Gyotaejeon Hall was the queen’s quarters, which she shared with the king. The name of Gyotaejeon Hall came from a book called “Zhou’s Book of Changes,” in which the term “Gyotae” refers to the harmony of the sky and earth that creates all matter. The hall was also called “Jungjeon” or “Junggung,” as “Jung” means center and Gyotaejeon Hall is located in the center of the palace.

Gyotaejeon Hall was first built around 1440, during the 22nd year of King Sejong’s reign. In his declining years, King Sejong relocated the government headquarters from Sajeongjeon Hall to Gangnyeongjeon Hall. As his officials still needed to visit and discuss national affairs with him daily, they had to frequently enter Gangnyeongjeon Hall. Considering the queen’s privacy, King Sejong made a separate hall for the queen out of concern for her personal space, which is Gyotaejeon Hall. However, it was burnt down together in 1592 during the Japanese invasion of Korea and was reconstructed in 1867. Nevertheless, it was destroyed by the Japanese government, which used its material to restore Daejejeon Hall of Changdeokgung Palace, which was burnt by fire in 1917. The current Gyotaejeon Hall dates back to 1994, when it was meticulously restored to its original splendor.

Gyotaejeon Hall was right behind Gangnyeonjeon Hall. As both served as the residence hall, they have the same structure. A feature that must be mentioned is that neither of them have the Yongmaru on the roof. It is said that because Yongmaru contains the letter of the dragon, which symbolizes the king, it shouldn’t rest on top of the king when he is asleep. Also, the layout of the room is unique compared to other buildings. There are nine rooms between sliding paper doors, with the king and queen’s bed chamber in the center. When the sliding doors were opened, it became a large room. The doors had to be closed when the king and the queen went to sleep. The court ladies and guards stayed in the remaining rooms throughout the night to protect and be on standby for their majesty.

Gyotaejeon Hall was one of the most restricted areas in the palace. In the Joseon Dynasty, Confucianism was the official philosophy. It suggested the gender principles of the separation of male and female, in which females carried the role of “inside”. Women were taught to stay at home and contribute their whole lives to the family. This also applied to the queen. Therefore, even the male family members of the queen couldn’t enter the Gyotaejeon Hall without special permission.

Gyotaejeon Hall has a backyard that cannot be found in other buildings. Shall we go and have a look now?