대한제국의 상징적 공간표상, 원구단 (A Study on the Symbolic Spatial Representation of the Daehan Empire, Wongudan)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 서울시립대학교 서울학연구소
· 수록지 정보 : 서울학연구 / 40호 / 107 ~ 157페이지
· 저자명 : 박희용

초록

This study is aimed at shedding light on the historical status and socio-cultural aspects of the Korean Empire in the light of the structuring and changing of the road system centered on Taepyeongro(新橋通; new traffic) and Sogongno—central parts of the city improvement project in the Daehan Empire(大韓帝國)—, and in the light of locating, constructing, and demolishing Wondgudan Altar( 丘壇), a symbolic representation of the emperor.
Having not existed in the Chosun Dynasty era, Taepyeongro was a newly built thoroughfare on which Shingyo(新橋; a new bridge) was establish in the Daehan Empire period. This was made to connect itself with Gyeongbokgung Palace(景福宮) which were the central area of old streets, and to make kyeongwungung(慶運宮) the imperial palace. What’s more, the historic symbolism of this street enhanced due to the funeral parade of Empress Myeongseong(明成皇后). Sogongro(小公路) led to Wongudan where imperial inauguration was held and to Daegwanjeong(大觀亭) which served as a diplomatic space. Because this street was located in the vicinity of Gyeongwungung, it reconstructed the new modern spaces of the city.
Sogongro was planned to pass by Wongudan and Daegwanjeong, but it was not originally included in the radial road system plan surrounding Gyeongwungung. This can be postulated considering that this street was constructed gradually in the process of arranging northwest micro lots from Wongudan adjacent to Gyeongwungung, and groups of Japanese people which were established around Jingogae(泥峴), an uphill pass, extended their territory to adjacent Namdaemunro(南大門路), and the name changed into Janggokchenjeong(長谷川町), and so the street gained new meanings and became a street with duplicated codes. And again, Sogongro did pass not in front of Daeanmun(大安門), but in front of Podeokmun(布德門), northwest gate of Gyeongwungung, and the square present now in front of the City Hall was the result of Japanese town planning. Taepyeongro also got to have a new meaning different from its original intention, to be linked with Gyeongbokgung and to change the Daehan Empire’s identity and its central space, because of the construction of Gyeongseongbucheong(京城府廳) and of the road maintenance project from Hwangtohyeon(黃土峴) to the front of Daeanmun to Namdaemun(南大門).
As for Wongudan, it meant symbolically the opening of the Daehan Empire period, which was located at the center of the city which had been the southern detached palace. This altar was also a representative architecture of the era in its spatial construction. Originally Wongudan was an altar for offering to heaven, consisting of three-storied round altar, Wongudan area with round and square shaped walls surrounding the altar, and finally Hwanggungwu(皇穹宇) area which was adjoined to Wongudan through three gates and had both east and west corridor for ancestral tablet with both bounded by round walls respectively. This altar is supposed to be similar to the Altar of Heaven in China. In the eastern part, Seokgogak(石鼓閣Seokgojeon) area to enshrine Seokgo(stone drums) was established to commemorate Emporor Gojong’s 40 years of reign, which was not completed. This way Wongudan served as a symbolic spatial representation of the era. This, however, was gradually and thoroughly damaged due to the change of the owner of power: in the Wongudan area, the Railroad Chosun Hotel was built to make quarters for important visitors who were to visit the competitive exhibition of monuments held in Gyeonbokgung to celebrate five years of municipal administration; Seokgogak was transferred to the bell tower in Bakmunsa(博文寺); and Gwangseonmun (光宣門), the front gate of Seokgogak was moved to the front gate of Dongbonwonsa(東本願寺), a Japanese Temple. In modern times, damaging the historic spot still continued because of lack of appreciation of history and culture. For example, some part of the area was cut off, and accessory buildings of Wongudan including the front door and the ritual chamber were sold.
As stated above, though the construction of Wongudan, symbolic for the emperor and the city improvement project in the Daehan Empire, was intended to set up a modernized independent country in the radical change of social order in and out of the country and to establish the national system, the present Wongudan, however, stands shading different meanings together with the original intention caused by the colonial rulership. Even though it is now quite hard to physically reconstruct the historic site and meaning, the local significance and historical status should be recovered in no time.

