Difference between revisions of "National Museum of Korea" - New World Encyclopedia

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hangul=국립중앙박물관 | hanja=國立中央博物館 | rr=Gungnip Jung-ang Bangmulgwan | mr=Kungnip Chung'ang Pangmulgwan}}
 
hangul=국립중앙박물관 | hanja=國立中央博物館 | rr=Gungnip Jung-ang Bangmulgwan | mr=Kungnip Chung'ang Pangmulgwan}}
  
The '''National Museum of Korea''' is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea and is the cultural organization that represents [[Korea]]. It was first established in 1945.  In October of 2005, the museum opened in a new building in Yongsan Family Park in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]].  The museum contains over 150,000 pieces in its collection with 11,000 on display at one time.  It is the largest museum in Asia and the sixth-largest museum in the world in terms of floor space, covering 307,227 square feet.  
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The '''National Museum of Korea''', the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea, represents [[Korea]] culturally. Established in 1945,   the museum opened in a new building in Yongsan Family Park in [[Seoul]], October 2005.  The museum's collection holds  over 150,000 pieces with 11,000 on display at one time.  The largest museum in Asia, and the sixth-largest museum in the world in terms of floor space, The National Museum covers 307,227 square feet.  
  
Measures to protect the treasures inside the museum included designing a building built to withstand a magnitude 6.0 [[Richter Scale]] earthquake.  The display cases for artifacts are equipped with seismic-protective platforms which absorb shocks and trembles.  There is also an imported natural lighting system which utilizes sunlight instead of artificial lights and an air purification system designed to protect the art and artifacts of the museum.  The museum is also made from fire resistant materials.   
+
Measures to protect the treasures inside the museum include engineering the building to withstand a magnitude 6.0 [[Richter Scale]] earthquake.  The display cases for artifacts have been equipped with seismic-protective platforms to absorb shocks and trembles.  A imported natural lighting system utilizes sunlight instead of artificial lights and an air purification system has been designed to protect the art and artifacts of the museum.  The museum has been made with fire resistant materials.   
  
To design the new building, the Korean government held an international competition open to architects around the world to submit a proposal for the new building.  There were over 854 entries from 59 countriesThe winning design was inspired by the idea of a traditional Korean fortress and was submitted by Chang-Il Kim of Junglim Architects & Engineers Ltd.
+
To design the new building, the Korean government held an international competition open to architects around the world to submit a proposal for the new building.  Architects from fifty nine countries submitted 854 entries .  Chang-Il Kim of Junglim Architects & Engineers Ltd. submitted the winning design, inspired by the idea of a traditional Korean fortress. Oblong in shape, the building looks like a Korean fortress. 404 meters in length, and six-stories in height, indigenous plants and gardens surround the building.
 
 
The building is oblong, like a Korean fortress, at 404 meters in length.  It is six-stories in height and is surrounded by indigenous plants and gardens.
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
Emperor [[Sunjong of Korea|Sunjong]] established Korea's first museum, the Imperial Household Museum, in 1908 C.E. in the waning days of the [[Joseon Dynasty]].  The collection of the Imperial Household Museum at [[Changgyeonggung]] and the later Japanese Government General Museum, during the [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule of Korea]], became the nucleus of the National Museum's collection which was established when South Korea gained independence in 1945 C.E.  During the [[Korean War]], the 20,000 of the museum's pieces were safely moved to [[Busan]] to avoid destruction.  When the museum came back to Seoul after the war it was housed at both Gyeongbokgung and [[Deoksugung]] Palace.  In 1972, the museum moved again to a new building on the grounds of the Gyeonbokgung palace.  The museum was moved again in 1986 to the Jungangcheong, the former [[Japanese General Government Building, Seoul|Japanese General Government Building]], which housed the museum until it was demolished 1995.
+
Emperor [[Sunjong of Korea|Sunjong]] established Korea's first museum, the Imperial Household Museum, in 1908 C.E. in the waning days of the [[Joseon Dynasty]].  The collection of the Imperial Household Museum at [[Changgyeonggung]] and the later Japanese Government General Museum, during the [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule of Korea]], became the nucleus of the National Museum's collection established when South Korea gained independence in 1945 C.E.  During the [[Korean War]], the government safely moved the 20,000 of the museum's pieces to [[Busan]] to avoid destruction.  When the artifacts came back to Seoul after the war, curators  housed them in [[Gyeongbokgung]] and [[Deoksugung]] Palace.  In 1972, the museum moved again to a new building on the grounds of the [[Gyeonbokgung]] palace.  In 1986, the museum moved again in 1986 to the [[Jungangcheong]], the former [[Japanese General Government Building, Seoul|Japanese General Government Building]], which housed the museum until demolition in 1995.
  
