Historical Setting
By the time King Taejo established the Joseon Dynasty in
the late 14th century, the country that we recognize today as
Korea was a kingdom in turmoil. Ruled by the faltering Mongol
Empire, under attack from Japanese pirates and weakened
by political intrigues, the kingdom needed a strong leader.
Yi Seong-gye, later to become King Taejo, was a talented
general who repelled foreign threats, gained independence
from the Mongols and established the “Kingdom of Great
Joseon” in 1392.
One of his first actions was to move the capital to Hanseong
(Seoul) and initiate a building program that included a
6.1 m (20 ft.) high and 18.2 km (11.3 mile) long wall to
protect the growing city. Four major gateways were built
into the wall to control access in and out of the city, and
Sungnyemun would become the most impressive of these
gates. Sungnyemun consists of an imposing stonework base
and archway with a two-story wooden pagoda construction
sitting above.
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