[KS] Museum Buildings

[Hyung Il Pai]

Dear members,

We are talking about three different museum buildings in three  
different palaces.

First, The Oldest is the Yi Wanga (Cheshil) Pangmulkwan built in  
Changgyongwon in 1908. It opened in 1909 to the public.  The same year  
the Colonial government built the zoo and botanical garden  
(Shingmulwon), the latter which is still preserved. This was the first  
museum in Korea as Jim mentioned in the last email. Officially, the  
museum collections were said to be donations from the Yi royal Family  
Household ( Yi Wangjik)- however, we already know it was a puppet  
govt. manipulated by Ito Hirobumi. From what I have seen from Japanese  
records, museum catalogues of the period (Chosen taikan 1911), and  
antiquity shop catalogues based on Keijo, it was a haphazard affair,  
both looted, purchased ( Buddhist sculpture, ceramics- celadon) as  
well as donated by prominent Yangban households ( in terms of  
paintings). The classification systems and genres again reflect the  
tastes and preferences of the ruling elite as well as professors from  
Tokyo University Sekino Tadashi ( an architect and art historian) who  
had been sent to Korea to conduct annual archaeological surveys from  
1909. The funds for the upkeep of the Yi Royal Family with the  
figurehead Sunjong came from the Colonial government coffers.
This building was used as the Changsogak before the collections was  
moved to the Academy of Korean studies

Second, the archaeological collections excavated by the Committee on  
Korean Antiquities (Three Kingdoms, Koryo, etc) were exhibited at the  
Chosen Sotokufu Museum established in Kyongbokkung in 1915, The  
permanent museum was part of the Chosen Products Exposition ( Choson  
Mulsan Kongjinhoe)-the first colonial exposition which opened also in  
Tokyop Ueno to commemorate the Fifth year of annexation.
This is the building Donald Clark was talking about. The pagodas and  
sculpture from abandoned palaces and temple ruins along with the  
returned Kyongch'onsaji pagoda later on were exhibited in the ground  
in front of this museum again at the recommendation of Sekino Tadashi  
in 1918.This building was used as the Research Institute of Cultural  
Properties till 1996-7 when it was demolished. Since then, the   
Kyongbokkung was rebuilt following the plans dating to 1867 (since it  
was Taewongun's pet project) following the much controversial razing  
of the National Museum Building, AKA, the Colonial Govt building in  
1993 by Kim Young-sam.

Third, the Sokchojon was the First Western Style building built in  
Toksuggung palace by King Kojong  when he moved there after his hiding  
stint at the Russian Delegation after the assasination of Queen Min.  
It was built by a British architect in 1897. In 1927, it was used as  
the first modern art museum with the opening of the first Chosen  
Misuljon - competitive modern fine arts competition - the precurssor  
to the Kukchon ( Frank Hoffman knows more about this than me). This  
building is full of Yi royal Taehan Cheguk symbols and the interior  
architecture and facade is currently undegoing renovation.
In conclusion, the three royal palaces were pretty much destroyed at  
will and relandscaped for colonial government own agendas- to show off  
the successes of their civilizing mission - for which  exhibitionary  
spaces became centers of cultural and heritage tourism. In 1907, the  
last King Yi un was taken to be educated in Japan and raised as  
Japanese royalty, and therefore, the Colonial govt had a free hand to  
do what they want to palace grounds.
  In the post-war period till now, the Office of Cultural Properties  
and the Munhwajaech'ong is pushing to resurrect all the past symbols  
of Chosen Kingship and Old Seoul -by rebuilding Kwanghwamun plaza  
(albeit- marred by the shiny colossal statues of Yi Sunshin and King  
Sejong), restoring fortress walls and Namsan, and Old Gates (  
Tongdaemun and the most recently burned down South Gate).Kyongbokkung  
and Secret Gardens
( Ch'angdokkung- a world heritage site) are very popular destinations  
amongst Hallyu drama fans from China and Japan who are fans of Korean  
historical romances/ dramas.
I have old photos of all these places but am not allowed to post them  
-something to do with the interface. Thank you for bringing up such an  
important topic. My Information comes from the "100 year History of  
the Museums in Korea" published by the Nationa Museum in Korea ( 2009)





-- 
Hyung Il Pai, Fulbright Scholar, Kyunjangak (2010-11)
East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies Department, HSSB Building
University of California , Santa Barbara
CA 93106, U.S.A.
Fax: 805) 893-3011, Office Phone: 805) 893-2245
Email: Hyungpai at eastasian.ucsb.edu
Dept Office for Messages; 805) 893-4549