Gyeongbokgung Palace

     Our last stop for the weekend is very cultural. I expected to see just the palace since I didn't have an idea that there are museums nearby. The tunnel from Gyeongbokgung Station impressed me with its neat, museum like design. My husband and I found out that it leads to the National Palace Museum of Korea.

     The museum houses about 900 artifacts from the Joseon Dynasty. Everything from the Royal Family's clothes, accessories, gigantic official seals, paintings, household items, weapons, thrones, carriages, vehicles, musical instruments, sculptures and even urns and tombs. But there's one artifact that stood out for me. My curiosity level rose when I saw this huge device which turn out to be a water-driven clock. It's as big as a nipa hut back home. Information from the touchscreen monitor helped tourists understand what it is and how it worked. It is a restored self-striking water clock based on the original clock of King Sejong. It chimes to tell how much time has passed.

     The clock's my favorite, but a lot also sparked my interest. The colorful clothing from their headdresses to their shoes took a lot of my time. The patterns they used to make the fabric designs, petite socks and shoes, vanity mirrors, jars of "makeup" that they used are all there.

     We saw this ring-like wood maybe about 3 feet in diameter but can't figure out what the thing is. Good thing there's an english translation of its description. It's a bow, for all you know! Now, that's something very different. 

     The instruments we saw were mostly percussion but their shapes and materials are also unique. Some chimes are made of jade because jade, as they say, is not affected by changes in temperature and humidity which makes its sound accurate  and used as tuner for traditional instruments. Notice the shape of the drums and be amazed. You'll never guess that they are drums if you didn't read the descriptions. At first I thought some were just house ornaments and others, kitchen tools. Funny, huh?

     The museum has three levels. Tour will take around one hour and if you happen to get hungry, there's a nice cafe on the first level. 

     Across the entrance of the museum is the spectacular view of the Yeongsongmun gate of the Gyeongbokgung Palace. From the museum, tourists may now proceed to the Gwanghwamun gate through the Yeongsongmun gate to witness the Change of Gate Guard Ceremony. The Gwanghwamun Gate Guard Duty Performance lasted for about 10 minutes and the Sumunjang Changing Ceremony in the court lasted for about 20 minutes.
     We paid 3,000 KRW/ head at the ticket booth after the ceremonies to get inside Gyeongbokgung to see the halls, shrines and houses for the royal family. The National Folk Museum of Korea and the Korean Folk Village just before the exit will give you a tour about the life of the ancient South Koreans. We walked to Gwanghwamun square after that and saw King Sejong's and Admiral Yi Sun Shin's statue before we headed back to Pyeongtaek through Gwangwhamun Station.

Self-driven Water Clock

Women's Robe Worn on Significant Ceremonies

Used to make patterns of fabrics

Socks for Royal Children

King Sunjong's vehicle made by General Motors U.S.A.

Ceremonial Table

bow

Percussion Instruments

Change of Guard Ceremony

My husband before the Geunjeongjon in Gyeongbokgung

Behind one of the shrines in Gyeongbokgung

Gwanghwamun

King Sejong's Statue and the air gauge

Admiral Yi Sun Shin's Statue

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