A Study on the Status of Multi-functional Vacant Ground at the Palace Rear Garden during the Era of King Kojong

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the construction background of multi-functional vacant grounds in the rear gardens of Kyeongbok Palace and Kyeongun Palace, by understanding the building history of multi-functional vacant ground during the Joseon Dynasty with a special reference to the places formed in the period of King Kojong. The multi-functional vacant grounds in the Palace were the important element from the political aspect of Joseon Dynasty, and became an infrastructure of a state -run organization. The vacant space between Kwangyeonlu(廣延樓) and Haeonjeong(解慍亭), the whole region of Yeolmujeong(閱武亭), Seochongdae(瑞蔥臺), and Chundangdae(春塘臺) were investigated as the multi-functional places, where the events were held for the royal family in the Changdeok Palace after the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty. Various events such as the archery competition, official examination and military training were held at the places. After the inauguration of King Kojong, Kyeongmudae(京武臺) was made in the process of the reconstruction of the Kyeongbok Palace. The Kyeonghee Palace was used as the off-palace rear garden after the year that King Kojong returned to the Kyeongun Palace. The characteristics of two spaces were to apply the space organization of the Changdeok Palace into the rear garden outside of Sinmumun(神武門), Kyeongmudae at Kyeongbok Palace and the pedestrian overpass was established to connect the spaces efficiently in Kyeonghee Palace. Especially, the multi-functional vacant ground in the rear garden during the period of King Kojong functioned as the place to show off the internal and external independence of a nation and to show the authority and dignity of King at the point of time that accelerated the plundering Joseon Dynasty by Japanese imperialism powers, beyond the meaning of national event space that had existed before, such as official examination or archery test. In addition, the fact that the multi-functional vacant ground used as training place for military exercise where many people were mobilized was considered to reflect the contemporary situation.