Manwoltae is the site of king’s palace of Koryo state from 919 to 1361.
It is at the southern foot of Mt. Songak in Kaesong city. Only foundations are left after it was burnt up by the foreign invasion in 1361.
The royal palace consists of central, western and eastern groups of architectural buildings.
The central architectural building group consists of 3 large palace buildings and other annex buildings.
In the central buildings of the palace, they held state functions, the morning meetings, met foreign envoys and discussed important state affairs like war.
The central architectural building group tells almost of its original look by unearthing.
In front of the central building group, there is grand axis stand, which is 60 m long and 7.8 m high. This axis stand has 4 sets of stairs with 33 steps towards the central building group.
On the stand, there is site of Hoigyongjon, the main building where the kings had official ceremonies. This building was the largest one in the palace, with 9 bays in front and 4 bays on the side. In front of Hoigyongjon is a large yard where all the officials had morning sessions, and behind it is the site of Janghwajon.
On the western lower area of the central building sites, there are western architectural building sites in which there had been over 20 palace buildings.
Here we can find Kontokjon, the 2nd largest building after Hoigyongjon. Except holding important functions, ceremonies or discussing important state affairs, the Koryo kings normally looked after the state affairs in Kontokjon. In this area, there had been many other palace buildings, shrines and temples such as Sonjongjon, Chungkwangjon, Yongyongjon and Jangryongjon which had been used as the king’s private quarters and Manryongjon, the building that had king’s bedroom.
The most part of the western architectural building group is still unearthed, except some parts.
On the eastern lower area of the central building sites, there are eastern architectural building sites. According to record books Kyonmunrok, in this area, there had been Palace for the crowning prince.
The unearthing and record books tell the palace buildings had been built magnificently with wood in a traditional architectural way, enhancing the royal position. They used glazed and calcined green roof tiles, decorated the buildings with metals such as gold, silver and copper and lacquered in various colours to add maximum luxury.On the stand, there is site of Hoigyongjon, the main building where the kings had official ceremonies. This building was the largest one in the palace, with 9 bays in front and 4 bays on the side. In front of Hoigyongjon is a large yard where all the officials had morning sessions, and behind it is the site of Janghwajon.
On the western lower area of the central building sites, there are western architectural building sites in which there had been over 20 palace buildings.
Here we can find Kontokjon, the 2nd largest building after Hoigyongjon. Except holding important functions, ceremonies or discussing important state affairs, the Koryo kings normally looked after the state affairs in Kontokjon. In this area, there had been many other palace buildings, shrines and temples such as Sonjongjon, Chungkwangjon, Yongyongjon and Jangryongjon which had been used as the king’s private quarters and Manryongjon, the building that had king’s bedroom.
The most part of the western architectural building group is still unearthed, except some parts.
On the eastern lower area of the central building sites, there are eastern architectural building sites. According to record books Kyonmunrok, in this area, there had been Palace for the crowning prince.
The unearthing and record books tell the palace buildings had been built magnificently with wood in a traditional architectural way, enhancing the royal position. They used glazed and calcined green roof tiles, decorated the buildings with metals such as gold, silver and copper and lacquered in various colours to add maximum luxury.
