Closer Observation of Geun Jeong Jeon, The meaning of the Phoenix and the Dragon

20170919

Now let's look up Geun Jeong Jeon closer. This Palace is the main building for the official ceremonies. The important decisions and laws were announced in this building. It looked very beautiful but it has it's specific meaning in this building.

There was a mountain behind the building. In korean architecture the mountain behind a house is very important. The front of the house should be located to Southern direction. And the mountain must be located in the Northern Part. This location seemed to be due to the climate characteristics of korea. They had protected cold winter blowing from north with mountain from the north.

They have built house for Southern direction due to the sunshine.
As the angle of sunshine degree is low in winter, the sunshine could enter into the deepest part of the house. In opposition, as the angle of sunshine is high, the sunshine could not enter into the house.

There were marking stones on the ground. The officials had stood next to the marking stones of their rank. In official meeting, nobody could enter into the main building. Kings voices were delivered by an officer in attendance on.

When you get closer to Geun Jeong Jeon, there was a magnificent stone steps.

It looks great, but it has it's specific meaning.

You can look at the statue of some animals, which are imaginary creatures to protect bad energy and evil.

You could look at the Phoenix on the steps.

It means king. In koryeo dynasty, they called their king as a emperor. But in Choson Dynasty, they called king a kng. In confucian political system. Emperor was higher than King. In Koryeo Dynasty, they thought their king as same degree as chinese king,
But in Choson dynasty, they accepted the superiority of chinese political power. So they lowered their political status from emperor to king.
The phoenix was a symbol of that political change.

But the end of the 19C, when China was weaken, Korea broke the political relationship with China due to the complicated internation affairs. At that time, they called their king as a Emperor again.

The symbol was dragon, they installed dragon symbol on the ceiling of the main building.

Interesting thing was that the painters had drawn dragons every place. They would not like to accept their Emperor downgraded as a king.

Thank you for reading.