This past weekend I went to Suwon to visit a friend of mine from Teacher's college. She is teaching at an International School in that area. Her school is brand new, and it is huge. The school really is state of the art and also has a pool. I told her I would try and get into an International school next year because I was so envious.
On Friday night, we went to see the show, Quidam, performed by Cirque De Soleil. It took place under a big top, and was really amazing. They performed many acrobatic tricks high in the air using ropes and rings.
Late Friday night after the performance, I went to Suwon, South Korea, which is about an hour south west of Seoul. The population is 1.2 million people. I went to Suwon last year, to visit Hwaseong Fortress, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But, this year was even more spectacular, because of the Cherry Blossom trees in bloom. Here is some information about the fortress from, http://english.tour2korea.com/03Sightseeing/TravelSpot/travelspot_read.asp?oid=447
1. Hwaseong Fortress Introduction
History
Built by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Era, Hwaseong Fortress is designated Historical Site No.3 by the Korean government. Construction began in January of 1794 and was completed in September of 1796. There were two key underlying reasons for the construction of Suwon City. First, it was to move the tomb of King Jeongjo's father, Sado Seja, a tragic casualty of a political strife. Second, it was to suppress old influences by using the new ones in his favor to construct the new city; thus, strengthening his position as king.
Size and Structure
The circumference of Hwaseong Fortress's wall is an impressive 5.7km long (including the areas that have not been repaired- the repaired walls measure 5.4km) and its height ranges from 4.9m to 6.2m. The rest of the facility contains a little over 50 other structures. Paldalmun Gate, Janganmun Gate, Changryongmun Gate, and Hwaseomun Gate are its 4 main gates, and other structures worth noting are the Ammun Gate, Sumun Gate, Jangdae, Gakru, Gongsimdon, Poru, and Bongdon. In the center of Hwaseong Fortress is the Hwaseong Temporary Palace, where the king sought refuge during times of war and enjoyed restful repose in times of peace.
Characteristics
An interesting point to note about the fortress is that it was planned and built using the ideas of practical science. Hwaseong Fortress was built using the fortress plans of Yakyong Jeong, (1762 ~ 1836), the Joseon era's most eminent scientist. Both stone and brick were used, heavy materials were lifted using a system of pulleys to reduce building time, and the logically distributed defensive structures made effective attacks and defenses possible. It was a pioneering achievement for that era. The use of the pulley system is especially fantastic, because it cut down the estimated building time of 10 years to an impressive 33 months.
Restoration
The structure was completed in 1796 after 33 months of toil. After its completion, King Jeongjo ordered a publication of a report- 5 years later, the 'Hwaseong Yeokuigwe' was published. This book included drawings of Hwaseong Fortress, its building plans, and names of the carpenters and artists that worked on the structure. This book played a pivotal role in the repair of Hwaseong Fortress after the devastation of the Japanese Invasion and the Korean War. The current Hwaseong Fortress is the result of 4 years of repairs starting in 1975- with the help of the information in the 'Hwaseong Yeokuigwe.'
So we walked around the fortress and really took in the sights. It was so great to see all the Cherry Blossom trees in bloom, and it was a beautiful day.
I was sad to head back to Seoul after such a well deserved trip yesterday. The air was so much cleaner in Suwon. Another eventful weekend has passed and back to work tomorrow.
