K-HISTORY 3 Page > Little Korea

K-HISTORY

Meaningful Days of Korean History

  • 1963.1.21
    designated date of treasure
    Bosingak Belfry was used during the Joseon dynasty to keep the time. The bell would ring 33 times at 4 AM, signaling the start of the day and the opening of the city gates. At 10 PM, the bell would ring 28 and the gates would close for the night. The bell was originally installed at Wongaksa Temple in 1468, in the 13th year of King Sejo, but was moved to its current location in 1619. The bell has high cultural value due to the exact year of construction being known, allowing historians to accurately date artifacts from the same time period. The original bell, National Treasure No. 2, is preserved in the National Museum of Korea.

    Tourists to Jongno-gu and locals alike can enjoy a living history through the bell-ringing ceremony that takes place for one hour every day (excluding Mondays), starting at 11:20. In addition, Bosingak Belfry is the location of Korea's very own "ball drop ceremony" on December 31. On this evening, the streets surrounding the belfry are closed to traffic and people gather to ring in the New Year with the striking of the bell.
  • 1963.1.21
    a date designated as a historical site
    Poseokjeong Pavilion served as a separate palace where kings enjoyed banquets with nobles. The building no longer exists, but the abalone-shaped stone water canal still remains, speculated to have been built during the Unified Silla period although the exact year is unknown. The water canal has an estimated length of 10 meters, with a width of approximately 35 centimeters and an average depth of 26 centimeters. Based on Chinese writings from 353, it is said that drinking glasses were floated on the canal. One popular party game had guests creating poems before the glass had passed nine sections of the canel. Guests who could not do this had to drink three glasses. Modern research has shown that the site was not merely a place for fun, but also served as a meeting venue for the royal family, as well as for holding memorial services.
  • 1991.1.25
    designated date of national treasure
    Joseon Baekja is the most widely known pottery in Korea, along with Goryeo Cheongja(celadon porcelain).

    Baekja(White porcelain) and Buncheongsagi(powdered blueware) are representative ceramics of Korea. Baekja was continuously produced and used throughout the Joseon Dynasty, while Buncheongsagi were produced for 150 years.

    The white porcelain, which shows the beauty of purity and moderation, was used by new Dynasty and the noblity who pursued Confucian philosophy, so it contains their thoughts and preferences.

    The Baekja of National Treasure No. 258 is considered one of the most representative white porcelain bottles of the time in a state in which the bold and tasteful pictures of bamboo show the spirit of the Sunbi people at that time.
  • 1967.3.18
    Specified date
    This is where Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin lived until he passed the state examination for the military service, and is now Hyeonchungsa Shrine.

    Major facilities include Hyeonchungsa, where Yi Sun-sin's portrait was enshrined, an old house where Yi Sun-sin grew up, a hwalter where he practiced martial arts while shooting arrows, a main gate, Hongsalmun, and a tomb behind his third son.

    Various artifacts related to Admiral Yi Sun-shin and the Japanese Invasion of Korea in the exhibition hall are on display, and lectures and seminars are being held at the education hall to promote Admiral Yi Sun-shin's spirit and feat.