The Story of Culture and Arts

Scenario

The Forbidden City in China
The White House in the USA
Cheongwadae(The Blue House) in Korea
Offices and residences of the world’s top leaders
Capital Cities and Royal Palaces,
symbols of a nation’s status and royal authority
These are the offices and residences of the world’s top leaders.
And in ancient times, the offices and residences of the top leaders were palaces.

Capital Cities and Royal Palaces, symbols of a nation's status and royal authority

Royal palaces, the residences and offices of a nation’s top leaders in premodern societies!
Capital cities and royal palaces are heavy with significance for Korean history and the history of humanity.

Throughout human history, societies that have developed into centralized states have had settlements in the form of urban centers surrounded by ramparts.
The city that served as the base for the state’s key leaders and facilities was called the capital city.
Within the capital city were found facilities for religious and ancestral rites and handicraft manufacturing as well as residential areas.
And in the center of it all was the royal palace.
These characteristics of the capital city were shared by all traditional capitals in East Asia, including those on the Korean Peninsula.

Walled settlements appeared in societies that developed into centralized states.
The capital city, home of the state’s key leaders and facilities.
Components of a capital city
- Religious and ancestral rite facilities
- Handicraft manufacturing facilities
- Residential areas

Royal place at heart of the capital city

Royal palaces on the Korean Peninsula had their origin in China.
Let’s take a look at the 6 leading types of royal palaces in China.

Now let us examine the characteristics of palaces from different kingdoms of the Three Kingdoms period of Korean history.

Opinions differ on whether the early capital of the Goguryeo kingdom was Jolbon or Holbon.
Hagoseongjaseong Fortress, located on the alluvial plain across from the Hunjiang River, 3km northwest of Huanren, is a leading example of a palace from the early Goguryeo Dynasty.

The early capital city of Goguryeo was called
Jolbon or Holbon, opinions differ

Jolbon

Gungnaeseong Fortress

Pyeongyang

Sadohaja

Heukgu

Onyeosan Mountain

Samyongjang

Yukdohagu

Huanren

Hagoseongjaseong Fortress

Onyeosanseong Fortress

Hagoseongjaseong Fortress
- Located on the alluvial plain across the Hunjiang
River, 3km northwest of Huanren
- A leading example of a palace
from the early Goguryeo period

Gungnaeseong Fortress located in Tonghua, Jilin Province.

Jian Fortress, located in Ji’an, Jilin Province, China

According to the “Annals of Goguryeo” from the History of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk sagi), Goguryeo’s King Jangsu relocated that state’s capital to Pyeongyang in year 427, the 15th year of his reign.

Construction of Janganseong Fortress began in the year 552, the 8th year of King Yangwon's reign, and the capital was moved again, now to Janganseong Fortress, in the year 586, the 28th year of King Pyeongwon's reign.

Thus, in the late Goguryeo period that state had two capitals on the plains, Pyeongyangseong Fortress and Janganseong Fortress.

Late Goguryeo Period
According to the “Annals of Goguryeo”
from the History of the Three Kingdoms,

The capital relocated to Pyeongyang in year 427
(15th year of King Jangsu's reign)

Late Goguryeo Period
Construction on Janganseong Fortress
began in year 552 (8th year of King Yangwon's reign),

and the capital was moved to Janganseong Fortress
in the year 586 (28th year of King Pyeongwon's reign)

In the late Goguryeo period that state had two capital cities located on the plains, Pyeongyangseong Fortress
and Janganseong Fortress

Pyeongyangseong Fortress is located in Pyeongyang, North Korea.

Pyeongyangseong Fortress
- Located in Pyeongyang, North Korea

Records indicate that construction on Janganseong Fortress, located in the urban area of Pyeongyang, began in the year 552 and that the Goguryeo capital was transferred there in 586.

Janganseong Fortress
- Located in the urban area of Pyeongyang
- Records say construction began in the year 552
and the capital was transferred there in the year 586

According to the History of the Three Kingdoms, the capital of Baekje was moved from Wiryeseong to Hanseong to Ungjin and finally to Sabi.

A walled capital city appeared in Baekje around 250–300 CE.Baekche capitals from the Hanseong period are Pungnaptoseong Fortress and Mongchontoseong Fortress.

Capital city of Baekje
Walled capital city appeared around the period 250–300 CE

Capital cities from the Hanseong period:
Pungnaptoseong Fortress and Mongchontoseong Fortress

According to the History of the Three Kingdoms, Bukseong (also referred to as Daeseong, or Grand Fortress) and Namseong (also referred to as Wangseong, or Royal Fortress) are mentioned in the Hanseong period, and it is generally accepted that these refer to Pungnaptoseong Fortress and Mongchontoseong Fortress.

According to the History of the Three Kingdoms,

Bukseong (Grand Fortress) and Namseong (Royal Fortress)
are mentioned in the Hanseong period,

It is generally accepted that they refer to Pungnaptoseong
Fortress and Mongchontoseong Fortress, respectively

According to the “Annals of Baekje” from the History of the Three Kingdoms, in the year 333 (the 9th year of Baekje’s King Biryu), a fire which started in the royal palace spread to nearby residences.

According to the History of the Three Kingdoms,
A record of a fire starting in the royal palace

that spread to nearby residences in Year 333,
the 9th year of King Biryu’s reign

From this record, it is assumed that within Pungnaptoseong Fortress, residential areas also existed alongside the royal palace and core government facilities.

Residential areas as well as the royal palace

and core government facilities are assumed
to have been co-located within Pungnaptoseong Fortress

Generally, residences of Baekje were pit dwellings, so this structure is unique in that it was built above ground. It is also remarkable that ditches were dug around the structure, and that they were paved with stone.

