janganmun Traditional Cache
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Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
Originally,the center of Suwon was located at the foot of Mt.Hwasan, about 8 kilometers to the south from the current location. Jeongjo The Great, of the Joseon Dynasty, moved the Yungneung Mausoleum of his father, Crown Prince Sado Seja, from Mt.Baebongsan in Yangju to the current location of Mt.Hwasan in Suwon in the 13th year of his reign (1798). The village and houses below it were moved collectively to the foot of Mt.Paldalsan, forming the beginnings of the Suwon city of today.
The Great Jeongjo launched the construction of fortress to express his filial piety for his father and to strengthen the royal authority in the 18th year of his reign (1794), and completed it two years in 1796.
Hwaseong Fortress was built by Jo Sim-tae, county governor of Hwaseong,under the supervision of Prime Minister, Chae Je-gong, based on the theories of fortress designs of Yu Hyeong-won and Jeong Yak-yong, scholars of the Practical School. The most scientific of all fortress walls in Korea, its structures are elaborately arranged, assuming graceful and majestic aspects. Noting a few special features of the fortress : stone and mud bricks were used in combination; a modern structure of defense was prepared not only against arrows spears and swords,but also against guns; the materials were standardized and machines such as conventional cranes were used.
The total length of the wall is 5.7 kilometers. Various kinds of structures are systematically arranged, including the gates of Changnyongmun Gate to the east, Hwaseomun Gate to the west, Paldalmun Gate to the south and Janganmun Gate to the north, as well as a variety of towers. A royal palace was built at the foot of Mt.Paldalsan for the king to stay temporarily while visiting Hyeonreungwon (the Yungneung Mausoleum of today).
However, the walls became dilapidated and the structure collapsed after a lapse of more than 200 years. The gate tower was destroyed during the Korean War and reconstructed in 1975. The section between Paldalmun gate and the southeast tower couldn't be restored because the city business area had already occupied a part of the wall site at that time. Hwaseong Fortress was registered as a World Cultural Heritage at the 21st general meeting of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, held in Naples, Italy on December 6, 1997.
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