page_title: Wongudan
section_title: Architecture
hierarchical_section_title: Wongudan / Architecture
caption_attribution_description: Collection: Willard Dickerman Straight and Early U.S.-Korea Diplomatic Relations, Cornell University Library Title: The Coronation Hall, Seoul, Corea Date: ca. 1904 Place: Asia: South Korea; Seoul Type: Postcards/Ephemera Description: Hwangu-dan, where the coronation of King 'Kojong' was held on Oct. 12, 1897, was an imperial villa. The place was used as a traditional detached palace since King 'Taejong' (reigned 1400-1418) , but it was partially demolished by the Japanese who built 'Choson' Hotel in the place. What remains today is listed as Historic Site No. 157 on the national register and still stands in the form of an octagonal pavilion called 'Hwanggungu' in the garden of the Choson Hotel in Sogong-dong, Chung-gu, Seoul. Sources: Sajin uiro ponun tongnip undong, 1996, v.1, p. 45. City Facts, Seoul Metropolitan Government, web site english.metro.seoul.kr/about/cityfacts/culture.cfm&#160;; date accessed: May 9, 2003. Inscription/Marks: Inscription imprinted on image: 'The Coronation Hall, Seoul, Corea' Identifier: 1260.74.07.09 Persistent URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1813.001/5xr5 There are no known U.S. copyright restrictions on this image. The digital file is owned by the Cornell University Library which is making it freely available with the request that, when possible, the Library be credited as its source. We had some help with the geocoding from Web Services by Yahoo!
context_page_description: Wongudan Altar, located in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, was built in 1897 to serve as a site for the performance of the rite of heaven. The site was also known by other names, such as Hwangudan, Jecheondan and Wondan. Wongudan was designated South Korea's Historic Site No. 157 on July 15, 1967.
context_section_description: Wongudan was built in 1897. The site of the complex sat between Namsan and Bukhansan, and was considered highly auspicious by geomancers.  The altar complex was also designed to mimic natural elements such as the sun and moon.  It was a three-story altar made of granite and was used for animal sacrifice. The top center of the altar held a conical yellow-roofed building. The altar was destroyed by the Japanese in 1913. 
  Today, the Hwanggungu (hwang-gung-u, 皇穹宇, Imperial Vault of Heaven), a three-storied octagonal shrine built in 1899, remains at the site. The Hwanggungu, built on the north side of the altar complex, was designed for the worship of Heaven and respecting Taejo, the founder of Joseon. Along with the Hwanggungu, there are several other surviving relics such as the three stone drums (Seokgodan, 石鼓壇) featuring dragon decorations completed in 1902 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Gojong's enthronement, the gate leading to Hwanggungu, and the main entrance into the complex. 
  The imperial Japanese built the Railroad Chosen Hotel in the area where they had demolished Wongudan Altar. In 1968, that hotel was demolished and the Westin Chosun Hotel was built in its place. The Hwanggungu still stands in the hotel complex today and although it is not a well known tourist site, it is popular with the guests of the hotel.
caption: The altar complex before destruction
exif: {}