• Journal of architectural history
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• v.14 no.3 s.43
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• pp.39-52
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• 2005

This study relates to the architectural planning principle of Gyeonghoeru pavilion, one of the major buildings in Gyeongbokgung palace. The study is concentrated on The Book of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion written by Jeong Haksun in 1865 during the reconstruction of Gyeonghoeru pavilion. The architectural planning principle of Gyeonghoeru pavilion disclosed in The Book of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion appears to be 'the method of expanding with six by six system'. 'The method of expanding with six by six system' means a way of continuously extending the number related to 6 by addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and reflecting to architecture, having number 6 as the basic number. Number 6 means a large amount of water in East Asian philosophy, Applying 'the method of expanding with six by six system' to the architecture of Gyeonghoeru includes an intention to prevent fire in a way of a type of incantation because Korean traditional wooden buildings are we to fire. Since Gyeonghoeru is surrounded by a pond and was constructed based on the number 6 having a strength of water, it was believed that it could be safe from fire. This study compares the contents disclosed in The Book of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion with the construction of Gyeonghoeru to find out how the number 6 was applied to the overall construction of Gyeonghoeru. From the fact that the total number of km of Gyeonghoeru is 36 ($6{\times}6$), the number of pillars is 42 ($6{\times}7$), and the number of windows and doors is multiples of 6, it has been found out that the number 6 is deeply related to the overall construction of Gyeonghoeru. In addition to the fact that the construction of Gyeonghoeru can be explained by 'the method of expanding with six by six system', The Book of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion also discloses parts where Diagram of Hotu, Later Heaven Arrangement and Arrangement of 64 Hexagrams are applied. Therefrom, it has been found out that Gyeonghoeru pavilion was constructed by applying the principles of East Asian philosophy based on The Book of Changes.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.66-81
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• 2014

Burnt down during the Imjin War(壬辰倭亂) of 1592, Gyeongbokgung Palace(景福宮) remained in ruins until 1865, when in the second year of King Gojong's(高宗) reign, reconstruction work began. At the time, a royal protocol(uigwe, 儀軌) for the reconstruction was not produced. Instead, the Gyeongbokgung Palace Construction Diary(Gyeongbokgung yeonggeon ilgi, 景福宮營建日記) records the reconstruction process from June to September of 1865. The contents of this diary reveal that the stone used in the construction was obtained from Ganghwa(江華), the Yeongpung field(映楓亭) just beyond Dongdaemun, and Samcheongdong(三淸洞), among other sites. In addition, selected stone remaining from the original Gyeongbokgung Palace site - such as that from the palace astronomical observatory(ganuidae, 簡儀臺) - as reused, while a number of buildings and stonework from Gyeonghuigung Palace(慶熙宮) were moved to Gyeongbokgung Palace. As a result, a number of $17^{th}$ and $18^{th}$ century stonework are currently located at Gyeongbokgung Palace. The Gyeongbokgung Palace Construction Diary contains a record indicating that the bronze dragon(靑銅龍) excavated from the lotus pond at the palace's Gyeonghoeru Pavilion(慶會樓) was created by special technician byeolganyeok(別看役) Kim Jae-su(金在洙) in 1865 for the symbolic purpose of protecting the palace from fire. The diary also reveals that among Kim Jae-su and the other special technicians(byeolganyeok) tasked with the installation and oversight of the palace stonework was Lee Se-ok(李世玉) - aid to have created the haechi statue at Gwanghwamun Gate. This indicates that there were men of court painter(hwawon, 畵員) background among the construction special technicians(byeolganyeok). Moreover, the diary records the names of the stoneworkers(seokjang, 石匠) who worked under these special technicians to actually carve the stonework. These included Jang Seong-bok(張聖福), who participated in the creation of the Geunjeongjeon Hall(勤政殿); and Kim Jin-myeong(金振明), who took part in the construction of Gwanghwamun Gate(光化門). Based on these results, it is possible to identify a number of special iconographic features of the scale-covered animal form(insuhyeong, 鱗獸形) auspicious animal statues at Gyeongbokgung Palace. These include a protruding mouth and large nose, formalized ears, and a mane along the back. Comparing these iconographic features with those found in the stonework of Joseon tombs makes it clear that these palace statues were created in the latter half of the $19^{th}$ century - the period corresponding to Gojong's palace reconstruction. This study was able to confirm that this iconography was taken up by the Gyeongbokgung Palace construction special technicians(byeolganyeok) and stoneworkers(seokjang) as they worked on tomb stonework earlier in their careers.