The Eight Gates of Seoul
The Eight Gates of Seoul are eight historical gates that were located in the Fortress Wall of Seoul, South Korea, which surrounded the city in the Joseon Dynasty. Six of these gates exist today. All eight gates were originally built between 1396 and 1398.
Introduction
The Eight Gates were based roughly in the four cardinal and four intermediate directions of the compass. Of the eight gates, the North, South, East, and West were known as the “Four Great Gates”, while the Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest gates were known as the “Four Small Gates”.Of the eight gates, two no longer exist. Memorials are currently placed roughly where the West and Southwest gates once stood. There has been discussion and announcements about rebuilding the West Gate, but no construction has yet been undertaken for this gate.
On February 10, 2008, the South Gate was severely damaged in a fire set by an arsonist. The gate was rebuilt over five years, and reopened to the public on May 4, 2013. This gate has the designation of National Treasure No. 1 of South Korea. Of the eight gates, the South and East gates are the largest, and both are located in busy market areas.
Besides these eight cardinal gates, many other gates with important histories exist in Seoul, such as Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace; Daehanmun, the main gate of Deoksugung Palace; Dongnimmun, also known as Independence Gate; and the remnants of Yeongeunmun, located next to Dongnimmun in Seoul's Seodaemun Independence Park.
Names of the Gates
The eight gates have had various names over the centuries, and may still be referenced by different names. The charts below give the most common names for the gates. Official names and spellings are taken from signage currently found at and on the gates themselves. Note that Hanja is read right-to-left at times, and left-to right at other times. Thus, the character for "gate" may appear either on the left or right side of actual signboards.The Four Great Gates
| signboard | |||||
| North Gate | East Gate | South Gate | West Gate | ||
| Official names | Romanization | Sukjeongmun | Heunginjimun | Sungnyemun | Donuimun |
| Korean Hangul | 숙정문 | 흥인지문 | 숭례문 | 돈의문 | |
| Sino-Korean Hanja | 肅靖門 | 興仁之門 | 崇禮門 | 敦義門 | |
| literal translation | Rule Solemnly Gate | Rising Benevolence Gate | Exalted Ceremonies Gate | Loyalty Gate | |
| directional names | Romanization | Bukdaemun | Dongdaemun | Namdaemun | Seodaemun |
| Korean Hangul | 북대문 | 동대문 | 남대문 | 서대문 | |
| Sino-Korean Hanja | 北大門 | 東大門 | 南大門 | 西大門 | |
| literal meaning | “north big gate” | “east big gate” | “south big gate” | “west big gate” | |
| other names | Originally called Sukcheongmun. | Originally called Heunginmun. | |||
| notes | - Originally built in 1396. | - Originally built 1398. Present construction dates from 1869. | - Originally built in 1398. - Heavily damaged by fire in 2008. Reopened in May 2013. | - Originally built 1396. - No longer exists. Torn down in 1915 during the Japanese colonial period. Plans to reopen exists, and is presumed to start at 2022. |
The Four Small Gates
| signboard | |||||
| Northwest Gate | Northeast Gate | Southeast Gate | Southwest Gate | ||
| official names | Romanization | Changuimun | Hyehwamun | Gwanghuimun | Souimun |
| Korean Hangul | 창의문 | 혜화문 | 광희문 | 소의문 | |
| Sino-Korean Hanja | 彰義門 | 惠化門 | 光熙門 | 昭義門 | |
| literal translation | Showing the Correct Thing Gate | Distribution of Wisdom Gate | Bright Light Gate | Promotion of Justice Gate | |
| directional names | Romanization | Buksomun | Dongsomun | Namsomun | Seosomun |
| Korean Hangul | 북소문 | 동소문 | 남소문 | 서소문 | |
| Sino-Korean Hanja | 北小門 | 東小門 | 南小門 | 西小門 | |
| literal meaning | "north small gate" | "east small gate" | "south small gate" | "west small gate" | |
| other names | Jahamun. | Originally called Honghwamun. | Originally called Sugumun | Originally called Sodeokmun. | |
| notes | - Originally built 1396. - Gatehouse was burned down in 1592, and rebuilt in 1740. The gate currently has the oldest gatehouse of the small gates. | - Originally built in 1396. - Destroyed during the Japanese colonial period, but restored in 1992. | - Originally built in 1396. - Rebuilt 1711-1719. Largely destroyed during the Korean War, but restored in 1976. | - Originally built 1396. - No longer exists. Torn down in 1914 during the Japanese colonial period. |
Images of the Gates
| gate | ||
| Northwest Gate Changuimun | ||
| North Gate Sukjeongmun | ||
| Northeast Gate Hyehwamun | ||
| East Gate Heunginjimun | ||
| Southeast Gate Gwanghuimun | ||
| South Gate Sungnyemun | ||
| Southwest Gate Souimun | ||
| West Gate Donuimun |