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Seoul City Wall

Coordinates: 37°34′22″N 127°00′31″E / 37.5728474°N 127.0085027°E / 37.5728474; 127.0085027
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Seoul City Wall
Native name
서울 한양도성 (Korean)
Hanyangdoseong
The Downtown Seoul is surrounded by the Seoul City Wall
View of the Downtown Seoul surrounded by the Seoul City Wall
TypeFortification
LocationSeoul, South Korea
Coordinates37°34′22″N 127°00′31″E / 37.5728474°N 127.0085027°E / 37.5728474; 127.0085027
AreaDowntown Seoul
Builtc. 1395–1396
Built forDefense of Joseon's capital city, Hanseongbu
Governing bodySeoul Metropolitan Government
OwnerNational Government of South Korea
Websiteseoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr
Official nameHanyangdoseong, the Seoul City Wall
Designated1963-01-21
Reference no.10
Seoul City Wall Museum is located in Seoul
Seoul City Wall Museum
Seoul City Wall Museum
Seoul City Wall
Hangul
서울 한양도성, 서울 성곽
Hanja
서울 漢陽都城, 서울 城郭
Revised RomanizationSeoul Hanyangdoseong, Seoul seonggwak
McCune–ReischauerSŏul hanyangdosŏng, Sŏul sŏnggwak

The Seoul City Wall (Korean: 서울 성곽) or Hanyangdoseong (Korean: 한양도성; Hanja: 漢陽都城) is a defensive wall first built by the King Taejo of Joseon dynasty to defend the downtown area of Joseon's capital city Hanseongbu [ko] (한성부). It was designated as a Historic Site of South Korea in 1963, and is currently a tourist attraction around the Downtown Seoul.

History

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Construction of the Seoul City Wall was launched in 1395, and significant part of the whole City Wall was completed in 1396, including the Eight Gates.[1]: 107–111  While the City Wall was continuously fortified through almost entire history of Joseon, its history of fortification can be divided into major three periods respectively in 14th, 15th and 18th centuries.[2]: 79–80 

In the early era of Joseon, one of major function of the Seoul City Wall was a administrative demarcation distinguishing the downtown area of the capital city named as Seong-jung (성중; 城中) or Doseong-an (도성 안; lit. inside the fortress), from urban peripheral areas named as Seongjeosimni (성저십리; 城底十里; lit. 10 ri's around the fortress).[3]: 90–100  Yet after Joseon suffered invasion from Japan (Toyotomi government) and China (Qing empire) in middle era, the City Wall was redeveloped in late period of Joseon to strengthen military functions.[4]: 19–20 

During the Colonial era of Joseon under Japanese empire, significant parts of the Wall were demolished by the Japanese colonial government to modernize the cityscape of Seoul. A notable ruined part includes Seodaemun, the great west gate of the City Wall. However, even through this period of harsh modernization, much of the City Wall survives to the present day in the Jongno and Jung Districts of Seoul, preserved as Historic Sites of South Korea.[5]: 60–62  The City Wall is a famous tourist attraction, and still functions as cultural boundary distinguishing Seoul's original city center 'Downtown Seoul' from other regions of the Seoul special city.[6]

Characteristics

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The original walls, built in the late 14th century were constructed of medium-sized round stones held together by mud. During King Sejong the Great's reign in the mid-15th century, a large-scale refurbishment work was carried out on the wall, including the replacement of earthen wall sections with rectangular stone sections.[7] A major restoration in 1704 by King Sukjong rebuilt sections of the wall using large, uniform stone slabs which mark the final and last unique characteristic of Hanyangdoseong.[8]

The eastern section of Seoul was on lower ground than the other sections and was more susceptible to external attack. Thus, a lookout was added to the outside of the gate to reinforce its defense. A part of the walls in the section between Heunginjimun and Gwanghuimun was extended outside in a rectangular shape for such a purpose. Beacon mounds, another component of the defense system, were first established in 1394 and remained in operation until 1894. Signals sent across the country from one mound to another, using smoke by day and fire at night, were received by the beacon at the top of Namsan and conveyed to the Royal Palace. One lit beacon indicated normalcy, two indicated the appearance of an enemy, three if the enemy approached the border, four if the enemy crossed the border and five in case a battle started at the border.[9][10]

Gates

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Four main gates and four auxiliary gates were built around Seoul in the late 14th century. The four main gates were Heunginjimun (East Gate), Donuimun (West Gate), Sungnyemun (South Gate), and Sukjeongmun (North Gate). The four auxiliary gates were placed in areas between the four main gates, with Souimun (in the southwest), Changuimun (in the northwest), Hyehwamun (in the northeast), and Gwanghuimun (in the southeast).

