, and is designated as the first National Treasure of South Korea. It was once one of the three major gateways that still exists through Seoul's city walls which had a stone circuit of 18.2 kilometres (11.3 mi) and stood up to 6.1 metres (20 ft) high. It was first built in the last year of King Taejo of Joseon's reign in 1398, and rebuilt in 1447, during the 29th year of King Sejong the Great of Joseon's reign.

The South Korean government, as written in hanja on the wooden structure, officially calls the landmark, Sungnyemun, (English: Gate of Exalted Ceremonies) even though it has been more commonly known as Namdaemun (English: Great Southern Gate) since the Joseon Dynasty. The disparity is due to the colonial period when the Japanese advocated the name Namdaemun.

Different from the other gates, Sungnyemun’s tablet has its name written vertically. When the first king of Joseon Dynasty, Lee Seong-Gye (reign 1335-1408), had constructed the capital city, he believed that fire will reach to Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as the capital city as Mt. Gwanaksan of Seoul is shaped like fire according to feng-shui principles. Sungnyemun’s name means fire, which is from the harmony of the Five Elements and if written vertically, the Chinese character ‘fire’ looks as if it is providing protection. This was Taejong’s (1367-1422) first son, Yangnyeongdaegun’s (1394-1462) famous writing.

Before the 2008 fire, Sungnyemun was the oldest wooden structure in Seoul. The city gate, made of wood and stone with a two-tiered, pagoda-shaped tiled roof, was completed in 1398 and originally used to greet foreign emissaries, control access to the capital city, and keep out Siberian Tigers, which have long been gone from the area. Construction began in 1395 during the fourth year of the reign of King Taejo of Joseon and was finished in 1398. The structure was rebuilt in 1447 and was renovated several times since. It was originally one of three main gates, the others being the East Gate (Dongdaemun) and the now-demolished West Gate in the Seodaemun-gu district, named after the old gate.

Now, Sungnyemun stands in the middle of the city facing towards the main streets. Every citizen can see the beauty of Korea's national treasure that still survive until now. With the beautiful grasses and flowers surround it, people can enjoy and relax themselves in their busy lifestyle. In the heart of modern Seoul, Sungnyemun fills the deficiency of the city's traditional side.

Sungnyemun and the modern buildings aroud it

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