Royal Letter Pavilion

The Royal Letter Pavilion takes its name from its purpose: a place for keeping writing in the king's own hand. It was built in the twenty-third year of King Jeongjo (1799) to house a piece of calligraphy that King Yeongjo had bestowed on Chudam Jang Hyeon-gyeong. Jang Hyeon-gyeong (1730-1805) passed the state examination in the twenty-eighth year of King Yeongjo (1752); starting out concurrently as a recording official at the Office of Annals and a doctor at the Office of Special Advisors, he went on to serve in such posts as the Office of Annals, historiographer and compiler. The writing kept at the Royal Letter Pavilion is in King Yeongjo's own hand. It is said that on the winter solstice of the thirty-ninth year of King Yeongjo (1763), the king summoned his court officials and served them white porridge and pheasant meat; moved by this royal favour, Jang Hyeon-gyeong composed a regulated verse poem and presented it to the king, who was so pleased that he wrote and bestowed a poem of his own in return. Jang Hyeon-gyeong took this writing back to his hometown, where he built the Royal Letter Pavilion to house it. The building has been repaired several times. Beyond an iron hongsalmun - a red gate marking a site of honour - and a three-bay gate at the entrance stands the Royal Letter Pavilion itself, measuring three bays across the front and two bays in depth. The central bay holds a signboard reading 'Eoseogak' along with four other signboards relating to the building's repairs, and inside, the calligraphy written by King Yeongjo of Joseon is preserved.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jangsu, Jeonbuk

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료