Introduction of the UNESCO World Heritage Namhansanseong Fortress
Situated 25km southeast of Seoul, Namhansanseong
Fortress sits 480m above sea level, aligning itself with the surrounding
mountain ridges to maximize its defensive efficacy. The fortress is
12km in diameter and
encompasses an area utilized as an emergency capital city
during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The fortresses' strong East Asian
architecture embodies the broad exchange between the four countries at
the time (Joseon Dynasty of Korea, Azuchi-Momoyama Period of Japan, and
the Ming and Qing Dynasties of China), particularly between the 16th and
18th centuries as the countries were often at war with each other. The
technical development of weaponry and armaments during this period, like
the use of gun powder in military warfare imported from Europe, also
greatly influenced the architecture and layout of the fortress. Overall,
Namhansanseong Fortress is an embodiment of how various defense
mechanisms in Korea were put to use by combining a normal living
environment with defense objectives, how Buddhism played an influential
role in protecting the state, and how the fortress became a symbol of
sovereignty in Korea.
The Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Namhansanseong Fortress
Namhansanseong Fortress is an excellent example of the interchange of
technological advances in fortress construction and weaponry in East
Asia during a period of international wars. Namhansanseong Fortress is a
unique fortress city with the purpose of functioning as an emergency
capital for the protection of sovereignty and independence of the Joseon
Dynasty. The walls and facilities utilizing the rugged terrain are an
accumulation of the technological developments of Korean fortress
architecture from the 7th century to the 19th century. The fortress is
evidence of the struggle to survive and endure a painful history caused
by the geopolitical power structure of East Asia
at the time. Centered on these values, the province of
Gyeonggi-do and the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation, in their efforts to
have Namhansanseong Fortress inscribed as a UNESCO World
Heritage, pursued various projects and conducted countless research and
investigations. As a result, in February 2011, the Cultural Heritage
Administration of Korea designated Namhansanseong Fortress as a priority
candidate among the tentative list of national heritages in Korea for
pursuing inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage. Consequently, the
nomination dossier of Namhansanseong Fortress was submitted in January
2013 and during the 38th World Heritage Committee (Doha, Qatar, June
2014), Namhansanseong Fortress was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage.
- More Info
- Namhansanseong Fortress
- Website of the Namhansanseong Fortress (Korean, English)
- ☞1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
For more updates about Korea Tourism, Like/Follow these following Official SNS Accounts of Korea Tourism Organization both Korea and Manila Office.
Like KTO Manila on Facebook: Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office
Follow KTO Manila on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KTOManila
Plus Friend on KakaoTalk: @ktomanila
Like KTO on Facebook: Korea Tourism Organization
Follow KTO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KoreanTravel
VisitKorea Website: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr
Like Imagine your Korea on Facebook: Imagine your Korea
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento