This time, I would like to explain about the Four Guardian Animals that are guarding Gyeongbok Palace.

This time, I would like to explain about the Four Guardian Animals that are guarding Gyeongbok Palace.

The 4 Guardian Animals were inspired from the constellations. In the East Asia, we divided the constellations as the 3 Fences and the 28 Constellations. The 3 Fences mean the group of constellations called Jamiwon, Taemiwon and Cheonsiwon. There is the polar star in Jamiwon. People thought that the polar star is the Great Emperor. So, Jamiwon is the sky palace. They believed that the others played roles just like today's administrations. The 28 constellations are classified as feudal lords. They are assigned 7 to each of the 4 Guardian Animals as their directions. They form the shapes of the 4 Guardian Animals. These 4 gods are the Blue Dragon, the Black Turtle, the White Tiger and the Red Phoenix. They means the directions, the seasons, the colors and the Five Elements. They are called as the 5 Guardian Animals, too, including the Gold Dragon.

Gyeongbok Palace is a sky palace which is spread on the ground from the sky. Gyeongbok Palace was the top main palace during the Joseon Dynasty. In the human world, people thought that the King is the polar star. So, they built the buildings in Gyeongbok Palace to be related with astronomy, with Geunjeongjeon, the building for the King's formal ceremonies, as the center.

Then, where do the 4 Guardian Animals protect the King? First, they are protecting Hanyang, the capital from the four directions. Bukak Mountain, Nam Mountain, Nak Mountain and Inwang Mountain each mean the Black Turtle, the Red Phoenix, the Blue Dragon, and the White Tiger.

Not only this, the 4 Guardian Animals are also guarding the 4 gates of Gyeongbok Palace. The gates, Gwanghwamun, Sinmumun, Geonchunmun and Yeongchumun each has the Red Phoenix, the Black Turtle, the Blue Dragon and the White Tiger painted on the ceiling. For the rest of the stories, wait for the following post~^^

Now, we learned about the history of ancient tomb murals.

Korea has history and culture that doesn't fall behind other countries. These history and culture are still remaining in ancient tomb murals. These ancient tomb murals were first created during the Three Kingdoms Period(Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla). And Goguryeo's tomb murals are the best. Goguryeo is a country established by Jumong in 37 B.C., which was a country with the largest territory in Korea. Also, Goguryeo maintained their culture while they also accepted other country's culture.

The value of Goguryeo's ancient tomb murals are recognized and doesn't fall behind other countries.

Now, we learned about the history of ancient tomb murals. So, let's learn about the ancient tomb murals in detail.

Today, let's learn about the two which are familiar to us.

First, this is a tomb mural named as, 'Muyongdo'. It looks very exciting. It's because a lot of people are dancing. We can know that the people of Goguryeo were cheerful and optimistic. And people actually celebrated the start and the end of the year with dance and songs. As a result, there were a lot of types of dances. So, we can see some murals with a lot of people dancing.

And this is named as, 'Suryeopdo'. Hunting was a military drill as well as the most popular sport in Goguryeo. A lot of hunters are aiming their arrows at the animals. But the arrowhead has a strange shape. And this arrowhead makes a strange sound and makes the animals faint. So, it was made to catch the animals alive. And these animals were used for memorial services.

Like this, ancient tomb murals is a great heritage which shows the customs and culture of our ancestors. Thank you for listening.

'Folk Paintings'

If we go to the museum, we can see a painting of a tiger with funny face, staying close with a magpie. We call these kinds of paintings as, 'Folk Paintings'. Folk Paintings were usually created during the Joseon Dynasty. Even thought it looks crude and sloppy, it was one of the popular artistic styles at that time.

We don't actually know when we started to paint Folk Paintings. It has its origins in ancient tomb murals that were made during the Three Kingdoms Period. And they were created a lot during the Joseon Dynasty. Our ancestors usually used these Folk Paintings to decorate their houses. But, they had different meanings. Let's learn about the painting, 'The Magpie and the Tiger', in detail.

The magpie and the tiger don't harmonize well in reality. However, they have been models in our Folk Paintings. Why did our ancestors use these two animals together in paintings? There are some interpretations for that reason.

First, this 'The Magpie and the Tiger' has the tiger with a funny face talking with the magpie. The magpie was known as a bird which brings good news. And the tiger was an animal which spread the good news. So, we can think that the magpie is telling the tiger about the good news it had brought. So, this picture means that the good news is coming in this year.

And this 'The Magpie and the Tiger' has a quite different interpretation. The tiger in this picture looks like it has burst into a rage. However, the magpie is on the pine tree branch despite the tiger's rage. Normally, the tiger in this picture symbolizes the corrupt noblemen who lost their authority, and the magpie symbolizes the commoners who are mocking at those nobles.

