After passing through the Gwanghwamun Gate and the Heungnyemun Gate, you are now inside the palace. To get to Geunjeongjeon Hall, you need to cross the Yeongjegyo Bridge, where the stream flows underneath, called Geumcheon Stream, the “Forbidden Brook”. It is a reminder for people to watch their words and actions from here on since they are entering an area where the king lives.

Yeongjegyo Bridge was first built during the reign of King Taejo and was restored with the remaining materials in 2001. During the reign of King Sejong, the academics from Jiphyeonjeon Hall came up with the name. It carries a deep meaning: “May the clean water purify one’s mind; people live in peace to reveal a golden dynasty”.

Yeongjegyo Bridge is divided into three parts vertically. The central path was restricted only for the king to use. For those who violated this rule without permission, they would be flogged on the buttocks as a punishment. The steam that flows underneath is called “Forbidden Brook”. It prevents evil energy from entering the palace. In the Joseon Dynasty, people believed a good housing site should be built based on the theory of “Baesan Imsu”, which literally means “facing the water with hills behind”. The mountain at the back can guard the house from enemies, secure the food resources, and block the cold wind in winter; the water denotes purification, which prevents bad energy and transfers it into good ones. That’s why Geumcheon Stream had to be built here.

There is a stone animal on the wall next to the Geumcheon Stream, which is the imaginary creature Chelok, also called “Seosu”. You may find it from the south and north on both sides of Yeongjegyo Bridge. Its body is covered with scales with daunting and sharp toenails. Its wide-opened eyes keep staring at the stream to prevent disasters and devils from entering through the bridge.

Let’s enter the palace with a purified mind when we cross the bridge and explore further inside the palace!