Day Three of our vacation!

I wanted to update before we forgot about the fun details of our trip. On day 3 of our vacation we decided to visit/take a tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace as it was nice out and a good day to explore. 

Entry gate of the palace

Gyeongbokgung’s construction began in 1394, the same year the capital of Korea was relocated to Hanyang (now Seoul), this was during the Joseon Dynasty. To give you an idea of how large this palace is: we spent over an hour here and apparently only had glanced at portions of it, and at one time it would house at least 3,000 people. The palace’s name means “Palace Greatly Blessed By Heaven”...but, in it’s old age, this palace has had a history of being destroyed through Japanese invasion/colonial rule and during the Korean War. Reconstruction projects have allowed us to explore and various aspects that have survived since it’s beginnings were amazing to see first-hand; such as the triple lane walkway made of large stones/bricks. The center was reserved for the king alone and the sides for the government ministers. On the sides there are stone markers for the bureaucratic rank that these ministers held and by which they would stand in order. The king’s lane was raised above the sides to make even more obvious his rank above all. 

Our tour guide in Hanbok. Notice the uneven surface of the ground

One of the king's many buildings- furniture was stored at all
times except for the rooms which he was occupying.

The king's throne. Only the king could have this painting
behind the throne as a backdrop. 

This palace was built and utilized during the Confucian period which you can see in the organization of buildings; one example is that the queen had separate sleeping quarters and was not allowed outside the palace compound as her main and somewhat only role was to bear a son as an heir to the throne. Social rules were guided by this Confucius mindset and it included a very structured and clear hierarchy that was followed in daily life which also can create a deeper understanding for some of the traditions within the Korean culture even now (such as the hierarchy of who to bow to, how low, and what type (formal/informal) of Korean to speak in). 

The banquet hall, once again, the king entered through the
middle gate/door which is much larger and raise up

One of the most interesting parts about the architecture to me is the deep meaning behind so many elements that one might just glance over or take for granted. These included symbols of longevity, and the keeping of yin and yang or the harmony of all things which is a high value in Korean society. This is also seen in the Korean flag (named: Taegeukgi) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_South_Korea. 

The original paint. This painting is of 2 dragons

These golden dragons are above the throne on the ceiling

After our tour we went to the National Folk Museum of Korea which is at the northeast corner of the palace. This museum had many displays showing traditional Korean culture from early times up until present day Korea. Although the actual wearing of traditional clothes (Hanbok) and living in traditional homes is very uncommon now, it was really amazing to see the beauty and detail of Hanbok and various ceremonies. 

After leaving the museum we  we decided to venture to Insadong, a traditional market. We took a detour to explore a plaza area between 2 very busy and main roads which led the eye to the palace and the mountains.

The palace in the background, and King Sejong- the king attributed to creating the Korean script

Insadong is the area in which we had eaten the night before and was now filled with vendors, socks with cartoons on them, tea shops, and traditional fans. The fans are painted by older men who make a living out of painting ornate and beautiful pictures on the collapsable canvas. I met a man whom I was eyeing his paintings- after choosing one he explained the written proverb: Your condition is the same as my condition. I found this to be beautiful in light of my experience here- many highlighted differences and a language barrier; what a perfect reminder and outstretching of a hand- we all experience pain, laughter, happiness, saddness... and we share in that. It makes me think of Ubuntu, in Korean. 

After jumping on the subway again we headed to dinner and coffee/tea with a couple of Kyle’s friends that live in Seoul and whom he had met 6 years ago at Youth With A Mission in Denver- Tae Eun and Juh Yung. We talked over delicious Vietnamese food and then in a quaint coffee shop. Conversation surrounded updates on life, future plans, and finally a reflection of time in America which I listened to with a heavy heart. Americans are not the only ones who are raised being told that the U.S.A. is the best country- it is something that is common for Koreans to mention here, and visiting America is often a high goal for many. (Although I cannot say that the stereotypes of Americans are particularly or accordingly positive). But after being in the U.S.A. for some time, these 2 shared the lack of acceptance and the isolation they felt during their stay. The language barrier made for difficult conversations, misunderstandings, feeling dumb, and lack of friends. And as I reflect on how hospitable Koreans are to everyone, and how harmony, a humble attitude, and respect are a large part of the ethos here- I understand the reflection of Juh Yung when she stated that she felt many people were not nice... even rude. The conversation has caused me to reflect deeply on the culture of America, and the differences here... not everything can be labeled good or bad. We do not live in this type of world. 

We said our goodbyes, and off to bed at Miso Guest House.