Buyongjeong Pavilion in Secret Garden

by Joan Carroll

Title

Buyongjeong Pavilion in Secret Garden

Artist

Joan Carroll

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photograph

Description

The tour book said "If you want to view the Secret Garden--and you do--...", so we figured we'd better get there early! Only a limited number of people can tour the Secret Garden of Changdeokgung Palace each day. The 78 acre Secret Garden truly exemplifies Changdeokgung's listing as a World Heritage site. The UNESCO committee inscribing the site stated the place was an "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design" being exceptional because the buildings are "integrated into and harmonized with the natural setting" and adapted "to the topography and retaining indigenous tree cover." This is true of the charming Buyongjeong Pavilion located on a small pond. There is something very special about Asian gardens. Perhaps it was lucky we visited in the winter so while although the leaves were off the trees and it was below freezing, the smaller number of people allowed for a better appreciation of the harmony of the design elements of the garden. The Secret Garden was originally constructed for the use of the royal family and palace women. The garden incorporates a lotus pond, pavilions, and landscaped lawns, trees, and flowers. There are over 26,000 specimens of a hundred different species of trees in the garden and some of the trees behind the palace are over 300 years old. The garden for the private use of the king had been called 'Geumwon' ( Forbidden garden) because even high officials were not allowed to enter without the king's permission. It had also been called 'Naewon' ( 'Inner garden'). Today Koreans often call it 'Biwon' (Secret garden) which derived from the office of same name in the late 19th century. Though the garden had many other names, the one most frequently used through Joseon dynasty period was 'Huwon' (Rear Garden).

FEATURED PHOTO, 1000 Views On 1 Image group, 5/19/16

FEATURED PHOTO, Old MASTERS - PHOTOGRAPHERS and DIGITAL group, 12/14/14

FEATURED PHOTO, Black and White Photography group, 12/11/14

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December 11th, 2014

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