[KS] Independence Gate (Tongnipmun) during Japanese Colonial Rule?

[in cho]

I apologize for the typo. The year of the relocation of the Independence Gate is 1979, not 1997.
Sorry for confusion.



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Insoo Cho
Assistant Professor
Department of Art History
University of Southern California
Von KleinSmid Center 351
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0047
(213) 821-5354
(213) 740-8971 Fax
insoocho at usc.edu
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----- Original Message -----
From: Kirk Larsen <kwlarsen at gwu.edu>
Date: Thursday, November 11, 2004 3:25 am
Subject: Re: [KS] Independence Gate (Tongnipmun) during Japanese Colonial Rule?

> Thanks for all the replies to my query.
> 
> I went back and checked my photo of the description of Tongnipmun 
> and it states that it was moved in 1979, not 1997. Perhaps that 
> might account for some of the misunderstanding.
> 
> And as Peter Schroepfer accurately states, I am aware that the 
> arch was intended as a symbolic declaration of independence from 
> China, not Japan. Still, like Peter, I was curious if anyone could 
> shed some light on the official Japanese policy toward the gate. 
> Note that the tourist description of the nearby Tongnipgwan 
> (Indepedence Hall) notes that the building "was later destroyed by 
> the Japanese." Whether this was done for symbolic or other reasons 
> is not clear. 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Kirk W. Larsen
> Korea Foundation Assistant Professor of
> History and International Affairs
> Phillips 330
> The George Washington University
> Washington DC, 20052
> (202) 994-8115
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Peter Schroepfer <schroepfer at gmail.com>
> Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 11:56 pm
> Subject: Re: [KS] Independence Gate (Tongnipmun) during Japanese 
> Colonial Rule?
> 
> > >The Independence Arch was moved from the site where the Sungsan
> > highway passed by in 1997.
> > 
> > I've read this sentence several times and do believe I'm still
> > misreading something or need to doubt my eyes, but if it means
> > Tongnummun/Dongnimmun was moved, turned around, or in any way 
> adjusted> in 1997 it just can't be accurate, as anyone who has 
> lived in Seoul's
> > downtown neighborhoods in the last few decades can tell you. 
> Obviously> it was moved at some point in history, and surely 
> someone on this
> > listserve will be able to clarify when.
> > 
> > Also, anyone who has gotten a close look will have noticed that next
> > to it stands a smaller arch which clearly says Yônginmun, 
> intended to
> > welcome visiting Chinese emissaries. So even if that one was
> > "destroyed in February 1895" (and I don't know that to be 
> inaccurate)> then obviously part of it still stands or was 
> rebuilt, which would
> > surprise me. Yônginmun is tiny, so I can imagine there might 
> have been
> > more to it at one point.
> > 
> > Kirk Larsen, myself, and the many others who do not have the wrong
> > impression that Tongnimmun was a declaration of independence from
> > Japan probably still wonder what the Japanese thought of the 
> monument.> I can see the Japanese wanting to keep it there, 
> frankly, given how
> > the "independence" was in relation to China, but it would be
> > interesting to hear about any Japanese references to it during
> > colonial times.
> > 
> > Peter Schroepfer.
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
>