Namdaemun
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Pp-move Template:Use dmy dates Template:Coord Template:Infobox building Namdaemun (Template:Korean), officially known as the Sungnyemun (Template:Korean),<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is one of the Eight Gates in the Seoul City Wall, South Korea. The gate formed the original southern boundary of the city during the Joseon period, although the city has since significantly outgrown this boundary. It is located in Jung District between Seoul Station and Seoul Plaza, with the historic 24-hour Namdaemun Market next to the gate.
The gate, dating back to the 14th century, is a historic pagoda-style gateway, and is designated as the first National Treasure of South Korea.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was once one of the three major gateways through Seoul's city walls which had a stone circuit of Template:Convert and stood up to Template:Convert high. It was first built in the last year of King Taejo of Joseon's reign in 1398, and rebuilt in 1447.
In 2008, the wooden pagoda atop the gate was severely damaged by arson. Restoration work on the gateway started in February 2010 and was completed on 29 April 2013. The gate was reopened on 4 May 2013.
NameEdit
The South Korean government, as written in hanja on the wooden structure, officially calls the landmark Sungnyemun,<ref name=" 2008 fire YH">Template:Cite news</ref> even though it has been more commonly known as Namdaemun since the Joseon period.
A common belief in Korea is that the name "Namdaemun" was imposed forcibly during the Japanese colonial period, and therefore should not be used. However, Joseon dynasty annals indicate that naming the eight gates of Seoul after their respective directions was common colloquial usage before the Japanese arrived.Template:Citation needed
Different from the other gates, Sungnyemun's tablet has its name written vertically. When the first king of the Joseon dynasty, Yi Seonggye (who reigned from 1335 to 1408), constructed the capital city, he believed that fire would reach to Gyeongbokgung, as well as to the capital city, as Mt. Gwanaksan of Seoul is shaped like fire according to feng shui principles. Sungnyemun's name means "fire", which is from the harmony of the Five Elements and, if written vertically, the Chinese character "fire" looks as if it is providing protection. This was Taejong's (1367–1422) first son, Yangnyeongdaegun's (1394–1462), famous writing.<ref name="Sungnyemun Name History">Template:Cite news</ref>
HistoryEdit
Before the 2008 fireEdit
Before the 2008 fire, Namdaemun was the oldest wooden structure in Seoul.<ref name="2008 Fire BBC">Template:Cite news</ref> The city gate, made of wood and stone with a two-tiered, pagoda-shaped tiled roof, was completed in 1398 and originally used to greet foreign emissaries, control access to the capital city, and keep out Siberian tigers, which have long been gone from the area. Construction began in 1395 during the fourth year of the reign of King Taejo of Joseon and was finished in 1398. The structure was rebuilt in 1447, during the 29th year of King Sejong the Great's reign,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and has been renovated several times since.<ref name="2008 Fire BBC"/> It was originally one of three main gates, the others being Dongdaemun (East Gate) and the now-demolished Seodaemun (West Gate) in the Seodaemun District.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
It is the location of the Battle of Namdaemun.
In the early part of the 20th century, the city walls that surrounded Seoul were demolished to make the traffic system more efficient.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A visit to Seoul by the Crown Prince of Japan prompted the demolition of the walls around Namdaemun, as the prince was deemed to be too exalted to pass through the gateway.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The gate was closed to the public in 1907 after the authority constructed an electric tramway nearby. In 1938, Namdaemun was designated as Korean Treasure No. 1 by the Governor-General of Korea.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Namdaemun was extensively damaged during the Korean War and was given its last major repair in 1961, with a completion ceremony held on 14 May 1963.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was given the status of "National Treasure No. 1"<ref name="yonhap">Template:Cite news</ref> on 20 December 1962.
The gate was renovated again in 2005 with the building of a lawn around the gate, before being opened once again to the public with much fanfare on 3 March 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the restoration, 182 pages of blueprints for the gate were made as a contingency against any emergencies which may damage the structure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Three years later, such an emergency arose.
2008 fireEdit
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At approximately 8:50 p.m. on 10 February 2008, a fire broke out and severely damaged the wooden structure at the top of the Namdaemun gate. The fire roared out of control again after midnight and finally destroyed the structure, despite the efforts of more than 360 firefighters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Many witnesses reported seeing a suspicious man shortly before the fire, and two disposable lighters were found where the fire was believed to have started.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A 69-year-old man identified as Chae Jong-gi was arrested on suspicion of arson and later confessed to the crime.<ref name="confesses">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="admits">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="man confesses">Template:Cite news</ref> A police captain reported that Chae had sprayed paint thinner on the floor of the structure and then set fire to it.<ref name="arsonist">Template:Cite news</ref> Police say that Chae was upset about not being paid in full for land he had sold to developers.<ref name="admits" /> The same man had been charged with setting a fire at Changgyeonggung in Seoul in 2006.<ref name="Yahoo Landmark">Template:Cite news</ref> On 25 April 2008, Chae was convicted and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment by the Seoul Central District Court.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
RestorationEdit
The Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea said that it would undertake a three-year project that would cost an estimated ₩20 billion (approximately $14 million) to rebuild and restore the historic gate,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> making it the most expensive restoration project in South Korea.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> President Lee Myung-bak proposed starting a private donation campaign to finance the restoration of the structure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
By January 2010, 70% of the pavilion gate, the first floor and 80% of the fortress wall had been completed. Work on the roof began in April after the completion of the wooden second floor, with 22,000 roof tiles produced in a traditional kiln in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province. The wall and basic frame were scheduled to be finished in April and May respectively. The pillars and rafters are to be elaborately decorated, with the ornamental patterns and colors based on those used in the large-scale repair in 1963, which was closest to the early-Chosun original.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In January 2013, it was estimated by an official that restoration of the gate would be completed around May 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Construction had been delayed by four months due to harsh weather conditions in Seoul. On 17 February 2013, the gate was 96% completed, and all steel-frame scaffolding had been removed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 29 April 2013, restoration work was completed,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the public opening was scheduled for 4 May 2013, a day before Children's Day.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> It was officially reopened on 5 May 2013, after a five-year restoration period.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Only six months after the restoration was completed, paint started to chip off and wood cracked. President Park Geun-hye ordered an investigation into the matter.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
GalleryEdit
- Namdaemun in the Joseon Period.JPG
During the Joseon period (c. 1890s)
- Seoul-in-korean-empire-1900s-vintage-everyday-life.jpg
During the Korean Empire (c. 1900–1910)
- Nandaimon in the Japanese Period.JPG
Japanese colonial period (c. before 1935)
- Women parade and celebrate in front of Namdaemun after the North Korean capture of Seoul, 1950.jpg
A ceremony organized in front of Namdaemun after the First Battle of Seoul (1950)
- Sungnyemun February 1953.jpg
Before the end of Korean War (February 1953)
- Korea-Seoul-Namdaemun-Sungnyemun-03.jpg
Just before fire (2007)
- Sungnyemun, 11 February 2008.jpg
Aftermath of the fire (11 February 2008)
- Sungnyemun under repair 200807.jpg
Restoration work (July 2008)
- Sungryemun of seoul.jpg
Whole view (2013)
- Sungnyemun left.jpg
Back and left side (2013)
- Sungnyemun Signboard May 2013.jpg
Plaque showing the official name of the gate, Sungnyemun, in Hanja (2013)
- KOCIS Korea Seoul Sungnyemun(20130426) 08 (8683665016).jpg
Inside the wooden structure (2013)