General residences in the time
of Baekje Dynasty were pit dwellings
Generally, Baekje residences at this time were pit dwellings
Characteristics of structures within Pungnaptoseong Fortress
- Built above-ground
- Structures surrounded by stone-paved ditches

There are few extant historical records regarding the royal palaces of Baekje’s Ungjin period. Only a few historical references have come down to us.

Besides a few historical references, there are few extant records on the royal palaces of Baekje’s Ungjin period

What remains are records of maintenance done on the royal palace in the year 486 (8th year of King Dongseong); a military inspection carried out in the southern part of the palace; and banquet held with many subjects in the palace’s South Hall (Namdang) in the year 489 11th year of King Dongseong).

There also exists a record of the construction of Imnyugak Pavilion in the eastern part of the palace, including the digging of a pond, the raising of rare birds, and the holding of a banquet there in the year 500 (22nd year of King Dongseong).

Records regarding the royal palace during the Ungjin period
- Maintenance work on the royal palace in the year 486 (8th year of King Dongseong)
- Military inspection carried out in the southern part of the palace

Records regarding the royal palace during the Ungjin period
- Banquet held with many vassals in the royal palace’s South Hall (Namdang) in the year 489 (11th year of King Dongseong)

Records regarding the royal palace during the Ungjin period
- Building of Imnyugak Pavilion in the eastern part of the royal palace, the digging of a pond, and the raising of rare birds and the holding of a banquet in the year 500 (22nd year of King Dongseong)

The biggest change evidenced in the Baekje capital of Sabi compared to previous Baekje capitals is the presence in Sabi of outer defensive walls surrounding the entire city.

Characteristics of the Baekje capital of the Sabi period
- Outer defensive walls surrounding the entire city

Baekje also took advantage of the lay of the land and constructed a mountain fortress (a military facility) in the northern part of Sabi for the capital’s defense, while building the palace at the southern foot of a mountain and a residential area on a grid network.

Characteristics of the Baekje capital in the Sabi period
- Utilized the lay of the land and built a defensive fortress in the northern part of the city

while building the palace at the southern foot of a mountain

Characteristics of the Baekje capital in the Sabi period
- Residential area was laid out on a grid network

The grid network of Sabi’s residential area is the first of its kind among the ancient capitals of the Korean Peninsula.

Iksan Royal Palace, a fine example of a royal palace from the Baekje period, measures 240m from east to west and 490m from north to south. It is surrounded by three-meter-thick walls.

The palace walls of Iksan Royal Palace site are an important historical relic, proving that the plaster wall, once considered unique to Japan in this period, actually originated from the palace walls of Baekje.

The palace had four gates in its southern wall and one gate each in its eastern, western, and northern walls.

Iksan Royal Palace, a fine example of a royal palace from the Baekje period

Shape of Iksan Royal Palace
A rectangular enclosure 240m long from east to west and 490m long from north to south.
- Surrounded by three-meter-thick walls

Palace Walls of the Iksan Royal Palace Site
- Important historical relic showing that the plaster wall, considered unique to Japan in this period,
actually originated from the palace walls of Baekje.

Palace Walls of the Iksan Royal Palace Site
- Four gates in its southern wall and one gate each in its eastern, western and northern walls

Map of palace buildings in Iksanwanggung Palace

Silla’s capital city of Gyeongju is unique in that, unlike those of Goguryeo and Baekje, it was not transferred to a new location but stayed in one place over an extended period of time.

Geumseong Fortress is mentioned 27 times in the History of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk sagi) and 4 imes in the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk yusa)

There is no more mention of Geumseong Fortress after year 482 (4th year of Silla’s King Soji), but it is generally accepted that Geumseong refers to the capital city of Silla.

Geumseong Fortress mentioned 27 times
in the History of the Three Kingdoms

and 4 times in the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms

No more mention of it after year 482,
(4th year of Silla’s King Soji)

Generally accepted that it refers to the capital city of Silla

Wolseong Fortress, also called Jaeseong Fortress and Shinwolseong Fortress in the History of the Three Kingdoms, was the location of Silla’s primary palace. Currently, it is called Banwolseong Fortress.

Wolseong Fortress
- Location of Silla’s primary palace

Referred to as Jaeseong Fortress or Shinwolseong Fortress
in the History of the Three Kingdoms

Currently called Banwolseong Fortress

City planning for the capital of Silla was divided into 3 phases.

3 Phases of Planning for Silla's Capital of Gyeongju - Mid-late 6th Century
① First attempt at systematic planning of the grounds inside the city

3 Phases of Planning for Silla's Capital of Gyeongju - Late 7th Century

② After SIlla unified the Three Kingdoms
Rearrangement of the city, such as creation of Anapji Pond

3 Phases of Planning for Silla's Capital of Gyeongju- 8th Century

③ The divisions of the area within the capital
Give indications of city planning

that can still be seen in certain areas of modern Gyeongju

The capital cities and royal palaces of Korea were not built to close off the hearts of the people but to protect them.

Their characteristics and structures may have changed over time, but they were all built to symbolize royal authority and the status of the kingdom.

The capital cities and royal palaces were not built
to close off the hearts of the people but to protect them

Their characteristics and structures may have changed
over time,

but they were all built to symbolize
royal authority and the status of the kingdom

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Script Advisor: Park Sun-bal
Scenario Composition: Ahn Hyeon-jin, Kim Min-sang
Voice Actor: Oh Su-gyeong
MC: Ju Hye-bin, Hwang Ba-eul
Illustrator: Lee Gwang-il
Research Material Support: National Museum of Korea, Gyeongju National Museum, Cultural Heritage Administration, Hanseong Baekje Museum,E-Museum National Gugak Center
Directors: Kim Hyeong-woo,Lee Hyeok-roh, Lee Yeon-sik
Planning and Production: Arirang TV Media