영어초록

This study is aimed at shedding light on the historical status and socio-cultural aspects of the Korean Empire in the light of the structuring and changing of the road system centered on Taepyeongro(新橋通; new traffic) and Sogongno—central parts of the city improvement project in the Daehan Empire(大韓帝國)—, and in the light of locating, constructing, and demolishing Wondgudan Altar( 丘壇), a symbolic representation of the emperor.
Having not existed in the Chosun Dynasty era, Taepyeongro was a newly built thoroughfare on which Shingyo(新橋; a new bridge) was establish in the Daehan Empire period. This was made to connect itself with Gyeongbokgung Palace(景福宮) which were the central area of old streets, and to make kyeongwungung(慶運宮) the imperial palace. What’s more, the historic symbolism of this street enhanced due to the funeral parade of Empress Myeongseong(明成皇后). Sogongro(小公路) led to Wongudan where imperial inauguration was held and to Daegwanjeong(大觀亭) which served as a diplomatic space. Because this street was located in the vicinity of Gyeongwungung, it reconstructed the new modern spaces of the city.
Sogongro was planned to pass by Wongudan and Daegwanjeong, but it was not originally included in the radial road system plan surrounding Gyeongwungung. This can be postulated considering that this street was constructed gradually in the process of arranging northwest micro lots from Wongudan adjacent to Gyeongwungung, and groups of Japanese people which were established around Jingogae(泥峴), an uphill pass, extended their territory to adjacent Namdaemunro(南大門路), and the name changed into Janggokchenjeong(長谷川町), and so the street gained new meanings and became a street with duplicated codes. And again, Sogongro did pass not in front of Daeanmun(大安門), but in front of Podeokmun(布德門), northwest gate of Gyeongwungung, and the square present now in front of the City Hall was the result of Japanese town planning. Taepyeongro also got to have a new meaning different from its original intention, to be linked with Gyeongbokgung and to change the Daehan Empire’s identity and its central space, because of the construction of Gyeongseongbucheong(京城府廳) and of the road maintenance project from Hwangtohyeon(黃土峴) to the front of Daeanmun to Namdaemun(南大門).
As for Wongudan, it meant symbolically the opening of the Daehan Empire period, which was located at the center of the city which had been the southern detached palace. This altar was also a representative architecture of the era in its spatial construction. Originally Wongudan was an altar for offering to heaven, consisting of three-storied round altar, Wongudan area with round and square shaped walls surrounding the altar, and finally Hwanggungwu(皇穹宇) area which was adjoined to Wongudan through three gates and had both east and west corridor for ancestral tablet with both bounded by round walls respectively. This altar is supposed to be similar to the Altar of Heaven in China. In the eastern part, Seokgogak(石鼓閣Seokgojeon) area to enshrine Seokgo(stone drums) was established to commemorate Emporor Gojong’s 40 years of reign, which was not completed. This way Wongudan served as a symbolic spatial representation of the era. This, however, was gradually and thoroughly damaged due to the change of the owner of power: in the Wongudan area, the Railroad Chosun Hotel was built to make quarters for important visitors who were to visit the competitive exhibition of monuments held in Gyeonbokgung to celebrate five years of municipal administration; Seokgogak was transferred to the bell tower in Bakmunsa(博文寺); and Gwangseonmun (光宣門), the front gate of Seokgogak was moved to the front gate of Dongbonwonsa(東本願寺), a Japanese Temple. In modern times, damaging the historic spot still continued because of lack of appreciation of history and culture. For example, some part of the area was cut off, and accessory buildings of Wongudan including the front door and the ritual chamber were sold.
As stated above, though the construction of Wongudan, symbolic for the emperor and the city improvement project in the Daehan Empire, was intended to set up a modernized independent country in the radical change of social order in and out of the country and to establish the national system, the present Wongudan, however, stands shading different meanings together with the original intention caused by the colonial rulership. Even though it is now quite hard to physically reconstruct the historic site and meaning, the local significance and historical status should be recovered in no time.

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