Cheonggyecheon Stream Site, Seoul (Gwangtong Royal Patent ,supyo Royal Patent and Ogan Water Gate Site)

Cheonggyecheon is a gaecheon, an artificially channelled stream, that rises on Mongmyeoksan, Inwangsan, Bugaksan and Naksan mountains around the walled city, flows from west to east through its centre, and joins the Jungnangcheon Stream after a course of some 11 km. Many bridges and water gates were built across it, including Mojeon-gyo, Gwangtong-gyo, Jangtong-gyo, Supyo-gyo, Harang-gyo, Hyogyeong-gyo, Majeon-gyo, Ogansumun (a five-arched water gate) and Yeongdo-gyo, and the changes made to them track the changing history of the walled city. The remains associated with these bridges not only show the civil engineering techniques of the Joseon dynasty but are also valuable material for studying the expansion of urban functions and the management of the walled city through their construction and later alteration. Gwangtonggyo site: Gwangtong-gyo was the largest bridge within the walled city, forming the central route linking Gyeongbokgung Palace, Yukjo-geori Street, the bell pavilion and Sungnyemun Gate along the north–south road, and with markets nearby it was the bridge most crossed by the people of the capital. It appears to have been built when the walled city was first constructed at the start of the Joseon dynasty; originally an earthen bridge, it was rebuilt in stone in the 10th year of King Taejong (1410), reportedly using stonework taken from Jeongneung Royal Tomb, the tomb of Queen Sindeok, and it was enlarged in the 38th year of King Yeongjo (1762). Supyogyo site: Supyo-gyo was built in the 2nd year of King Sejong (1420) under the name Majeon-gyo; in the 23rd year of King Sejong (1441) flagstones were laid on the upstream side to the west and a supyo, a water-level gauge, was set up to measure the depth of the stream, after which the bridge came to be called Supyo-gyo. Supyo-gyo is designated a Seoul Tangible Heritage and has been restored in Jangchungdan Park, measuring 27.6 m long, 7.5 m wide and up to 3.4 m high; its water-gauge pillar is separately designated a treasure. Ogansumun site: Ogansumun was a substructure built into the city wall where it crossed Cheonggyecheon Stream when the wall was rebuilt, positioned along the stretch running from Dongdaemun Gate to Gwanghuimun Gate. It had five arched openings, and photographs survive showing the city wall built above it.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Historic Site · 사적