Yeongeunmun (Korean: 영은문; Hanja: 迎恩門) or Yeongeunmun Gate was a Joseon-era former gate near present day Seoul, South Korea. Since it was a symbol of China's diplomatic influence on the Joseon, the Gaehwa Party of the Joseon government intentionally demolished it in February 1895, seeking for complete political independence of Joseon from China.
For a long time, the Joseon Dynasty continued its diplomatic policy with the Late Chinese Empires in an arrangement respecting the political influence of China. This was typically called as Sadae (사대; 事大), which translates literally "serving" (사; 事; Sa) the "greater" (대; 大; Dae) country (usually translated into suzerainity, flunkeyism or the term "serving the Great"). This mode of diplomatic relationship was later forced by the Qing dynasty, through the Qing invasion of Joseon in 1636.[1]
Located at the current northwestern part of Seoul, South Korea, the Yeongeunmun was one of Joseon's materialized symbols of Sadae. In 1407, King Taejong of Joseon built a special state guest house for Chinese envoys to rest en route from China to Joseon, outside of Seoul's west gate. It was named "Mohwa Pavilion" (모화루; 慕華樓; Mohwaru), literally in meaning of "Pavilion" (루; 樓; Ru) "admiring" (모; 慕; Mo) "Chinese civilization" (화; 華; Hwa).[2] Its name was later changed to "Mohwa Guesthouse" (모화관; 慕華館; Mohwagwuan) in 1430 by King Sejong the Great of Joseon, simply changing meaning of "Pavilion" to "Guesthouse" (관; 館; Gwan).[3]
King Sejong also built a Hongsalmun (홍살문; 紅살門) near the Mohwa Guesthouse. This guesthouse had an arrow-shaped decoration on its top. It was then reconstructed into a new gate in 1537, and became notorious after it was officially named as Yeongjomun (영조문; 迎詔門) by Jungjong of Joseon, literally in meaning of "Gate" (문; 門; Mun) "welcoming" (영; 迎; Yeong) "messages from China" (조; 詔; Jo).[4] Yet, Chinese diplomats insisted they were not just delivering messages, so the name of gate was changed to Yeongeunmun in 1539, meaning "Gate welcoming grace from China". Though its official name was confirmed as Yeongeunmun from that time, it was also called as Yeonjumun or Yeoneunmun. The structure had a hip roof and columns over two long plinths.[5]
In late 19th century, The Gaehwa Party of Joseon tried to modernize the country. One of its political goals was turning Joseon into a completely independent state. So in February 1895, during a period called the Gabo Reform, the Gaehwa Party demolished Yeongeunmun to show Joseon's enthusiasm of independence around the world. They thought the Mohwa Guesthouse could be reformed into another use, yet Yeongeunmun had to be demolished.[6] Meanwhile, Soh Jaipil, a Korean-American political activist supporting independence of Joseon, planned the building of a new gate near the ruins of a demolished Yeongeunmun to symbolize the independent status of Joseon and his plan eventually obtained support from King Gojong. After Joseon was reestablished into the Korean Empire in 1897, there was a new gate built by Soh Jaipil, named as 'Independence Gate', at the site overlooking the ruins of the demolished Yeongeunmun. Also, the Mohwa Guesthouse was reformed into an "Independence Hall" (독립관; 獨立館; Dongnipgwan).[7] For this long historical background, in 1963, South Korean government has designated the ruins of the demolished Yeongeunmun as a Historic Site of South Korea, and relocated them to another place for preservation in 1979.[5]
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Picture describing Qing envoy greeted by the King of Joseon
