Hanyang Doseong (Seoul City Wall) – History, Construction and Structure

If you’re a history buff in Seoul, you should know about the Hanyang Doseong (the Seoul City Wall). This famous landmark of Seoul has been one of the most visited places and is ranked as one of the UNESCO cultural heritage site.

Hanyang Doseong is a historical site in Seoul. The construction first happened in 1396. Currently, it’s between 5 and 8m high and 18.6km long. It surrounds four gorgeous mountains and tons of natural greenery. It’s a spectacular sight, especially in the springtime.

If you’re looking to visit, here is a brief overview of the wall’s history and construction:

Structure and Composition of Hanyang Doseong

Since Hanyang City connects four mountains, the city wall has four main gates and four supplementary gates.

You can enter the city through the main gates: Donuimun, Heunginjimun, Sukjeongmun, and Sungnyemun.

The supplementary gates (Souimun, Hyehwamun, Gwanghuimun, and Changuimun) connect to the five-arch water gates. These gates helped people transport water during the Joseon Dynasty.

History of Hanyang Doseong

As mentioned, Hanyang Doseong is very significant in Korean history. The city wall dates back to the Three Kingdoms, around 620 years ago. However, the wall modernized more during the Joseon period.

It took 98 days to construct the wall. Almost 200,000 worked on the original construction. Each section of the wall signifies a character from the Classic Thousand Characters.

Throughout time, Hanyang Doseong has been reconstructed and restored. In 1968, after the Korean War, the wall was damaged. The new government launched a restoration project, which lasted until 1974.

Construction Process of Hanyang Doseong

The wall was first constructed in 1396, soon after King Taejo began his rule. The construction occurred in two parts, one in January, and the other in August of 1396.

Essentially, each section was to be built alongside the mountainous terrain. Workers mostly used natural stone such as granite.

After reconstruction in 1704,  the wall stones were re-sized to increase structural integrity. Today, each stone measures 40 by 45 cm (width and length).

Fine work of Craftsmanship

Laborers were called up from Joseon to create Hanyangdoseong, and unique wall parts were allocated to persons from the same counties and prefectures. In the stone blocks of these numerous pieces, the names of the stonemasons and work bosses were inscribed to make them responsible for the results of their work.

 

Hanyang Doseong and Fortress Village

Hanyang Doseong’s construction made traveling between each mountain easier for townsfolk. With the construction of the gates, the journey between each mountain became quicker.

Also, it was easier to fetch water from the streams outside. However, the wall’s purpose was to connect royal palaces (on each mountain), making the capital city easier to protect from attacks.

The Past and Present of Hanyang Doseong

Currently, the wall has around 12.8 kilometers of its original structure. Since its construction, the wall has become significant in Korean history and culture.

Well-preserved natural topography dots the sides of the wall. If you’re interested in history and nature, this tourist destination is for you.

Many tourists come to admire the wall and hike up the mountain trails. It’s a very popular area for exploring Korean traditions and ancient art and architecture.

Due to this significance, the Seoul City Wall has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site List since 2012.

Introduction of Specific Sections

As mentioned, Hanyang Doseong trails along four mountains. Here are their descriptions:

Baekak

Baekak (commonly known as Bugaksan) is on the north side of the wall. It’s 342 meters high and has granite bedrock.

Naksan

Naksan mountain, around 125 meters high, is located near the South of Seoul. It gives spectacular views of Namsan. Also, it surrounds Naksan Park.

Namsan

Namsan is on the south-west end of the wall. It’s 262 meters high, and its main attraction is the N Seoul Tower. You can have picnics and ride on cable cars here.

Inwangsan

Lastly, Inwangsan, 338 meters high, has multiple granite peaks. It’s home to many temples and shrines. This mountain also has some military zones, so hikers have to be careful where they tread.  

Seoul City Wall Art and Culture Festival 2020

Every year the Seoul City hosts “Hanyang Doseong Cultural Festival” or ???????. This festival is to celebrate the different colors of the Autumn festival providing people the opportunity to know more about this landmark’s history, enjoy various shows happening around the area, promote tourism, and promote a healthy lifestyle by suggesting them to hike the mountains that this city wall surrounds.

Duration: 9th – 10th October 2020

Venue: Around the Hanyang Doseong City Wall (Organizers: Seoul City Wall Museum)

Official Website: http://www.hanyangdoseong.com/ 

Conclusion

In essence, the Seoul City Wall is a fun place to explore because of its rich history. Those visiting South Korea must include the Hanyang Doseong wall in their itinerary, especially those interested in nature, history, and architecture.

If you want to learn more about the Seoul City Wall, don’t forget to check out this official travel guide to Hanyang Doseong.

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