Plinths of Yeongeunmun Gate, Seoul

These are the plinths that once stood in front of Mohwagwan, the hall where Joseon received Chinese envoys. During the enlightenment period, Yeongeunmun Gate (迎恩門) was torn down and Dongnimmun Independence Gate was erected on the site to mark the nation's determination for freedom and independence, leaving only the plinths that had supported the gate's pillars. Mohwagwan was first built in the seventh year of King Taejong (1407) under the name Mohwaru. It was renamed Mohwagwan in the twelfth year of King Sejong (1430), when a symbolic hongsalmun, a gate marked by red-painted spikes, was erected in front of it. In the thirty-second year of King Jungjong (1537), a more formal gate replaced the hongsalmun and was named Yeongjomun; in the thirty-fourth year of King Jungjong (1539), at the suggestion of a Chinese envoy, it was renamed Yeongeunmun, also known as Yeonjumun or Yeoneunmun. The gate built under King Jungjong had a single bay: round pillars rose from two long plinths and carried a hipped roof covered in blue-glazed tiles, with japsang, carved figures of various animals, set along the ridge. The two surviving plinths are long, upright stone blocks resting on two-tiered square bases; each upper base bears two carved ansang, cusped niche-shaped decorations. When Dongnimmun was erected in 1896, only the plinths were left standing before it; in 1979, road works on Seongsandaero moved them, together with Dongnimmun, to their present location. The name was changed from Yeongeunmunjucho to Plinths of Yeongeunmun Gate, Seoul (announced 28 July 2011).

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Where it is

Region

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Designation

Historic Site · 사적