Bukhansanseong

Bukhansanseong
Bukhansan National Park, Gyeonggi Province/Seoul, South Korea
Bukhansanseong Fortress
Type	Korean castle
Height	7m
Site history
Built	Year 1711
Built by	Sukjong of Joseon
Materials	Granite, wood

Bukhansanseong
Hangul	북한산성
Hanja	北漢山城
Revised Romanization	Bukhansanseong
McCune–Reischauer	Pukhansansŏng

The Bukhansanseong (Korean: 북한산성; lit. fortress of the mountains north of the Han) is a fortress located in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, South Korea, dating back to the middle Joseon period.^[1][2] The present fort was completed in 1711, though plans for the structure date back to 1659. The name is also given to a fortress mentioned in the Samguk Sagi, constructed by Gaeru of Baekje in 132 CE, and the two are often conflated although the putative connection is contested.

The modern Bukhansanseong was built to protect the approach to Seoul, filling a gap in Korea's defences that had become apparent during the second Manchu invasion of 1636 and the earlier Imjin War. The Bukhansanseong was used as a royal retreat in emergencies, and contains 120 rooms.

History

Three Kingdoms of Korea Era

It was first built in 132 CE by Gaeru of kingdom of Baekje.^[3] During the Baekje era, this fortress was used for the defense of the capital when Baekje set up its capital at Wiryeseong Fortress in Hanam.^[4]

Joseon Era

The current Bukhansanseong Fortress was built in 1711 CE by King Sukjong of Joseon.^{[citation needed]} After the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98) and Second Manchu invasion of Korea (1636), fierce discussion broke out in the royal court about constructing fortress that can protect the kingdom against external threats. Although discussion about building new fortress began in 1451 CE during the era of king Munjong of Joseon, Actual construction of the Bukhansanseong Fortress began on 3 April, in 1711 during 37th year of King Sukjong of Joseon.^[5] The construction of Bukhansanseong Fortress was relatively faster than discussion and planning period. 12.7 km of Fortress outer wall was built just in 6-month time (October in 1711). Haeng-gung (Korean: 행궁, Temporary Palace), was built in May 1712, and Jong-seong-mun, (Korean: 중성문), which was built to protect inner fortress and essential facilities, such as Haeng-gung or jung-heung-sa (Korean: 중흥사), was finished in 1714.^{[citation needed]}

Structure

Total length of Bukhansanseong Fortress is 12.7 km and total area of the Fortress is 6.2 km².^{[citation needed]} There were 6 great gates, 8 secret gates, 2 water gates, and 143 seong-rang (Korean: 성랑, sentry post)

Names of Bukhansanseong Gates

Korean	English	Classification
북문	Buk-mun	North Gate
대서문	Dae-seo-mun	Great West Gate
중성문	Jung-seong-mun	Great Gate
대동문	Dae-dong-mun	Great East Gate
대성문	Dae-seong-mun	Great Gate
대남문	Dae-nam-mun	Great South Gate
수문	Su-mun	Water Gate and Secret Gate
서암문	Seo-'am-mun	Secret Gate
백운봉암문	Baek-wun-bong-'am-mun	Secret Gate
용암문	Yong-'am-mun	Secret Gate
보국문	Bo-guk-mun	Secret Gate
가사당암문	Ga-sa-dang-'am-mun	Secret Gate
부왕동암문	Bu-wang-dong-'am-mun	Secret Gate
청수동암문	Chung-su-dong-'am-mun	Secret Gate

Bukhansanseong Fortress also has one Temporary Palace, three Jang-dae (Korean: 장대, Commanding Post), three Yu-young (Korean: 유영, Military Camp)for defensive purpose. Three different units were stationed in Bukhansanseong Fortress, called Sam-gun-mun (Hun-ryeong-do-gam, Geum-wei-young, and Eo-young-cheong). They were stationed in three different location within Bukhansanseong Fortress, and the main responsibility of those units was the protection of the Bukhansanseong Fortress.

Defensive Structures

Korean	English	Classification
행궁	Haeng-gung	Temporary Palace
북장대지	Buk-jang-dae-ji	Northern Commanding Post
남장대지	Nam-jang-dae-ji	Southern Commanding Post
동장대	Dong-jang-dae	Eastern Commanding Post
훈련도감 유영지	Hun-ryeong-do-gam Yu-young-ji	Military Camp
금위영 유영지	Geum-wei-young Yu-young-ji	Military Camp
어영청 유영지	Eo-young-cheong Yu-young-ji	Military Camp

13 Buddhist temples were also established within the wall of Bukhansanseong Fortress for Buddhist monks soldiers. Only 6 Buddhist temples remain today, but all lost temples are designated as historical site.

Name of Buddhist Temple in Bukhansanseong Fortress

Korean	English	Classification
중흥사 (지)	Jeung-heung-sa(ji)	Buddhist Temple & Historical site
서암사(지)	Seo-'am-sa(ji)	Buddhist Temple & Historical site
태고사	Tae-go-sa	Buddhist Temple
상운사	Sang-wun-sa	Buddhist Temple
진국사(노적사)	Jin-gook-sa(No-jeok-sa)	Buddhist Temple (*reestablished and renamed)
봉선암	Bong-seong-'am	Buddhist Temple
국녕사	Guk-nyeong-sa	Buddhist Temple
용암사(지)	Yong-'am-sa(ji)	Buddhist Temple & Historical site
원각사(지)	Won-gak-sa(ji)	Buddhist Temple & Historical site
원효암	Won-hyo-'am	Buddhist Temple
보광사(지)	Bo-gwang-sa(ji)	Buddhist Temple & Historical site
보국사(지)	Bo-guk-sa(ji)	Buddhist Temple & Historical site
부왕사(지)	Bu-wang-sa(ji)	Buddhist Temple & Historical site

In addition, 7 Armories, 99 wells, and 22 small reservoirs were under the control of Bukhansanseong Fortress.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Namhansanseong
• History of Korea
• List of fortresses in Korea
• Hwaseong Fortress

References

1. Oh, Du-hwan (30 September 2010). "Lush trails for fall trekking season". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
2. "Conquering the mountains of Seoul". Korea JoongAng Daily. 14 July 2005. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
3. "Bukhansanseong Fortress (북한산성)". Korea Tourism Organization. Korea Tourism Organization. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
4. "Bukhansanseong Fortress". Bukhansanseong Fortress. Culture Heritage Administration Korea. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
5. 재범, 이 (25 November 2011). 북한산 조사 연구 자료집. Suwon: GeyongGi Cultural Foundation. p. 51. ISBN 978-89-89553-74-8.

37.6451°N 126.9845°E / 37.6451; 126.9845