Gyeongbokgung or Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven was built just after the Joseon Dynasty was founded in 1392.

The palace has an interesting history with prosperous times and also times of destruction and neglect.

Today I will only share a few pictures with a little bit of commentary as I have to get ready for my class to start.

To the left of this picture is Geunjeongjeon which is the main throne hall in the palace complex. The name means “all affairs will be properly managed if Your Majesty demonstrate diligence.” To the right of the picture you see the modern skyline of Seoul. I tried to duplicate a picture that I took on a former trip to Seoul, but forgot exactly where I took the picture from and how I had it framed. You can see the former picture in my pre-trip post Packing Again. The changes in the skyline since 2005 are amazing.

In the back part of the palace complex is a square pond named Hyangwonji. In the middle of the pond is an island with a pavilion named Hyangwonjeong. I have only seen this pavilion in the winter and early spring, but have seen pictures of it in other times of the year. I need to come back when it is surrounded by more color.

Here we have Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. This is where the king held banquets for foreign delegations. This design is from 1867 and the second story is supported by 48 stone columns. A beautiful reflection pool surrounds the pavilion and I was able to get a few nice reflection pictures. The site is so beautiful and peaceful.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look at Gyeongbokgung. I will share more pictures in the future, including interesting little architectural details that I like.

Steven