Summer 2011 Vol. 4 No. 2
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C M Y K Summer 2011 Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2011 Vol. 4 No. 2 Vol. ISSNISBN 2005-0151 Quarterly Magazine of the Cultural Heritage Administration Summer 2011 Vol. 4 No. 2 C M Y K Cover Red symbolizes summer. The symbolism originates from the traditional “five direc- tional colors” based on the ancient Chi- Summer 2011 Vol. 4 No. 2 nese thought of wuxing. or ohaeng in ko- rean. The five colors were associated with Summer 2011 seasons and other phenomena in nature, Vol. 4 No. 2 Vol. including the fate of humans. The cover de- sign features the auspicious designs from the Ten Longevity Chimneys. For more sto- ISSNISBN 2005-0151 ries about this, see p. 8. KOREAN HERITAGE is also available on the website. ( http://english.cha.go.kr ) CHA News Vignettes Korean Flavor Seoul to Host the 7th NEACH Meeting Hansik, the medicinal food The Seventh Meeting of the Networking of East Asian Cultural Heritage (NEACH) Koreans have long subscribed to the notion that food and medicine share the same will be held in Seoul on June 1–3, to deliberate diverse programs proposed by mem- origin. The nation’s dietary culture is rooted in the belief that health can be determined ber states to improve their management and preservation of tangible and intangible by whether one eats the proper food or not. cultural assets. The sixth conference was held in Solo, Indonesia, in 2010. The net- work comprises the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), South Ko- A typical Korean meal consists of rice, the main staple, rea, China and Japan. and various side dishes. The side dishes are largely based on cabbage, white radish and various other veg- etables. The vegetables are most often parboiled so the Jongmyo Rites Mark the 10th Year since UNESCO Inscription vitamins are not lost and are seasoned with a variety The annual royal ancestral rites for kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty were of condiments, including spices with medicinal effects, held on May 1 at Jongmyo shrine. This year’s rites commemorated the 10th an- such as scallion, garlic, ginger, sesame and red pepper niversary of the inscription of the Jongmyo rites and accompanying music on the powder. UNESCO roster of Masterpieces of the Oral and the Intangible Heritage of Human- ity, which is now the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hu- These condiments not only stimulate appetite but help increase resistance to disease. manity. This year, the rites have also been partially revised to restore their original Fermented sauces, such as soy sauce, red pepper paste and bean paste, also enhance authenticity. the flavor and health benefits of side dishes. Meat and fish are boiled, simmered or braised, as well as eaten raw. Chestnuts, jujubes, ginseng, cinnamon and mugwort are Kim Sowol’s Azaleas Earns Registered Heritage Status also among favorite health-boosting ingredients. Four copies of the first edition of Azaleas, a collection of poems by Kim Sowol A popular snack for festivities and holidays, yaksik personifies the time-honored di- (1902–1934), published in 1925, were recently designated Registered Cultural Her- etary philosophy of the Korean people. Yaksik, also called yakbap, literally means itage No. 470. Kim’s poetry collection is the first modern literary work to earn the “medicinal rice.” A Korean-style sweet brownie, it is made by steaming glutinous heritage stature, which is intended to protect the nation’s modern cultural heritage rice, mixing it with chestnuts, jujubes, pine nuts, honey or brown sugar, sesame oil in diverse fields from being lost or destroyed. The anthology includes the popular and soy sauce, steaming the mix, and finally cooling it in a desired shape. poem “Azaleas” by the short-lived poet. Although considerable time and effort is required to make tasty and attractive yaksik, this traditional delicacy remains as popular as ever. It is pleasing to the palate as well as the body. Summer 2011 Vol. 4 No. 2 CONTENTS 08 Rediscovery of Korean Palace 26 Photo Gallery Palaces of the Joseon Period Buyeo Dazzling Garden Architecture Home of Brilliant Baekje Culture 14 Intangible Heritage 34 Foreigner’s View Native Liquor Boosts Mood for Peace “Korea Rediscovered! Treasures from German Munbaeju Aims to Entice Drinkers Worldwide Museums” Touring Exhibition 18 Natural Heritage 38 Overseas Korean Cultural Assets Natural Monuments Driven to Crisis Hyecho’s Memoir of Journey to India Rare Insects in Danger of Extinction Silla Monk Leaves Precious Travel Account 22 Special Report 42 Documentary Heritage Tragic Legacies of Deposed Boy King Kitchen Secrets from 330 Years Ago Yeongwol Cherishes its Royal Exile The Oldest Known Cookbook in Hangeul Rediscovery of Korean Palace 8 |.9 Palaces of the Joseon Period Dazzling Garden Architecture Text by Choe Jong-hui | Professor, Paichai University Photos by Graphickorea & Goodimage The oldest royal palace gardens in Seoul the throne hall, the king’s offices, the bed- 1. Gyeonghoeru, a floating pavilion in Gyeongbok Palace, emerged in the early years of the Joseon Dy- chambers of the king and the queen and rear where the Joseon kings nasty, when its founding monarch, Taejo, re- gardens in the south; the residences of crown hosted banquets to celebrate felicitous events and wel- located his throne in 1394 from Gaegyeong, prince and queen dowager and other senior comed foreign emissaries the old capital of Goryeo. The garden archi- ladies of the royal family in the east; and (National Treasure No. 224). tecture of Joseon blossomed under the in- government offices and a floating pavilion fluence of Confucian philosophy and world in the west. Landscaping typically takes the view. Not even the national crises caused by form of rear garden, featuring a pond, leisure Japanese and Manchu invasions in the 16th pavilion and flower beds. to the 17th centuries could deter the devel- opment of unique garden architecture, which Gyeonghoeru: Majestic Water Pavilion can be viewed today at Gyeongbok and The floating pavilion Gyeonghoeru (Pavil- Changdeok palaces. ion of Joyous Gathering) and the surround- ing square pond were built in 1412, the 12th Gyeongbokgung, the Centerpiece of Jo- year of the reign of King Taejo. State ban- seon Palace Architecture quets for visiting foreign emissaries as well Gyeongbokgung, or the “Palace of Shining as state examinations in the presence of the Happiness,” was built as the main palace of king were conducted at the two-story open the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) after its cap- pavilion, which stands on the largest among ital was moved to Hanyang by its founding several small islands in the pond. monarch, Taejo. Japanese invaders burned down the palace in 1592 and it remained in Accessed via three balustraded stone bridg- ruins until its reconstruction in 1867, the sev- es, the pavilion appears to be a simple struc- enth year of King Gojong’s reign. ture of straight lines in geometric composi- tion but it contains the traditional East Asian Enclosed by walls and a gate at each car- view of the universe in its details such as the dinal direction, the palace is an impressive number and lengths of rafters, and the shape 1 complex of scores of pavilions and halls: of the columns and the pond. Rediscovery of Korean Palace 10 | 11 2. Hyangwonjeong, a 3. Decorative brick chimneys in Amisan, the private leisure pavilion 3 of the royal family in the rear garden of the queen’s rear garden of Gyeongbok bedchamber in Gyeongbok 2 3 Palace, built in 1867. Palace (Treasure No. 811). Hyangwonjeong: Private Leisure Pavil- plaster, the chimneys have picture panels on virtuous plants and Chinese characters with private place for rest and leisure activities ion for the Royal Family each side of their hexagonal structures with a auspicious meaning, such as the Buddhist of the royal family, this garden has an as- A two-story hexagonal pavilion stands in roof-shaped, tiled top. swastica (卍), longevity (壽), happiness sortment of outdoor pavilions, ponds and the middle of another pond in the rear gar- (福), health (康) and peace (寧). rocks that beautifully harmonize with their den of Gyeongbok Palace. King Gojong had The panels have brick mosaics of various natural surroundings. It is settings like this the pond and the pavilion built as a quiet and auspicious designs such as the ten longev- The chimney here is a rectangular projec- that make Changdeok Palace the most suc- tion on the back wall of the residence, not a cessful Joseon royal palace in maintaining its 4. The Ten Longevity Chimney private refuge. The pavilion is connected to ity symbols, the four virtuous plants and at the queen dowager’s Geoncheong Palace, built as a secluded resi- animal figures believed to have the power to stand-alone structure like those at the queen’s ancient scale and appearance today. For that, residence in Gyeongbok Pal- bedchamber. The chimney has a rectangular UNESCO inscribed the palace on its World ace, decorated with various dence for the king and the queen, to the north expel evil spirits and bring good luck. They auspicious designs (Treasure of the pond. Unlike most leisure pavilions, include cranes, bats, phoenixes, pine trees, picture panel at the center engraved with the Heritage List in 1997. No. 810). Hyangwonjeong (Pavilion of Far-reaching plum blossoms, chrysanthemums, the fungus ten longevity symbols. Ten smoke holes are Fragrance) has panel doors with lattice deco- of immortality, rocks, birds, deer, and vines. lined along the top, which is modeled after ration between wood columns that rise up to The chimneys were built in 1865, the second the tiled roof of a wooden building. This is the second story. year of the reign of King Gojong.