Gyeonggi-do: [South Korea Gyeonggi-do] Suwon Hwaseong

[South Korea Gyeonggi-do]
The Joseon structure left by the designer Jeong Yak-yong
Suwon Hwaseong

Suwon Hwaseong is the castle structure created when Jeongjo, who surged the Joseon Renaissance in the 18th century, moved the grave of his father Prince Sado to the previously Suwon-eup, praised as a propitious grave site in 1794. Jeong Yak-yong had supervised its construction, and Chae Je-gong had built Suwon Hwaseong, as a masterpiece that promoted ‘castles’ from its set role of walls to another dimension. Castles are usually built with gates facing the four cardinal points and walls surrounding the gaps. Such simplicity results in many opinions that its construction is rarely worthwhile to see. However, Suwon Hwaseong is exceptionally evaluated as excellent in its composition of granite and bricks. It is quite fun to walk around the castle walls.
The surprising fact is that this enormous construction had been completed in only two and a half years. Geojunggi, the traditional equipment that applies the principles of pulleys, was used to drastically reduce the amount of labor. You can see the ingenuity of Jeong Yak-yong from such construction methods that used scientific technologies. The use of bricks, rare at the time, is also prominent. Bricks make curve and circular structures possible, which granite alone cannot handle. This supports the fortification that magnificently protrudes in front of the north gate (Jangan Gate) and the south gate (Paldal Gate). Moreover, unlike large molecules of granites that broke apart from bombardments, this combination is safe structure-wise, even if partially damaged. Also, it is said that Jung Yak-yong ignored the national compulsory labor culture that seemed natural at the time, to give payment to the technicians and workers put into service.
Being registered as the World Heritage Property by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in 1997, Suwon Hwaseong is a functional and beautiful Korean structure that proves its value on a global scale. There is a Hwaseong Tram Tour for tourists who have difficulties in walking, along with national archery experiences prepared for amusement. The P.R. Hall of Suwon Hwaseong is also a must-see site. Even more, Suwon is famous for its cow ribs, having developed as one of the three major national cow markets after the construction of Hwaseong. This is a good example as to how a single structure changed an entire city. Contact 031-251-4435,

http://ehs.suwon.ne.kr/

1 This is the sight of Jangan Gate, the north gate of the castle. A circular fortification has been made with a gate in the middle for the protection of the castle gate.
The sight is magnificent, with multiple layers of towers and fortifications. This is the largest gate in Korea, larger than Sungrye Gate. The fortification was built with bricks in half-circles, and named in the sense that it looks like a jar cut in half.

2 This is the Hwaseong Temporary Palace of Namnakheon. The palace, built along with the fortification of Suwon Hwaseong, was the king’s quarters during his travels. Most of the structures had been lost to the shackles of history, with Namnakheon solely remaining. The rest had gone through maintenance and restoration processes in 1997.

3 This is the castle wall near Yeonmudae.

4 This is Hwaseo Gate, the west gate. It is true to its military defensive functions, carefully being planned to be a fortress. It is a single story building.

the source - http://eng.gg.go.kr/

English is introduced links.

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