As spring’s K-Royal Culture Festival 2024 kicked off, I was lucky enough to participate in “A Time Travel to the Joseon Dynasty,” the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion’s special tour program at Gyeongbok Palace, Korea’s last dynasty’s main royal palace in central Seoul.This particular tour was a special program for foreign visitors with an English-speaking guide, offering exclusive tickets for to foreign nationals.Spring’s K-Royal Culture Festival is being held in five palaces in Seoul, including Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Changgyeong Palace, Deoksu Palace and Gyeonghui Palace, which are cultural heritage sites representing Korea and contain the history of the Joseon and Korean Empires, as well as Jongmyo Shrine and Sajikdan Altar.As I stepped through the gates of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Wednesday morning, I expected that I was about to embark on a journey back in time, imagining the bygone eras, immersed in the vibrant, fascinating and well-preserved cultural heritage of Korea, being part of this special Gyeonghoeru Pavilion tour, where history came alive in the most captivating manner imaginable. Besides spring’s morning sun shining brightly with refreshing air coming down from the mountains, I felt a sense of renewal and vitality.

With the help of experts on traditional clothing, we were able to dress in Confucian scholar attire. I then joined fellow foreign visitors for a one-of-a-kind experience that promised to unravel the mysteries of this iconic and largest elevated pavilion in Korea. From the moment that we were warmly greeted by the event organizers, their hospitality extended to us with gifts of well-crafted souvenirs, evidence that we were in for an exciting tour. As visitors gathered beneath the graceful columns of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, led by a knowledgeable guide, our exploration of the pavilion was nothing short of fascinating, setting the stage for an unforgettable journey through time. Every aspect of the tour was thoughtfully curated to provide a glimpse into the past, a passionate explanation by our tour guide, Kim Sung-young, in a well-planned narrative, brought to life the history and significance of this architectural marvel. Each detail, from the intricate design of the pavilion to its role as a symbol of royal power, was illuminated with clarity and passion.The magnificent open two-story pavilion was built during the Gyeongbok Palace’s construction, on the northwest side of the pond, in Geunjeongjeon Hall. It was small but expanded in 1412 during the 12th year of King Taejong’s reign and was mainly used for royal banquets and for receiving foreign officials. During the Japanese Invasion in 1592, it was burnt down and reconstructed 270 years later in 1867 during the fourth year of King Gojong.The pavilion has seven rooms in the front and five rooms on the side, its architecture manifests the oriental philosophy of the universe. It is said that its three stone bridges symbolize heaven, earth and man, and the 12 bays represent the months of the year. The outermost 24 columns symbolize the 24 solar terms that mark particular astronomical or natural events of 카지노사이트킹 each year.