Changdeokgung Palace ~ Changdeokgung, also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of
the Joseon
Dynasty. Because of
its location east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung, with Changgyeonggung,
is also referred to as the "East
Palace" (Donggwol).
The literal meaning of Changdeokgung is "Palace of Prospering Virtue".
Changdeokgung was the most favored palace of
many princes of the Joseon
Dynasty and retained many elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period that were not incorporated in
the more contemporary Gyeongbokgung. One such element is the fact that the
buildings of Changdeokgung blend with the topography of the site instead of
imposing upon nature.
Changdeokgung, like the other Five Grand Palaces in Seoul,
was heavily damaged during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Currently, only 30% of the
Palace structures remain.
Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The UNESCO committee
inscribing the site stated the place was an "outstanding example of Far
Eastern palace architecture and garden design" being exceptional because
the buildings are "integrated into and harmonized with the natural
setting" and adapted "to the topography and retaining indigenous tree
cover.”
Portions of the palace were used to film the
hugely popular Korean Drama Dae Jang Geum in the 2000s.
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