Pothong Gate

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Korean spelling
Korean alphabet : 보통 문
Hanja : 普通 門
Revised Romanization : Botongmun
McCune-Reischauer : Pot'ongmun
Pothong Gate

The Pothong Gate is a city gate of the then medieval fortress of Sŏgyong, today's North Korean capital Pyongyang and North Korean National Treasure # 3. It is located on a traffic island on a roundabout at the end of Chollima Street and Changgwang Street in the Pothongmun-dong district of the Chung-guyŏk district . It takes its name from the nearby Pothong River .

Other parts of the former fortress still preserved are the Taedong Gate , the Ulmil Pavilion and the Ryongwang Pavilion .

history

The gate was originally built in the 6th century during the time of the Goguryeo Empire as the western gate of the fortress and rebuilt in 1406. Repairs to the gate are said to have been carried out in 1473, 1644, 1719 and 1777. It was destroyed in American bombing during the Korean War, but was reconstructed in 1955 as part of the expansion of Chollima Street . In favor of the planned course of the road, it was placed 55 meters southwest of its previous location. Earlier names of the building were Kwangdok Gate and Uyanggwan.

In the time of the Joseon Dynasty , the gate was of particular importance as a defensive structure and exit gate to the northwest.

architecture

The structure consists of a two-storey pavilion on a granite base. The base has an access staircase to the pavilion on each side and a 4.55 meter high and 4.40 meter wide arched gate in the middle.

The pavilion is 14.80 meters long and 9.65 meters wide, has planks and has a curved hipped roof typical of the Korean architectural style . Its entrance is provided with an iron-clad wooden gate.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Historical Relics in Pyongyang UNESCO (English)
  2. ↑ Pothong Gate at Night naenara.com.kp (English)
  3. ↑ North Korea Attractions and Sight Seeing 1uptravel (English)
  4. ↑ a b Past news ( Memento from October 12, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) kcna.co.jp (English)

Coordinates: 39 ° 1 ′ 37.5 ″  N , 125 ° 44 ′ 30.8 ″  E