Today¡¯s tour was to Gyeongungung palace. Gyeongungung palace was also called Deoksugung palace, because king Sunjong, gave that name to the palace. So, I think you know Gyeongungung as Deoksugung, but let¡¯s call it Gyeongungung because it was the real name.

 Preface was so long, so from now on, I will stay focus on Gyeongungung palace. Gyeongungung palace is special, because this palace has both Korean and western styles. For example, Seokjojeon is a western style building that Gojong built, so there is beds, western style lights, and so on. Also, in Korean garden, they putted garden at the back side, and kept front side clean, but the putted the garden in the middle, which is western style. In an addition, this is the palace that emperor Gojong stayed, so it is different from other 4 places, because this was the place for the emperor, not for the king. So, in dapdo, there are dragons, which symboled emperor, not phoenixes, which symboles king, and the colored that are used in Junghwajeon is gold, which was for emperor.

 About the buildings in the Gyeongungung was all special, but Seokeodang was most special to me, because it was not colored. First, I was really surprised that it has no danchung or the other decorations, but I understanded that they wanted to be humble, because that was one of the important rule in confucianism, and after learning that, I thought that they really tried hard to be just like confucius said. Also, did you heard the story about Inmok, the queen mother? It really surprised me when I first heard that,because she was locked there for 5 years. I felt really sorry for her, even though she became free.

 Today¡¯s trip to Gyeongungung was really special to me, because I learned lots of things that I didn¡¯t knew, like I didn¡¯t knew that Daehanmun was the east gate, but changed into a main gate. I just thought that that was the real gate since it was built, and the other thing is that I didn¡¯t knew that emperor¡¯s countries can say ¡®Manse¡¯, but king¡¯s countries can only say ¡®Cheonse¡¯, also the view of Gyeongungung was beautiful, so it felt like a real trip. If I am given a chance, I want to visit Seokjojun, because I didn¡¯t went there, so I want to look at the inside of the western style building that king Gojong built, and also, I want to come here in spring, because I think I can see the spring view of Gyeongungung palace.