• Journal of architectural history
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2015

This study aims to investigate the physical characteristics and architectural ornaments of the walls (DamJang) and their bordering area that defines the Rear Garden of Changdeok-gung, one of the Royal Palaces in Seoul. This area, centered on Buyong-ji(부용지) and Aeryeon-ji(애련지), features the morphological diversity of buildings, walls, gates and stone bases in the palace. The findings are summarized as follows: First, DamJang, as a basic architectural element for the space organization, takes a set of various forms featuring different construction materials while responding positively to the physiographic nature of the surroundings; Second, DamJang along with their gates, also features different types of ornamental expressions which also suggest the hierarchy of its building and space; Third, typical of the traditional garden design in Korea are a group of DamJang standing as independent structures mostly around Buyong-ji and Aeryeon-ji whose finishing conditions also differ based on the nature of the space; Fourth, among commonly observed examples of DamJang in the Rear Garden and Changdeok-gung palace-wide, is a 'T' shaped wall whose heights and materials function as a design element for the garden.