Donhwamun Gate of Changdeokgung Palace

Donhwamun Gate is the main gate of Changdeokgung Palace. The term 'donhwa' (敦化) is originally a quotation from the Doctrine of the Mean, expressing the idea that the virtue of Confucius may be compared, in its greatness, to the virtue of a king; here the meaning is extended to convey that the king dispenses great virtue so as to make the people sincere through his teaching. Donhwamun is the oldest surviving wooden gate among Korea's palace gates, built in May 1412 and said to have been rebuilt in 1609, the first year of King Gwanghaegun. Donhwamun originally had no signboard; during the reign of King Seongjong, Seo Geo-jeong was ordered to devise a name for it, which was then hung above the gate. The two-storey gate tower held a bell and a drum, which announced the time at noon (jeongo), at injeong, and at paru. A drum was struck to announce noon, called ogo; injeong was the striking of the bell twenty-eight times to announce the start of the night curfew, and paru was the striking of the bell thirty-three times to announce its lifting. Donhwamun is a south-facing building five bays wide across the front and two bays deep; the flanking bays on either side are enclosed with walls, giving it the form of a triple gate. The central gate, the eomun, was reserved for the king's exclusive use, while the two side gates were used by high officials of dangsanggwan rank or above; even so, the censorial officials of the Three Censorate Offices (Hongmun-gwan, Saheonbu and Saganwon), though of lower rank, were granted the special privilege of using the side gates as well.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

February-May, September-October 09:00-18:00June-August 09:00-18:30November-January 09:00-17:30* Last admission 1 hr before closing

Closed

Mondays * If Monday falls on a public holiday, it will be closed on the following business day instead.

Parking

Not available

Information

+82-2-3668-2300

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물