''Donggwoldo'' () is a representative

Korean painting Korean painting () includes paintings made in Korea or by overseas Koreans on all surfaces. The earliest surviving Korean paintings are murals in the Goguryeo tombs, of which considerable numbers survive, the oldest from some 2,000 years ago (mo ...

of the early 19th century, depicting the two royal palaces,

Changdeokgung Changdeokgung () is a former royal palace in Seoul, South Korea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Historic Sites (South Korea), Historic Site of South Korea, it is among the best preserved of all Korean palaces. It and its neighboring palace Cha ...

and

Changgyeonggung Changgyeonggung () is a palace located in Seoul, South Korea. The palace was built in the mid-15th century by King Sejong for his father, Taejong. It was originally named "Suganggung", but it was renovated and enlarged in 1483 by King Seongjon ...

during the

Joseon Dynasty Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

. ''Donggwol'' is an alternative name of Changdeokgung, located to the East of the main royal palace of the dynasty,

Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung () is a former royal palace in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1395, it was the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, and is now one of the most significant tourist attractions in the country. The palace was among the first ...

. However, the picture also includes Changgyeonggung, an adjacent palace to the former. In 2012, the painting was used as the basis of a restoration project for the Buyongjeong pavilion in the rear garden of the

Features

The picture from a

bird's-eye view A bird's-eye view is an elevated view of an object or location from a very steep viewing angle, creating a perspective (graphical), perspective as if the observer were a bird in flight looking downward. Bird's-eye views can be an aerial photog ...

perspectiveSeoul Design Asset Exhibition
World Design Capital Seoul 2010, City of Seoul. captures the whole scape of the palaces surrounded by mountains and hills from a right top angle. Two versions of the same picture have survived to the present; one with a width of 583 cm and a height of 274 cm is stored in

Korea University Korea University (KU, ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1905 by Yi Yong-ik, Lee Yong-Ik, a prominent official of the Korean Empire, Korea University is among South Korea's oldest List of ...

Museum, while the other with a width of 576 cm and a height of 273 is in Dong-A University Museum. Donggwoldo is designated as the 249th

National Treasure of South Korea National Treasure () is a national-level designation within the Heritage preservation in South Korea, heritage preservation system of South Korea for tangible objects of significant artistic, cultural and historical value. Examples of objects inc ...

. Donggwoldo is on a

folding screen A folding screen, also known as pingfeng (), is a type of free-standing furniture consisting of several frames or panels, which are often connected by hinges or by other means. They have practical and decorative uses, and can be made in a variet ...

(''byeongpung'') made of paper, silk and wood. The creation date is presumed to be between 1826 and 1830 given the fact that it depicts the "Jeonsa" avilion installed in the 26th year of King Sunjo, and "Gyeongbokjeon" avilion demolished in the 30th year of the same king. The author is unknown but presumed to be a royal painter from Dohwaseo, the governmental office in charge of paintings during the period. The aintingitself is regarded more as a significant source for the research on Korean royal palaces rather than for its artistic values. Since the ictureis visually more detailed than other similar paintings, such as '' Donggwoldohyeong (東闕圖形)'' and '' Gunggwolji (宮闕志)'', it serves well as historical evidence and provides many clues to studies on building arrangements and features during that period.

Gallery

File:Korean art-Donggwoldo-Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung-Dong-A University-01.jpg, Dong-A University Museum's version File:Korean art-Donggwoldo detail-Changdeokgung-Donhwamun and its vicinity-01.jpg, Donhwamun, one of the main Changdeokgung palace entrances and its vicinity. File:Korean art-Donggwoldo detail-Changdeokgung-Jinseonmun and its vicinity-01.jpg, Jinseonmun, a gate inside of Changdeokgung. File:Korean art-Donggwoldo detail-Changdeokgung-Seonjeongjeon and its vicinity-01.jpg, Seonjeongjeon hall at

and its vicinity in Donggwoldo.

References

Future readings

*Han, Yeong-u. (2007) 동궐도 ''Donggwoldo, Painting of Eastern Palace'' (in Korean), Hyohyung Publishing Co.

External links

{{Commons category
Donggwoldo, exhibited for public for the first time
at The Dong-a Ilbo Korean painting 19th century in Korea National Treasures of South Korea 19th-century paintings Changdeokgung

Features

Gallery

See also

References

Future readings

External links