Tuesday 3 March 2015

Unhyeongung (운현궁) Royal Palace

Must visit Historical and Cultural site in Seoul: Unhyeongung 운현궁 | by Meheartseoul Finally we can slowly walk around this royal residence after the first 25 minutes running around in Dangui Hanbok and shooting photos around Unhyeongung!

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
Unhyeongung Palace (운현궁) - Historical Site No 257.

This palace used to be 26th King of Joseon Dynasty, King Gojong's Jamjeo (a temporary place for the soon-to-be monarch to stay before taking the throne). It was owned by Heungseon Daewongun Yi Haeung, father of King Gojong.

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Let me take a breath at this low wooden platform used 
as a bench (평상) before deciding which way to go first.

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
 This enormous wooden gate will lead you to Noandang.
            
Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Edited these Fusion Hanbok photos with this wooden gate as background.
It must be nice matching to shoot Fusion Hanbok photos around 
Hanok buildings in Unhyeongung.

Unhyeongung is  a perfect example of Korean Traditional Hanok architecture in Seoul.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee) 
This detached house was the Sarangchae (사랑채 = men's quarters).

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)
 Daewongun spent most of his time established his reform policies,  
mapping out national policies, closing down private Seowon 
(Confucian Acedemy).

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
 Heungseon Daewongun named this building Noandang (노아당) 
meaning to make the old comfortable and at ease. 

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
 He found his life satisfying and comfortable after one of his sons became the king. 
He died in this building at age 79 after an eventful life,
 which included forced retirement from regency.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
 Noandang with tiled-roof with a large sun-shade 
supported by wooden poles from the eaves.

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
10 kan Norakdang (노락당) is the largest building in
Unhyeongung has nine roams along the corridor.

This building was Anchae (Women's quarters in Korean residences created by Confucian values represented by the Three Bonds and Five Moral Rules governing human relations). 

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
 Important ceremonies such as King Gojong and Queen Myeongseong's wedding ceremony, 
Queen Min received royal orientation and preparations before her wedding 
were held in this Norakdang.

If you watched Korean drama Gung (궁) episode 3, Chae-gyung also receiving training before her wedding with Shin. The scenes were filmed in Unhyeongung. But her training location was in Irodang building instead of Norakdang. 

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)
 Queen Myeongsong Celebrating Birthday of King Gojong's Mother.

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Queen Myeongseong in Yellow Dangui, King Gojong's Mother in Pale 
Yellow Magoja, Crown Prince in Sagyusam and Obangjang Durumagi, 
Yi Yun Yong in Jeonbok and Obanjang Durumagi.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)
King Gojong's Biological Mother in Pink Dangui Hanbok.

The most notable structure inside Norakdang is the kitchen, which was used for food preparation when hosting important events.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
Sanggung (Court Lady) in Blue Green Dangui 
and Nain (Court Lady Attendance) in Jeogori and Chima.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)
Irodang (이로당) was the main building where the wife of Heungseon Daewongun 
resided and ran household affairs of Unhyeongung.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
Irodang is Anchae (안채 = Inner Quarters) reserved for women,
located at the farthest end from the main gate with high platform.

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Irodang is connected to Norakdang by this passageway.

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Irodang was an isolated place and to help to protect women 
from men and intruders, it's built in square shape (ㅁ). 

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com       Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Cool! I like this passageway which has a door to lock from inside.
Be careful of  your head and don't knock your head when passing this passageway.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)
  Sujiksa is quarters for security guards and superintendents. 

... my hubby sneaked inside Irodang since no guards in Sujiksa! 
 
Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Wondering what was the punishment given during the 
ruling of Daewongun if a man being caught entering 
this woman's quarter? and what's the reward?! ㅋㅋ

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)     www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
 Chimney for ondol fumes?

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com

Ok, let's go to Exhibition Hall!

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
 Exhibition hall displaying objects, mannequins in Korean traditional wedding garments 
and audio visual materials about Unhyeongung and Daewongun's family history.
Please check out this video for more information.




www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
 Garye is a wedding ceremony involving royal families
 which involves several procedures. 

Known as the site of the royal wedding of King Gojong and Queen Min, Unhyeongung Palace has the very special role of introducing traditional Korean royal culture to Koreans and foreigners. 

if you're visiting Korea on 18 April or 19 September  2015 do watch a re-enactment of royal wedding ceremony outside Norakdang. I'm interested to see Court Dress Fashion Show too. You can check out other cultural events and programs at Unhyeongung's website.

During Chinyeong which King visits Byeogung (special palace designated for royal wedding) to see the queen, they wore royal costumes...

King Gojong in Myeonbok and Queen Min in Jeokui.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
   Heungseon Daewongun in Jobok and his wife in Wonsam.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)
 Chukhwabi - monument made in 1871 by Daewongun to protect
the nation from Western invasion and to show his
strong will to refuse a trade treaty.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee) 
Kyungkeunmun situated between Changdukgung and 
Unhyeongung was the exclusive door for King Gojong.  
Daewongun used Kongkeunmun to access to Changdukgung.
www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)
The Battle Ground during the period of Regent Hungson.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee) 
Wonnapjeon and Dangbaekjeon.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)
New dressing codes to ensure practical living.


www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)

Wooden Wig and Black Silk Hat.

www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg (Vera Lee)

Horsehair Hat.


www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)
Add: 464, Samil-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
서울특별시 종로구 삼일대로 464 (운니동)

Unhyeongung Royal Residence (운현궁) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
 Last selfie before leaving this beautiful hanok royal residence! :P


Related Posts:
~ Filming location of Gung (궁) - Honeymoon Scene: Seongyojang (선교장)
~ Filming location of Gung (궁) - Palace courtyards: Gyeongju Anapji Pond (안압지)
~ Filming location of Gung (궁) - Palace courtyards: Gyeonggijeon (경기전)
~ Filming location of Gung (궁) - Palace courtyards: Jeonju Sago (전주 사고)