Chomsongdae

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Chomsongdae was an astronomical and meteorological observatory in the city of Kaesŏng in North Korea . The remains are listed as number 131 on the List of National Treasures of North Korea and are part of the World Heritage Site of Historic Monuments and Sites of Kaesŏng .

location

The observatory is located in the north-west of Kaesŏng in the Song'ak-tong district at the foot of the Songak Mountain on the western edge of the grounds of the former royal palace Manwoldae .

history

The observatory was built around 919 at the beginning of King Wang Geon's reign , when he moved the capital of the Goryeo kingdom he founded to Kaesŏng. Together with the Cheomseongdae observatory dating from the Silla period, it is one of the oldest observatories in the world. Astronomical and meteorological observations and measurements were carried out in the observatory.

After the fall of the kingdom and the relocation of the capital of the successor kingdom Joseon to Seoul, the observatory fell into disrepair. Only the platform remains. Based on materials found near the observatory, experts suspect that the platform had a two-story structure.

description

The central part of the observatory is a platform about 3 meters high and about 2.60 meters square, which is supported by 5 pillars . The pillars and platform are made of solid granite blocks . Four of the approximately 40 centimeters square pillars are set up at the corners of a square with a side length of approximately 2.10 meters, the fifth in the middle. The pillars carry stone crossbeams, four in the square between the corner pillars and one in the middle, supported only by the central pillar. The crossbeams are slotted and connected by iron plates. Six stone slabs placed on the crossbeams form the surface of the platform.

literature

  • Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Ed.): NOMINATION of THE HISTORIC MONUMENTS AND SITES IN KAESONG for Inscription on the World Heritage List . 2013, p. 34–38, 131, 163 (English, whc.unesco.org [PDF; 18.9 MB ] nomination letter).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Decision: 37 COM 8B.30. In: whc.unesco.org. UNESCO World Heritage Center, 2013, accessed July 4, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Nominations p. 131
  3. ↑ Nominations p. 163
  4. ↑ a b c nomination letter p. 36
  5. ↑ Nomination letter p. 37

Coordinates: 37 ° 59 '12.27 "  N , 126 ° 32' 22.74"  E