香遠亭 | Hyangwonjeong Pavilion

Korea | 大韓民國 Korea | South Korea Republic of Korea Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung Gyeongbokgung The Hyangwonjeong Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace was built around 1867 during the reign of King Gojong, as part of the large-scale reconstruction of the palace led by Heungseon Daewongun. A hexagonal two-storey wooden crevice built on an artificial island in the middle of the pond (香遠池) is a palace garden facility where the king and the royal family enjoyed relaxing and banqueting. The pavilion stands on a small artificial island in the center of Hyangwonji Pond, forming a two-story hexagonal wooden pavilion where the king and the royal family enjoyed rest and small gatherings. "향원 (香遠) " means "the scent spreads far away," derived from the traditional expression that the scent of a lotus blossom spreads over a pond. The name "Hyangwon" means "fragrance spreading far away," referring to the scent of lotus blossoms drifting across the pond. The bridge connecting the island and the mainland is the Taste Bridge (醉香橋), and the Taste Bridge was created as a palace garden space for the royal family to relax and explore. The island is connected to land by Chwihyanggyo Bridge, and the surrounding area functioned as a scenic royal garden. The courtyard is valued as a water-view architecture that represents the courtyard and the courtyard.