 
== Layout of the Museum ==
 
== Layout of the Museum ==
 
[[Image:Goryeo Pagoda.jpg|thumb|280px|The ten-story [[Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda]] from the Goryeo era stands in a hall of the museum.]]
 
[[Image:Goryeo Pagoda.jpg|thumb|280px|The ten-story [[Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda]] from the Goryeo era stands in a hall of the museum.]]
The museum is divided into three floors.  Symbolically, the left of the museum is supposed to represent the past while the right side of the museum represents the future.
+
The museum has three floors.  Symbolically, the left of the museum represents the past while the right side of the museum represents the future.
  
The first floor contains the Archaeological Gallery which contain approximately 4,500 artifacts from the [[Paleolithic]] to the [[Balhae]] era.  The ten exhibition rooms in the gallery are the Paleolithic Room, [[Jeulmun Pottery Period|Neolithic]] Room, [[Mumun Pottery Period|Bronze Age]] & Early Iron Age Room, [[Proto Three Kingdoms]] Room, Goguryeo Room, Baekje Room, Gaya Room, [[Silla]] Room, Unified Silla Room, and Balhae Room. Information about and artifacts from important prehistoric sites and settlements such the [[Bangudae Petroglyphs]] and [[Songgung-ni]] are found in the Neolithic and Bronze Age Rooms.
+
The first floor contains the Archaeological Gallery containing approximately 4,500 artifacts from the [[Paleolithic]] to the [[Balhae]] era.  Ten exhibition rooms comprise the gallerythe Paleolithic Room, [[Jeulmun Pottery Period|Neolithic]] Room, [[Mumun Pottery Period|Bronze Age]] & Early Iron Age Room, [[Proto Three Kingdoms]] Room, [[Goguryeo]] Room, [[Baekje]] Room, [[Gaya]] Room, [[Silla]] Room, [[Unified Silla]] Room, and [[Balhae]] Room. The Neolithic and Bronze Age Rooms present information about and artifacts from important prehistoric sites and settlements such the [[Bangudae Petroglyphs]] and [[Songgung-ni]].
  
Also on the first floor is the Historical Gallery which contains recorded and historical documents such as [[Hangul]] inscriptions, maps, and other valuable documents.  The nine rooms of the gallery are the Hangeul Room, Prints Room, Inscriptions Room, Documents Room, Map Room, King and His Reign Room, Socio-economic Life Room, Traditional Thoughts Room, and Foreign Relations Room.  
+
The Historical Gallery, containing recorded and historical documents such as [[Hangul]] inscriptions, maps, and other valuable documents resides on the first floor.  The Historical Gallery has nine rooms: the Hangeul Room, Prints Room, Inscriptions Room, Documents Room, Map Room, King and His Reign Room, Socio-economic Life Room, Traditional Thoughts Room, and Foreign Relations Room.  
  
