Gwandeokjeong Hall, Jeju

Gwandeokjeong Hall, Jeju

 Treasure 322

'Gwandeok' means ‘the understanding of virtue’ and is abstracted from the phrase 'Sajasoi gwanseongdeogya' in order to follow the right sprits of literary and military arts. It means to try to maintain a good mind and to be a man of virtue at ordinary times.

According to Tamnaji, town chronicle of Jeju, this pavilion was built by Sin suk-cheong as a military training center in 1448, the 30th year of King Sejong’s reign.

It has been repaired many times since governor Yang Chan repaired it in 1480, the 11th year of King Seongjong’s reign. The present building has kept its present structure through the repair of 1969 and the original construction method is presumed to be that of around the 17th century.

It consists of 5-kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns) front space and 4-kan side space, it has a hip and gable roof called paljakjibung.

The building is open on all sides and the column-heads decorate the top of the pillars, supporting the eaves on beautiful wing-like bracketing. It is said that the hanging board inscribed 'Gwandeokjeong' was written by the Prince Anpyeong, third son of King Sejong the Great.

The long eaves of the roof are a special characteristic, but most of these were removed by the Japanese upon repair in 1924. This is an outstanding example of pavilion construction in Jeju-do Island, and a valuable asset for research into construction history. The rafters and the anonymous wall painting below them are recognized as outstanding work.