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The Janganmun Gate in South Korea is a part of another historical relic
in South Korea known by the name of Hwaseong Fortress. The beautiful fortress
was constructed by king Jeongjo in memory of his father Prince Sado who is known
to commit suicide due to the tortures inflicted by king Yeongjo. The fortress
took two years to complete from 1794 to 1796. The Hwaseong Fortress has four gates
among which the Janganmun Gate is considered one of the largest. The fortress
was declared a World Heritage Site in the year 1997 by UNESCO.
There are four gates to enter the Hwaseong Fortress. The northern gate is known
as the famous Janganmun Gate in South Korea.
Features of Janganmun Gate in South Korea
- The Janganmun Gate is one of the largest gates of the fortress. It commands
a supreme position because it was considered that the king will enter through
this gate while arriving from the capital city of Hanyang. The term Jangan meant
capital and so the direction in which the gate was facing, carried the connotation
of being a secondary capital.
- The unique design of the Janganmun Gate in South Korea has made it stand
out from all other relics. The design of the roof, intricate wood work and the
stone carvings resemble the Namdaemun in Seoul.
- The Janganmun Gate enjoys the privilege of having a two story wooden
pavilion while the eastern and western gate only had one.
- The historical northern gate survived the ravages of Korean War and
therefore is not a reconstruction. It still is the part of the original fortress.
- The Janganmun Gate is surrounded by small fortresses meant to house
guards with the duty to protect the gate. The other three gates also enjoyed
the same privilege.
- The splendid and artistic design of the Janganmun
Gate in South Korea conveyed the desire of King Jeongjo's desire to shift the
capital to Suwon.
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