There is a pavilion in the middle of a large pond to the west of Geunjeongjeon Hall. That is the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, which is the main banquet hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The name “Gyeonghoe” means a “happy banquet” as it was built as a venue to hold a feast for envoys coming from China. King Yeonsangun was the one well known for enjoying merrymaking there.
Gyeonghoeru Pavilion was built along with the construction of Gyonegbokgung Palace, which was first established. It was small originally but was expanded in 1412, the 12th year of King Taejong. Sadly, it was burnt down during the Japanese invasion in 1592. After around 270 years, it was rebuilt in 1867, following the restoration project of Gyeongbokgung Palace under the reign of Emperor Gojong.
The architecture of the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion reflects the worldview of the Confucians in the Joseon Dynasty. It has reflected the philosophy people believed at that time, in which the balance of yin and yang was placed on an important level. There are some hints hidden in the pavilion. The columns on the base are in different shapes; the outer is a rectangular shape, and the inner is round. They represent the belief in a circular heaven and a square earth. The two doors at the end are also a symbol of the harmony between yin and yang. The innermost space on the second floor is called Naenaejin, which is also known as “Junggung” according to “Concentrating on the Book of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion”. It can be divided into three sections, which symbolize the power of heaven, earth, and man. The eight columns surrounding Naenaejin symbolized the eight trigrams, which are the basis of all creation. The outer layer of Naenaejin is called Naejin. It consists of 12 sections, which represent the 12 months of a year. Lastly, the 24 sections on the outermost layer symbolize the 24 solar terms, which is called “Oejin”.
The view out from the pavilion and the architecture inside are very impressive and breathtaking. Visitors are allowed to make the reservation online. If your schedule allows it, remember not to miss the chance! One more last thing is… keep an eye on your personal stuff when you are walking on the second floor of the pavilion. As the floors were built double-layered, if you drop anything into the cracks, you won’t be able to get it back until the next restoration project!