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 Changdeokgung
Palace, the “Palace of Illustrious Virtue”, is the only palace that
preserves the architectural style of the Joseon Dynasty. The rear garden
used to be the king’s resting place where 300-year-old trees, pond and
pavilion are harmoniously organized with nature itself.
 Attached
to the palace is the "Secret Garden" also known as “Huwon”, a
beautifully landscaped garden designed for the exclusive use of the
Royal Family. There, visitors can find especially imported trees,
magnificent pavilions, intricate pagodas, stone bridges and ponds.
One of the buildings in the palace complex still has the old blue tiles
 that
once were common in Korea. Now Changdeokgung is the only place in Seoul
where you still can see this.
There are 41 buildings remaining in Changdeokgung, including Injeongjeon,
the Throne Hall, besides the beautiful rear garden. The architecture of
Changdeokgung has more gentle and curvaceous lines and tends to
represent a more feminine quality than that of Gyeongbokgung, where the
buildings seem to convey virility and an air of masculinity.
The palace compound is divided into three sections: Oejeon, the
administrative quarter, Naejeon, the residential quarter, and Huwon, the
rear garden.
Oejeon is centered around Injeongjeon. Naejeon includes Huijeongdang and
Daejojeon, the king's and queen's bedchambers. Nakseonjae (House of
Retreat of Joy and Goodness), was built as the home of the last
descendants of the royal family.: Queen Yun, the widow of King Sunjong
(r.1907 ~ 1910), Princess Deokhye, a daughter of King Gojong, and
Princess Bangja, a Japanese princess who became the wife of Yi Un, the
last prince of the Joseon Dynasty.
The other section, Huwon (the Rear Garde n),
is where Buyongjeong Pavilion, Juhamnu, the Court Library, and many
other attractive buildings are placed amidst beautiful esplanades and
winding stroll paths.
Past Donhwa Gate and into the palace, Geumcheon Bridge appears from the
right. Constructed during the 11th year of King Tae-Jong’s (1411) reign,
this stone bridge is the oldest of its kind in Seoul.
 The
entrance of Injeongjeon (the royal audience chamber) is at the end of
the bridge The ridge of this chamber’s roof boasts of unusual flower
patterned decorations. These patterns were attached by the Japanese to
disgrace the royal family and cannot be found at any other ridge.
There are nine statues each on the eves of Injeongjeon. These statues
are believed to prevent evil spirits from entering. The number of
statues differ – five statues for each eve at Jinseonmun, and seven for
Donhwamun.
The cement road between the walls of Changdeokgung Palace and
Changgyeonggung Palace lead to Huwon garden. Buyongjeong and Johapru
here frequently appear in photos introducing Korea.
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