Folk Paintings don't have topics or subject matters so, we can also create Folk Paintings. If you are interested in Folk Paintings, visit Gahoe Museum for more information.

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ㅠㅠ Too cold? Hmmm...... Whatever... I'M TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's love our history!

 Korea is a country that is small. However, it has about 5,000 years of history, and traditions and cultures. Also a lot of heritages.

 However, there are a lot of countries trying to distort history. For example, China has been distorting history using China`s five-year research program on Northeast Asia over Goguryeo, the ancient Korean country which was one of the Three Kingdoms that existed in Korea ruled much of Manchuria, which is the north of the Korean Peninsula and is now part of the Chinese territory.

 And Japan is claiming that Imna Japanese Ministry existed. They claim that the Yamato Government setted up an agency to rule the Southern Part of the Korean Peninsula during the 4th century. Not only that, they call the East Sea(Donghae) as the Sea of Japan, and claim that Dokdo is theirs even though there's evidence.

 Like this, our history is getting distorted. But, we aren't actually interested in our history. Now we should be interested. Because we're alive now because there was the past. And loosing history is the same thing with loosing the root of our country.

 So, we should read some history books. Also, we should be aware of the distorted things and try to get those things right like VANK : Voluntary Agency Network of Korea. Most of all, we should love our history.

Let's love our history!

This time, I read a book called, 'Heosaengjeon'.

Heosaeng was studying in the mountains with a plan for 10 years of studying. But he couldn't stand poverty and went to see the richest man in Seoul named, Byeon.

And he borrowed ten thousand nyang.

He uses this large amount of money for business.

 First, he cornered the fruit market, and sold them at high prices.

 Then, he started to sell agricultural equipments in Jeju Island, and sell rice in an island of Japan.

 He also bought horsehair from Jeju and sold them to the nobles.

After he gained a lot of money, he used the money to help other people.

 He also payed Byeon hundred thousand nyang. Byeong was surprised with all the money so, he followed Heosaeng to his house.

After that, they became friends.

 One day, Byeon introduced a minister named Lee Wan to Heosaeng.

Lee had a talk with Heosaeng and found out that he is a really great man.

Lee wanted to employ him. So, he went to Heosaeng's house, but he is already gone.

There are two reasons why Heosaeng started business.

The reason on the surface is to gain money. But the real reason is to criticize Joseon's weak economic structure.

Heosaeng cornered the market for his business.

I think Heosaeng's idea was wrong.

 Well, if you use the way of cornering, you can inform the people about Joseon's weak economic structure.

 But, the fruit market business for example, a lot of people suffered because, they had to pay more money to buy the fruits.

If I were Heosaeng, I would have wrote a paragraph or a story like Park Jiwon, the writer of the story, to tell the people and criticize about the weak economic structure. In that way, the people wouldn't have suffered a lot, and easy to inform the people. I think we can go for the effect of killing two birds with one stone.

But, Heosaeng used those money to help other people, so, in my opinion, Heosaeng repaid the money.

It was a great time because, I could read an interesting story about Heosaeng.

Today was the first day of my epicurism tour!

I chose my first destination, Seoul.

So, we went to Myeongdong.

I've visited Myeongdong for the first time.

I anticipated a lot.

Because I've heard that Myeongdong is full of fun and also a lot of people.

So, I couldn't really sleep last night.

Not only because of Myeongdong, but also the food that me and my mother will eat today.

We decided to go to 'Sesibong21', which has some delicious food. Like, lunch box in our memory, and etc. I really wanted to taste that lunch box.

But when me and my mother saw the signboard, we were a little shocked. It said, 'Bar'.

Hmm... it's not a place that I can go.

Anyway, we decided to go in, but it was closed today.

We've come to nothing.

So, we tried to find the Information Center to ask if there were any good restaurants.

But, we couldn't find it easily. It was located right next to a big building of Shinhan Bank. So, that's why we couldn't find it. I think the Information Center should be located in the middle of the road or the starting point of the road so that the people who come here for the first time could find easily. That's the only bad thing about Myeongdong.

Anyway, we went to a restaurant with pork cutlets.

People say that the pork cutlets in Myeongdong is delicious. Well, it was true!

The meat was bigger and thicker.

Also, there were some leftovers after eating until I was full. But I thought those leftovers were really worthy(?) so, I ate them all.

Myeongdong is a very good place which has delicious food, valuable and also beautiful accessories and some great shows.

And if you're lucky, you can also meet a singer.

I met BoM, a vocal group today. I was really lucky.

Whatever, come to Myeongdong which is full of fun!