Changdeokgung, Royal palace in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
Changdeokgung is a royal palace compound in Jongno District in Seoul in South Korea that includes halls and pavilions connected through courtyards. The grounds follow the natural terrain with stepped buildings made of wood, stone and brick covered by curved roofs.
King Taejong founded Changdeokgung in 1405 as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung. Burned during the Imjin War in 1592, it was rebuilt and served as the main royal residence for centuries. In 1907 Sunjong made it his official palace, and the royal family lived there into the late 20th century.
The name means Palace of Prospering Virtue and reflects Confucian values that shaped the ruling life during the Joseon era. Visitors today see ceremonially used rooms with elaborately painted wooden beams and traditional paper ceilings that framed courtly daily life.
The entrance is at Donhwamun Gate, which leads visitors through tall wooden doors into the first courtyard. Multi-language guided tours help with orientation through winding corridors and raised thresholds between buildings.
The rear garden Huwon contains ponds, pavilions and trees over 300 years old that were originally reserved for the royal family alone. Some paths in the garden still follow the lines that court officials laid out for ceremonial walks.
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