Wolji Pond, the Fancy Pond of the Crown Prince

Wolji Pond was an artificial pond in the palace of the Crown Prince. The pond was built in the golden days of Silla, right after the unification of the three kingdoms. It was constructed in the grounds where open-air banquets for foreign envoys and nobles were held.

Korean traditional architecture placed great emphasis on harmony with nature. Buildings were designed and arranged to complement the beauty of the natural environment. Although Wolji Pond was an artificial pond, it was designed to look natural.
Interestingly, this pond was constructed to remind one of the ocean. The shape of the pond was meandering, and a small islet was made in the pond. Given its shape and the presence of the islet, the other end of the pond was invisible, which led observers of the scene to feel as if they were looking at the ocean.

Furthermore, the garden surrounding Wolji Pond followed the tenets of Taoism, an East Asian philosophy that espouses withdrawal from reality and values meditative, peaceful environments. The twelve peaks around the pond were symbols of Taoist theology.

The site of this pond is located near the museum. We recommend you pay it a visit and spend some time there. You can see the classical grace of Silla, and the view at night is especially beautiful.