The second floor contains the Fine Arts Gallery I and the Donation Gallery.  The Fine Arts Gallery I contains 890 pieces of art in four rooms that explore the traditional and religious arts of Korea in line and color.  The rooms are the Painting Room, Calligraphy Room, Buddhist Paintings Room, and Wooden Craft Room.  
+
The second floor contains the Fine Arts Gallery I and the Donation Gallery hosting the Painting Room, Calligraphy Room, Buddhist Paintings Room, and Wooden Craft Room.  The Fine Arts Gallery I contains 890 pieces of art in four rooms that explore the traditional and religious arts of Korea in line and color.  
  
The Donation Gallery holds 1000 pieces of art from a wide variety of cultures donated from the private collections of collectors.  The rooms are the Lee Hong-kun Collection Room, Other Collections Room, Kim Chong-hak Collection Room, Yu Kang-yul Collection Room, Park Young-sook Collection Room, Choi Young-do Collection Room, Park Byong-rae Collection Room, Yoo Chang-jong Collection Room, Kaneko Kazushige Collection Room, Hachiuma Tadasu Collection Room, and Luchi Isao Collection Room.
+
The Donation Gallery holds 1000 pieces of art from a wide variety of cultures donated from the private collections of collectors.  The Donation Gallery hosts the following rooms: the Lee Hong-kun Collection Room, Other Collections Room, Kim Chong-hak Collection Room, Yu Kang-yul Collection Room, Park Young-sook Collection Room, Choi Young-do Collection Room, Park Byong-rae Collection Room, Yoo Chang-jong Collection Room, Kaneko Kazushige Collection Room, Hachiuma Tadasu Collection Room, and Luchi Isao Collection Room.
  
The third floor contains the Fine Arts Gallery II and contains 630 pieces that represent Korean Buddhist sculpture and craftwork.  Highlights of the gallery include Goryeo [[Celadon]] wares and [[National treasures of Korea|National Treasure of Korea]] No. 83, the world-renowned Bangasayusang (or meditating Maiterya).  The five rooms of the gallery are the Metal Arts Room, Celadon Room, Buncheong Ware Room, White Porcelain Room, and Buddhist Sculpture Room.  
+
The third floor houses the Fine Arts Gallery II, containing 630 pieces that represent Korean Buddhist sculpture and craftwork.  Highlights of the gallery include [[Goryeo]] [[Celadon]] wares and [[National treasures of South Korea|National Treasure of Korea]] No. 83, the world-renowned [[Bangasayusang]] (or meditating Maiterya).  The gallery has five rooms: Metal Arts Room, Celadon Room, Buncheong Ware Room, White Porcelain Room, and Buddhist Sculpture Room.  
  
Finally, also on the third floor, is the Asian Arts Gallery which contains 970 pieces which explores the similarities and divergences of Asian Art and the confluence of Asian and Western art via the [[Silk Road]].  The six rooms are the Indonesian Art Room, Central Asian Art Room, Chinese Art Room, Relics from Sinan Seabed Room, Nangnang Remains Room, and Japanese Art Room.
+
Finally, also on the third floor, the Asian Arts Gallery contains 970 pieces exploring the similarities and divergences of Asian Art as well as the confluence of Asian and Western art via the [[Silk Road]].  Six rooms make up the gallery: Indonesian Art Room, Central Asian Art Room, Chinese Art Room, Relics from Sinan Seabed Room, Nangnang Remains Room, and Japanese Art Room.
  
 
The grounds of the museum contain parks, gardens of indigenous plants, waterfalls and pools, a collection of pagodas and other outdoor Korean art.
 
The grounds of the museum contain parks, gardens of indigenous plants, waterfalls and pools, a collection of pagodas and other outdoor Korean art.
  
