Hongsalmun

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Hongsalmun
Queen Suro Tomb3.JPG
The hongsalmun at the lleung Royal Tomb(Joseon Dynasty royal tombs)
Korean name
Hangul
홍살문
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHongsalmun
McCune–ReischauerHongsalmun

In architecture, a hongsalmun is a gate for entering a sacred place in Korea.[1][2] Hongsalmun, which is also called hongjeonmun or hongmun,[3] is usually erected to indicate Korean Confucian sites, such as shrines, tombs, and academies such as hyanggyo and seowon.[1] The gate indicates entry to a sacred realm.[4]

Features[]

Hongsalmun literally means ‘gate with red arrows’, referring to the set of pointed spikes on its top. In the past, spikes in between columns did not exist. The color is said to be red because of the belief that the color repels ghosts.[5] The gate is composed of 2 round poles set vertically and 2 transverse bars.[1] These pillars are usually over nine meters in height.[3] There is no roof and door-gate. In the middle top gate, the symbol of the trisula and the taegeuk image are placed.[1]

The hongsalmun gate opens to a path that leads toward the front of hyanggyo and the or the "memorial dismount stone".[3][6] The gate can also be found inside a seowon,[7] a privately-owned complex that served as a Confucian shrine and preparatory school.

Origin[]

Ancient Indian torana sacred gateway architecture has influenced gateway architecture across Asia specially where Buddhism was transmitted from India; Chinese paifang gateways[8][9] Japanese torii gateways,[8][10] Korean Hongsalmun gateway,[11] and Sao Ching Cha in Thailand[10] have been derived from the Indian torana. The functions of all are similar, but they generally differ based on their respective architectural styles.[12][13]

Asian sacred gateway styles originally derived from the Indian Torana

  • Indian Torana of Sanchi Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dating to the period of the Mauryan Empire (3rd century BC), the torana itself dates to the Satavahana period, in the 1st century CE

  • A Chinese Paifang (pailou)

  • Japanese Torii at Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Japan, where the three daughters of Susano-o no Mikoto Ichikishimahime no mikoto, Tagorihime no mikoto, and Tagitsuhime no mikoto are worshipped.

  • The hongsalmun at the shrine of the clan Yi of Jeonju

  • The hongsalmun at the lleung Royal Tomb (Joseon Dynasty royal tombs)

See also[]

  • Iljumun, religious portal
  • Torana, in the Hindu-Buddhist Indian-origin also found in Southeast Asia and East Asia
  • Toran, ceremonial Indian door decoration
  • Torii, in Japanese temple architecture
  • Paifang, in Chinese temple architecture

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d An Illustrated Guide to Korean Culture - 233 traditional key words. Seoul: Hakgojae Publishing Co. 2002. pp. 186–87. ISBN 9788985846981.
  2. ^ "A Trip to Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty". visitkorea. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Choi, Wan Gee (2006). The Traditional Education of Korea. Ewha Womans University Press. ISBN 978-89-7300-675-5.
  4. ^ Jo, Myeong-hwa (2014-05-07). 1 Course Joseon Royal Tombs : Seonjeongneung (in Korean). 테마여행신문 TTN Theme Travel News Korea. ISBN 979-11-951699-5-5.
  5. ^ Koehler, Ben Jackson and Robert (2015). Korean Architecture: Breathing with Nature. Seoul Selection. ISBN 978-1-62412-047-3.
  6. ^ Lee, Sang-hae; Yi, Sang-hae (2005). Seowon: The Architecture of Korea's Private Academies. Seoul: Hollym. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-56591-218-2.
  7. ^ 한국문화원연합회 (2020). Urimunhwa December 2020. 한국문화원연합회. p. 16.
  8. ^ a b Albert Henry Longhurst (1992). The Story of the Stūpa. Asian Educational Services. p. 17. ISBN 978-81-206-0160-4.
  9. ^ Joseph Needham, Science and Civilization in China, Vol 4 part 3, p137-138
  10. ^ a b Scheid, Bernhard. "Religion in Japan". Torii (in German). University of Vienna. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  11. ^ A.H. Longhurst (1995). Story Of The Stupa. Asian Educational Services. pp. 17–. ISBN 978-81-206-0160-4.
  12. ^ Ronald G. Knapp (2000). China's old dwellings. University of Hawaii Press. p. 85. ISBN 0-8248-2214-5.
  13. ^ Simon Foster; Jen Lin-Liu; Sharon Owyang; Sherisse Pham; Beth Reiber; Lee Wing-sze (2010). Frommer's China. Frommers. p. 435. ISBN 978-0-470-52658-3.


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