Today I went to Unhyeongung Palace. Unhyeongung Palace isn't actually an official palace. It was the personal house of Heungsoun Daewongun, who was King Gojong's father. Unhyeongung is divided into three main parts which are Sujiksa, Noan dang, and Norak dang. Sujiksa is the Henglangchae where the guards lived. I first thought it was a temple because of the word 'sa'. Noan dang is the Sarangchae where men lived. Heungsun Daewongun lived here while meeting guests. Finally, there is Norak dang. Norak dang is the Anchae and it is the place where women lived. It is the largest building in Unhyeongung Palace. Emperess Myeongsung was taught to become queen here and she and Emperor Gojong had their wedding ceremony held here.

     Besides these three main buildings, there is also another building called 'Irodang'. Irodang was built as another Anchae because the family could't use Norak dang anymore after Empress Myeongsung and Emperor Gojong's wedding ceremony.

     In Unhyeongung Palace, you can see 'Juryeon'. Jureons are the sign boards hung on the pillars. On the Juryeons, political situations, philosophy, and Heungsun Daewongun's achievments are written.

     Unhyeongung Palace also has Ondol which is the Korean floor-heating system. If a person lights a fire at the kitchen's Ahgoongee(¾Æ±ÃÀÌ), the smoke flows through the floor and heats it up. That makes the floors of the buildings with the floor-heating system warm. It was an interesting fact that the elderly sat in the middle of the floor where it is warm and younger people sat on the outer side of the room.

     Unhyeongung Palace was a very intersting place, but it was pretty small compared to Gyeongbokgung Palace that we went to yesterday. I liked Norakdang best of all the buildings because the insides looked cozy and comfortable. I really want a personal house like Unhyeongung Palace. It was a fun and great experience to go to Unhyeongung Palace.