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Geunjeongmun Gate

Geunjeongmun Gate
This is Geunjeongmun, which opens up into Throne Hall. Please observe the steps leading to this door. In the middle of the steps there is a stone carved into the shape of a bird. This bird is the phoenix. The phoenix is a legendary bird that was said to only appear during a peaceful and prosperous reign, and symbolizes the king. The place on which the bird is carved is also the king’s path. But it looks rather slippery, and must have been uncomfortable to walk on. It would have been worse on rainy or snowy days. According to tradition, the king does not walk on the ground. Thus, the king’s palanquin would pass over this spot.

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Geunjeong means to ‘diligently engage in politics.’ The name Geunjeong was given by Jeong Do-Jeon, who borrowed it from the expression, “you must diligently manage the affairs of the state to achieve peaceful times” from various scriptures. The signboard was written by Shin Seok-Hee (1808-1873) when Gyeongbokgung was reconstructed.Wolhwamun is a small gate to the west of Geunjeongmun. First built in 1395 (the 4th year of Taejo), this gate was burnt down during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and rebuilt in 1867 after the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung. Whenever there was a morning assembly in the royal audience hall, the military officials entered through Wolhwamun. ‘Wolhwa’ means the purification of the moon. Because the moon has the character of yin in the theory of yin and yang, it was chosen as the name of the west gate.Ilhwamun is a small gate to the east of Geunjeongmun. First built in 1395 (the 4th year of Taejo), this gate was burnt down during the 1592 Japanese invasion and rebuilt in 1867 after the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung. Forming a pair with Wolhwamun, Ilhwamun was used by civil servants. ‘Ilhwa’ means the purification of the sun. The sun has the character of yang in the theory of yin and yang, so it was chosen as the name of the east gate.The haenggak(Corridor) of Geunjeongjeon surrounds the Geunjeongjeon to the east, west, south, and north. It forms a perfect symmetry around Geunjeongjeon and Geunjeongmun. Yungmunnu and Yungmuru are projected to the outside at the 17th and 18th kans from the south on the Donghaenggak and Seohaenggak. Furthermore, at the left and right of Namhaenggak and Geunjeongmun are Ilhwamun and Wolhwamun, respectively, to allow people to enter and exit without passing through the Geunjeongmun.