Gwanramjeong Pavilion: A Jewel of Changdeokgung Palace
Gwanramjeong Pavilion
昌德宮 觀纜亭 (Changdeokgung Gwanramjeong)
Palace Architecture Story Ep.3
After reflecting on virtue at Jondeokjeong Pavilion, our steps lead to Gwanramjeong Pavilion, another pavilion located by the Bandoji Pond. While Jondeokjeong was a space for cultivating the king's mind, Gwanramjeong was built for enjoying the scenery harmonized with the pond.
Gwanramjeong is a fan-shaped pavilion next to the
Bandoji Pond.
In the palace records, its name
appears as Seonjajeong.
Gwanram (觀纜) means 'to look at the anchor rope,'
but here it implies 'watching boat rides.'
Ram (纜) refers to the anchor rope and boat rides.
Gwanramjeong is a representative architectural structure that showcases the beauty of Joseon Dynasty palace pavilions and their harmony with nature, thanks to its structural aesthetics and locational harmony. Surrounded by maple trees around Bandoji Pond, the pond itself, and nearby pavilions, it offers a deeper appreciation of the ambiance of traditional Korean gardens. The pond in front of Gwanramjeong is called Bandoji because it resembles the shape of the Korean peninsula.
The exact date of Gwanramjeong's construction is unknown, and it is not visible in the Donggwoldo painting. Based on various sources, it is only speculated to have been built before 1901. In the Donggwoldo, Bandoji Pond is divided into two square ponds and one circular pond. In the Donggwoldohyeong, painted during the reign of Emperor Sunjong, the pond is combined into a gourd shape. It is presumed that boats were also used at that time. The peninsula-shaped pond is presumed to have been created during the Japanese colonial period after the Donggwoldohyeong was painted during the reign of Emperor Sunjong.
Gwanramjeong is structurally very unique. It has a plan shape resembling a spread folding fan (合竹扇, Hapjukseon), making it recognized as the only remaining form of its kind in Korea. The columns are made of thin, long round pillars, erected on six foundation stones, and connected using the Guldori (rolled rafter) framing method, a traditional architectural technique.
Even now, Gwanramjeong, with the pond and forest as its backdrop,
captures nature like a painting and
conveys the tranquil atmosphere of a Korean garden.
<Gwanramjeong during the Japanese Colonial Period>
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