 
== Treasures from Pyongyang Exhibit ==
 
== Treasures from Pyongyang Exhibit ==
Currently 90 significant cultural artifacts are on display at the National Museum of Korea which were loaned by the Korean Central History Museum in [[Pyongyang]].  The artifacts will stay until August 16, 2006 and will then move to the Taegu National Museum from August 28 to October 26.  The exhibit was designed to engender other cultural property exchanges between the two Koreas.  Of note is the bird bone flute from 2000 B.C.E. which is the oldest extant musical instrument from Korea.  [http://www.korea-is-one.org/article.php3?id_article=2415].  The most important item loaned is a bronze statue of [[Taejo of Goryeo|Wang Geon]], the first king of the Goryeo Dynasty.  The statue is 138.3 centimeter in height and was excavated in 1992 at his mausoleum in [[Kaesong]].  The statue was believed to have originally been dressed in royal clothes but those have since disappeared.  Famous paintings from the Joseon Dynasty are also on loan.
+
Ninety significant cultural artifacts displayed at the National Museum of Korea loaned by the Korean Central History Museum in [[Pyongyang]] until August 16, 2006, then moved to the Taegu National Museum from August 28 to October 26, 2006.[http://www.museum.go.kr/eng/display/special_view.jsp] North and South curators designed the exhibit to engender other cultural property exchanges between the two Koreas.  Noteworthy among the collection: a bird bone flute from 2000 B.C.E., the oldest extant musical instrument from Korea.  [http://www.korea-is-one.org/article.php3?id_article=2415].  A bronze statue of [[Taejo of Goryeo|Wang Geon]], the first king of the Goryeo Dynasty tops the list for important items exhibtedStanding 138.3 centimeter in height, archeologist excavated the statue in 1992 at his mausoleum in [[Kaesong]].  believed originally dressed in royal clothes, the statue's clothing has disappeared.  North Korea loaned famous paintings from the Joseon Dynasty for the exhibit.
  
 
== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==

Revision as of 21:29, 13 August 2007

National Museum of Korea
National Museum of Korea.jpg
The exterior of the National Museum of Korea (West wing).
Korean name
Hangul 국립중앙박물관
Hanja 國立中央博物館
Revised Romanization Gungnip Jung-ang Bangmulgwan
McCune-Reischauer Kungnip Chung'ang Pangmulgwan


The National Museum of Korea, the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea, represents Korea culturally. Established in 1945, the museum opened in a new building in Yongsan Family Park in Seoul, October 2005. The museum's collection holds over 150,000 pieces with 11,000 on display at one time. The largest museum in Asia, and the sixth-largest museum in the world in terms of floor space, The National Museum covers 307,227 square feet.

Measures to protect the treasures inside the museum include engineering the building to withstand a magnitude 6.0 Richter Scale earthquake. The display cases for artifacts have been equipped with seismic-protective platforms to absorb shocks and trembles. A imported natural lighting system utilizes sunlight instead of artificial lights and an air purification system has been designed to protect the art and artifacts of the museum. The museum has been made with fire resistant materials.

To design the new building, the Korean government held an international competition open to architects around the world to submit a proposal for the new building. Architects from fifty nine countries submitted 854 entries . Chang-Il Kim of Junglim Architects & Engineers Ltd. submitted the winning design, inspired by the idea of a traditional Korean fortress. Oblong in shape, the building looks like a Korean fortress. 404 meters in length, and six-stories in height, indigenous plants and gardens surround the building.

History

Emperor Sunjong established Korea's first museum, the Imperial Household Museum, in 1908 C.E. in the waning days of the Joseon Dynasty. The collection of the Imperial Household Museum at Changgyeonggung and the later Japanese Government General Museum, during the Japanese rule of Korea, became the nucleus of the National Museum's collection established when South Korea gained independence in 1945 C.E. During the Korean War, the government safely moved the 20,000 of the museum's pieces to Busan to avoid destruction. When the artifacts came back to Seoul after the war, curators housed them in Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung Palace. In 1972, the museum moved again to a new building on the grounds of the Gyeonbokgung palace. In 1986, the museum moved again in 1986 to the Jungangcheong, the former Japanese General Government Building, which housed the museum until demolition in 1995.

Layout of the Museum

The ten-story Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda from the Goryeo era stands in a hall of the museum.

The museum has three floors. Symbolically, the left of the museum represents the past while the right side of the museum represents the future.

