Donggwanwangmyo Shrine, Seoul

Located outside Heunginjimun Gate (Treasure) in Seoul, Donggwanwangmyo Shrine is a shrine for holding sacrificial rites to Guan Yu, the famous general of the Chinese kingdom of Shu Han. It was built in the belief that Joseon and Ming China had been able to defeat the Japanese forces during the Imjin War thanks to the virtue of the sacred general Guan Yu, and construction went ahead after the emperor of Ming personally wrote and sent a commemorative plaque. Donggwanwangmyo was begun in 1599, the 32nd year of King Seonjo, and completed two years later in 1601. The building today enshrines a wooden statue of Guan Yu together with statues of four of his kinsmen, including Guan Ping and Zhou Cang. It measures five bays across the front and six bays along the side, with a distinctive T-shaped roof, and the brackets supporting the weight of the roof are in the ikgong style, projecting outward like a bird's beak. Distinctive features of its plan are the long rectangular shape running front to back and the brick-built side and rear walls. The interior of the building is also notable for its lavish decoration, and these features, showing the influence of China, give the building an appearance quite different from other Korean architecture.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물