The Only Joseon Dynasty 'Wondang' Architectural Artifact in Seoul and Gyeonggi Region... Designated as Cultural Heritage

Seoul City Preserves Signboards of Bongwonsa Chilseonggak and Uisojegak

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] A Joseon Dynasty building and a nameplate built to commemorate the late Yi So, the eldest grandson of King Yeongjo (1750?1752), have been designated as cultural properties by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

On the 14th, Seoul announced that it would designate the 'Bongwonsa Chilseonggak' located in Seodaemun-gu and the 'Bongwonsa Yi So Jegak nameplate' found there as city cultural materials.

The nameplate inscribed with 'Yi So Jegak (懿昭祭閣)' refers to a pavilion built to pray for the repose of Yi So, the grandson of King Yeongjo and the eldest son of Crown Prince Sado. In 2011, while repairing the altar of Bongwonsa Chilseonggak, the city discovered this nameplate and confirmed the inscribed characters through dry rubbing and ultraviolet photography analysis.

Based on records such as the Annals of King Yeongjo, it is presumed that the Yi So tomb, built outside Seodaemun, and the shrine at Changuigung on the west side of Gyeongbokgung Palace are separate from the Yi So Jegak established at Bongwonsa.

The existing Bongwonsa Chilseonggak was named when the Yi So Jegak was rebuilt in 1864. The Chilseonggak beam-raising record states, "The existing shrine had deteriorated, so it was newly reconstructed and named Chilseonggak..."

Bongwonsa Chilseonggak is the only known example in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions of a wondo (votive hall) building established by the Joseon royal family to pray for the deceased. Related artifacts are the only ones discovered in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas.

Until now, confirmed examples of buildings used as wondo include Seonhuigung Wondo at Beopjusa in Boeun, Yeonsujeon at Gounsa in Uiseong, and Seongsujeon at Songgwangsa.

Regarding why the Bongwonsa Yi So Jegak nameplate was damaged and hidden beneath the altar of Bongwonsa Chilseonggak, a Seoul city official explained, "During the Japanese colonial period, many Joseon royal family wondo in temples were closed, and related nameplates were all destroyed. It is presumed that the Yi So Jegak nameplate shared the same historical circumstances."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.