At present, the following gates are either preserved in their original form or have undergone restoration work: Sungnyemun (South Gate) and Heunginjimun (East Gate) are designated as National Treasure No. 1 and Treasure No. 1, respectively.[7]

Present condition

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Hanyangdoseong, completed in 30 years, was torn down in many parts due to city planning initiatives and the introduction of trams lines. However, significant sections of the wall remain. The best-preserved and well-known course is the Wall of Mt. Bukaksan, the 2.3-km trail which cuts through Sukjeongmun to Changuimun. Previously off-limits to the public after having been designated as a Military Reserve area due to its close proximity to Cheongwadae, it opened to the public in 2006. With very few alterations or artificial structures surrounding the area over the years, the natural environment remains relatively intact.[11]

Trail tour

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The city of Seoul operates the Hanyangdoseong stamp trail tour, which runs along the wall, divided into six trails:[12]

  • Baegak Mountain Trail
  • Naksan Mountain Trail
  • Heunginjimun Gate Trail
  • Namsan(Mongmyeoksan) Mountain Trail
  • Sungnyemun Gate Trail
  • Inwangsan Mountain Trail
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fortress Wall of Seoul.
  • View of the Downtown Seoul and N Seoul Tower behind the Seoul City Wall
    View of the Downtown Seoul and N Seoul Tower behind the Seoul City Wall
  • A night view from Naksan Mountain
    A night view from Naksan Mountain
  • A snowy view of Fortress Wall of Seoul
    A snowy view of Fortress Wall of Seoul
  • Sungnyemun Gate, Seoul
    Sungnyemun Gate, Seoul
  • Hanyangdoseong, which shows restoration efforts made by the Seoul government
    Hanyangdoseong, which shows restoration efforts made by the Seoul government
  • Hanyangdoseong at Seoul City Wall Park and Naksan Park, Seoul
    Hanyangdoseong at Seoul City Wall Park and Naksan Park, Seoul

See also

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Notes and References

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  1. ^ 김, 기호; 김, 웅호; 염, 복규; 김, 영심; 김, 도연; 유, 승희; 박, 준형 (2021-11-30). 서울도시계획사 1 현대 이전의 도시계획 (서울역사총서 12) [History of urban planning in Seoul, Vol. 1., Urban planning before contemporary age] (in Korean). Seoul: Seoul Historiography Institute. ISBN 9791160711301.
  2. ^ Song, In Ho; Kim, Young Soo; Moon, In Sik (August 2021). "Repair and Construction Methods of Hanyangdoseong in 18th Century". Korean Association of Architectural History (in Korean). 30 (4): 79–90. doi:10.7738/JAH.2021.30.4.079. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  3. ^ 김, 경록; 유, 승희; 김, 경태; 이, 현진; 정, 은주; 최, 진아; 이, 민우; 진, 윤정 (2019-06-03). 조선시대 다스림으로 본 성저십리 (서울역사중점연구 5) [Seongjeosimni in governance of Joseon (Studies on special topics of Seoul History, Vol. 5.)] (in Korean). Seoul: Seoul Historiography Institute. ISBN 9791160710670.
  4. ^ Kim, Young Soo; Song, In Ho (April 2021). "Form and Location of Chiseong(square-shaped lookout) Constructed in Hanyangdoseong(Seoul city wall) of the 18th Century". Korean Association of Architectural History (in Korean). 30 (2): 19–28. doi:10.7738/JAH.2021.30.2.019. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  5. ^ Lee, Myeong Seong; Kim, Yuri; Choie, Myoungju; Yoo, Ji Hyun; Ahn, Yu Bin (February 2020). "Material and Deterioration Characteristic Analysis for Inscribed Stones of Naksan Mountain Area of the Hanyangdoseong(Seoul City Wall), Korea". Journal of Conservation Science. 36 (1): 60–72. doi:10.12654/JCS.2020.36.1.06. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  6. ^ McKechnie, Ben (2024-02-01). "Discover Seoul's five best hiking trails with an expert guide". BBC Travel. Seoul.
  7. ^ a b UNESCO. "Seoul City Wall". UNESCO. UNESCO. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  8. ^ Discovering Korea (2014-07-30). "Hiking Hanyangdoseong". Discovering Korea. Discovering Korea. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10.
  9. ^ "Beacon Ceremony at Namsan Beacon Mound". Korea Times. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  10. ^ "Namsan Beacon Mound Lighting Ceremony". Visit Seoul. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  11. ^ Visit Korea (2014-07-30). "Hiking trip along the Wall". VisitKorea.or.kr. VisitKorea.or.kr. Archived from the original on 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  12. ^ "Hanyangdoseong: Excursions Along the Wall". Seoul City Wall. Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
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