National Museum of Korea

On the way to the museum. You can only appreciate my concern with this means of baby transport if you can feel the 95 degree heat AND the 95 percent humidity.

In all of my trips, I actually thought this was an opera house. It's where we're headed.

Lots of steps, but not too steep.

Gathering space.

The architect did a fantastic job of making an impressive gathering space while still making the visitor feel welcome.

The National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea. It was established in 1945 and is committed to various studies and research activities in archaeology, history and art.

The museum contains over 310,000 pieces in its collection with about 15,000 pieces on display at one time. Relics and artifacts are displayed in six permanent exhibition galleries: the Prehistory and Ancient History Gallery, the Medieval and Early Modern History Gallery, the Donation Gallery, the Calligraphy and Painting Gallery, the Asian Art Gallery, and the Sculpture and Crafts Gallery.

It is the sixth largest museum in the world (floor space), now covering a total of 3,180,000 square feet (yes, MILLION). To protect the artifacts, the main building can withstand a magnitude 6.0 earthquake. The display cases are equipped with shock-absorbent platforms. There is also an imported natural lighting system which utilizes sunlight instead of artificial lights and a specially designed air-conditioning system. The museum also has special exhibition halls, education facilities, a children's museum, huge outdoor exhibition areas, restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Photo of refugees taken through a view screen. I just like the context of the photo.

The symbol of the turtle is important in Korean culture. While the dragon was considered the ruler of all animals, the turtle ruled over the insects. Because turtles live longer than other animals, they symbolize longevity. People believed that turtles had the power to predict the future. Fortune tellers used the shape of a turtle's shell to forecast the future. Turtle images often form the base of steles or monuments to famous people, especially Buddhism monks.

Royal Seal of Empress Myeongseong. ca. 1921.

Seals and seal album. Joseon Dynasty. ca. 1392–1897.

Yep, REALLY OLD stamping!

A Korean predecessor to Vitruvian Man?

Parade of Joseon Envoys to Japan, early 20th Century. They failed to mentioned that at the time Korea was under Japanese rule . . . so "envoys" may be stretching it a bit.

Bamboo sticks bearing phrases from Confucianism classics, Joseon Dynasty 18th-19th Century. Kind of an Industrial Age "Word a Day" calendar!

A rain gauge, Joseon Dynasty, 15th Century.

A miniature replica of the canopy suspended over the throne in Geunjeongjeon of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The throne of Joseon kings was normally ornamented with such a canopy and backdrop painting of the sun, the moon and the Five Peaks that symbolize their royal authority.

The carvings and line drawings on the rocky wall of Bangudae enable us to get a glimpse of the life of prehistoric people by means of vivid portrayals of their hunting, fishing and festive activities. Among the whales, turtles, tigers, deer and other animals represented here, some appear as being captured in nets or cages. One can also see people in boats and warriors dancing with their genitals exposed. It is assumed that the petroglyphs functioned as a sort of prater for bounteous harvest and success in hunting and fishing.

Spearheads.

Bronze knife-shaped coins. Characteristic of the Lianhuabao-Sejukri culture, marked with the Chinese symbol for "Ming."

Gilt bronze bear-shaped legs.

Jade, on the Border Between Life and Death. Seems that it's not just the Egyptians . . .

A number of exhumed corpses demonstrated the integral role played by jade in the funerary practices of Lelang. (Incidentally, one of the Four Commanderies of Han set up by Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty in early 2nd century BC after his conquest of Wiman Joseon. The others are Lintun, Xuantu and Zhenfan.)

Cicada-shaped jade objects were sometimes inserted into the mouth of a corpse to symbolize resurrection and a pig-shaped jade object was placed in the hands to symbolize food for the afterlife. Additionally, leaf-shaped jade pieces were tied over the eyes and jade disks were laid on the chest to protect the deceased. Jade pieces were also inserted into the deceased's ears, nose and anus, as it was believed that it would serve to prevent the deceased's life energy from leaking away.

This stele (a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected as a monument, very often for funerary or commemorative purposes) records the life of the Buddhist preceptor Wollang (816-883) in the late Silla period, focusing on his ascetism. The body of the stele stands on a pedestal in the shape of a turtle and the headstone is topped with a legendary dragon. This kind of stele was in great vogue in the Unified Silla and Goryeo periods.

You can see the turtle better here. Quite the headstone, eh?

This ten-story pagoda was original erected at the Gyeongcheonsa pagoda in the fourth year of King Chungmok (1348) of Goryeo. On its base, carved in three tiers, are lions, arhats and scenes from the Chinese novel The Journey to the West. In the central part of the pagoda, several groups of Buddhas and bodhisattvas are represented inside architectural settings painstakingly carved with roofs, rafters, balustrades and floral designs.

This pagoda was taken from its original site and smuggled to Japan in 1907 by Tanaka Mitsuaki, the Japanese Minister of Imperial Household Affairs. It was eventually recovered with the help of two Western journalists, Ernest T. Bethell from England and Homer Hulbert from America, who launched an international press campaign denouncing the theft.

There's way too much to see in this place in one day.

The public plaza and one of MANY high-rise housing areas. It's considered a "neighborhood" and people seldom leave. Everything they need is there, housing, schools, stores . . .