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Changgyeong Palace - 창경궁 (昌慶宮) (1484, rebuilt 1616, 1830s & onward)

Changgyeong palace was constructed in 1484 during the reign of King Sungjong to house three dowager queens. The palace had originally been constructed by King Sejong in the early 15th century to house his father Taejong. At that time the palace was known as Suganggung, but was changed to its present name by King Sungjong. It was burned in the 1592 Japanese invasion, along with many other historical sites. Reconstruction occurred 24 years later in 1616. Fires plagued the palace in subsequent centuries—most buildings now date from the early 1800s. Nowadays the palace is connected directly to Jongmyo royal shrine by a footbridge. Changgyeonggung has become a popular park in Seoul, where people come to paint, picnic, and relax.

Unlike the four other palaces of Seoul, the main gate faces east, not south. Curiously, the two courtyards south of the main hall are not quite rectangular. This was done deliberately to make the line of approach to the palace crooked, possibly to foil evil spirits in the belief that they could only travel in straight lines.

Address: 서울 종로구 와룡동 2-1.

Location

The approximate location of Changgyeong Palace is 37.578781' N, 126.995429' E (WGS 84 map datum).

Click on any of the red arrows to view that location.
Image adapted from Hangukui Geonchuk Munhwajae 1: Seoul Pyeon.

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