Spring @ Gyeongbokgung (part 3)

#Pray for everyone affected by Jindo ferry incident. 
--> so, I just hope that everyone, my friends..anyone who happen to read this blog...please try to understand that IF I start posting up my pictures and all of the activities I've been doing for the past weeks (blogging that I've been doing on a daily basis for the past years..), please..believe me that it DOES NOT mean that I am insensitive of what IS happening. I AM and I do. My heart goes out for them.
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March 30, 2014

We're back: Pak Ryan, me, and Ismail. Thank to Mr. Ryan who informed us about the ceremony @ Gyeongbokgung. 

Ismail: the adventurous guy. (ㅋㅋㅋ). 

Mr. Ryan who speaks Indonesian quite fluently. His works involved with Korean historical artifact and I was more than happy to have him as a friend as well as an avid guide who kept telling us what the museum had in store for its visitors. 

Hmm..I tried to remember what those were, but one thing for sure..they are dolls inside the Jagyeokru or water clock!! Yes, that's what I learned. During Joseon dynasty ..well ..who would've known that timekeeping was an important factor of daily life. So, by using clock (water clock) that strikes itself...was one of the way government (king) ruled its people. 

Water clocks worked as the liquid flow through layers of layers in a precise manner intricately prepared by its maker, of course. I think this one was made during King Sejong (15th Century).  

When the assigned time struck the designated time..the doll would strike the drum which actually made sound to tell what time it was. Pretty impressive, indeed. 

In short, this water-clock is deemed to be one of the influential inventions in Korean history.  

Jabsang: roof figurines:) or roof-tile decorative creatures adorned the tiles at palaces or royal palaces in Korea. These ones are the ones stored in the museum. 

This is a dragon statue ...said to be found (dug out of) inside the lake near Gyeonghoeru (경회루) pavilion.  

Now...moving on to an experience of becoming a Joseon guard. #more on this on my next entry.

Royal Tomb of Joseon Dynasty (part 6)

This is the T-shaped shrine at Jeongneung or the tomb of King Jungjong.

who's he?

He's the 11th ruler of Joseon Dynasty (1488-1544).

and that is enough to make me amazed at how intact the tomb and the shrine are. 

These are ridge tiles on top of the roof. Most of them are animal shaped. What are these? If I am not mistaken, they are japsang (잡상).

I've been admiring these figurines since they do resemble the ones we have back home in Javanese culture. 

As I gazed into the shrine, I could see the laid out tables where the offerings are put in time for the ancestral rites. 

and the window (door?) right through it, we could see the burial mound behind this very shrine.

Up until today, the solemn ancestral rites are designated every year. This kind of legacy is an interesting feature of this royal tomb that people (tourists alike) are looking for.

Now, turn around into the front yard of the shrine, I could now see again the 신도 Spirit Road & the 어도 the King's road that both lead to this shrine.

*once again...I didn't know how to react....to the fact that this shrine is encapsulated within the city.^^

But I guess..since this is within-easy-reach via subway and buses and any other transportation...and the fact that it is right in Gangnam area....I happened to bump into lots of tourists visiting this royal tomb.

But, I guess..only those interested in historical features of Korean culture do visit this place. Others might just go straight to Myeongdong or Namdaemun.:-)

So, I guess this is something that people should consider visiting.

I can assure you that it is a worth-visiting place to get a little more understanding of Joseon  or well, Korean traditional past.

And..what would a historical trip (답사) be without at least a picture of myself in it?

Though I did my own itinerary...and with one-click of the button...zoomed I was in the picture. 

phew..what a day.!!!

Another last glace towards both the T-shape shrine and the burial mound behind it.

Bye-bye....and maybe I will visit again in Autumn or in Winter when all of these are covered in snow? ^^