The first floor contains the Archaeological Gallery containing approximately 4,500 artifacts from the Paleolithic to the Balhae era. Ten exhibition rooms comprise the gallery: the Paleolithic Room, Neolithic Room, Bronze Age & Early Iron Age Room, Proto Three Kingdoms Room, Goguryeo Room, Baekje Room, Gaya Room, Silla Room, Unified Silla Room, and Balhae Room. The Neolithic and Bronze Age Rooms present information about and artifacts from important prehistoric sites and settlements such the Bangudae Petroglyphs and Songgung-ni.

The Historical Gallery, containing recorded and historical documents such as Hangul inscriptions, maps, and other valuable documents resides on the first floor. The Historical Gallery has nine rooms: the Hangeul Room, Prints Room, Inscriptions Room, Documents Room, Map Room, King and His Reign Room, Socio-economic Life Room, Traditional Thoughts Room, and Foreign Relations Room.

The second floor contains the Fine Arts Gallery I and the Donation Gallery hosting the Painting Room, Calligraphy Room, Buddhist Paintings Room, and Wooden Craft Room. The Fine Arts Gallery I contains 890 pieces of art in four rooms that explore the traditional and religious arts of Korea in line and color.

The Donation Gallery holds 1000 pieces of art from a wide variety of cultures donated from the private collections of collectors. The Donation Gallery hosts the following rooms: the Lee Hong-kun Collection Room, Other Collections Room, Kim Chong-hak Collection Room, Yu Kang-yul Collection Room, Park Young-sook Collection Room, Choi Young-do Collection Room, Park Byong-rae Collection Room, Yoo Chang-jong Collection Room, Kaneko Kazushige Collection Room, Hachiuma Tadasu Collection Room, and Luchi Isao Collection Room.

The third floor houses the Fine Arts Gallery II, containing 630 pieces that represent Korean Buddhist sculpture and craftwork. Highlights of the gallery include Goryeo Celadon wares and National Treasure of Korea No. 83, the world-renowned Bangasayusang (or meditating Maiterya). The gallery has five rooms: Metal Arts Room, Celadon Room, Buncheong Ware Room, White Porcelain Room, and Buddhist Sculpture Room.

Finally, also on the third floor, the Asian Arts Gallery contains 970 pieces exploring the similarities and divergences of Asian Art as well as the confluence of Asian and Western art via the Silk Road. Six rooms make up the gallery: Indonesian Art Room, Central Asian Art Room, Chinese Art Room, Relics from Sinan Seabed Room, Nangnang Remains Room, and Japanese Art Room.

The grounds of the museum contain parks, gardens of indigenous plants, waterfalls and pools, a collection of pagodas and other outdoor Korean art.

Treasures from Pyongyang Exhibit

Ninety significant cultural artifacts displayed at the National Museum of Korea loaned by the Korean Central History Museum in Pyongyang until August 16, 2006, then moved to the Taegu National Museum from August 28 to October 26, 2006.[1] North and South curators designed the exhibit to engender other cultural property exchanges between the two Koreas. Noteworthy among the collection: a bird bone flute from 2000 B.C.E., the oldest extant musical instrument from Korea. [2]. A bronze statue of Wang Geon, the first king of the Goryeo Dynasty tops the list for important items exhibted. Standing 138.3 centimeter in height, archeologist excavated the statue in 1992 at his mausoleum in Kaesong. believed originally dressed in royal clothes, the statue's clothing has disappeared. North Korea loaned famous paintings from the Joseon Dynasty for the exhibit.

Gallery

How to Visit

  • Metro Line 4 and Yongsan-Deokso Line, Ichon Station (Exit 2,1)
  • Rapid bus (red) : 9502 get off at Ichon Station
  • Branch bus (green) : 0211 get off at Ichon Station

See also

  • List of Korea-related topics
  • List of museums

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

http://news.sawf.org/Travel/3572.aspx
http://www.korea-is-one.org/article.php3?id_article=2415

External links

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