Day 18: Sunday, September 11

A Touristy Trip to the National Museum of Korea

Despite my original Chuseok plans to go visit my friend Emily in Ulsan, fate (and the sold-out Korail trains) would have it that I stay in Gwacheon and explore surrounding areas by subway.  After looking at a couple of different options for touristy activities, Hilary and I agreed that the best idea would be to see what the National Museum of Korea has to offer.  With the city shutting down for Chuseok, Museums and other attractions make it a point to stay open and then take a day off after the holiday –in this case, the Museum will be closed on Wednesday.

The National Museum of Korea also seemed like a great option because is that it is on the subway line that runs through Gwacheon (line #4, which is also known as the light blue line).  So, Hilary and I boarded the subway train at Gwacheon Government Complex, which is a two-minute walk from our apartment block and made our way to the Museum.

Going up the stairs to the National Museum of Korea

Coming up to the Entrance of the Main Exhibition Hall

Front Foyer of the National Museum of Korea

It’s important to note that there are two exhibit halls at the museum.  The main part of the museum has three exquisite floors and offers free admission. The other section is reserved for a special exhibition that changes as often as an exhibition at home would, but the topic did not really appeal to Hilary or I, so we went for the free and easy route... without an English guide (gasp!).  After picking up the pamphlet for English-speakers, Hilary and I headed for the 3^rd floor of the Museum.  Surprisingly, the entrance to each gallery and all of the artefacts were labelled in both Korean and English.

 

On the 3^rd floor, there was the Asia Gallery and the Sculpture & Crafts Gallery that housed my favourite section of the whole museum, the Buddhist Sculptures.  Both galleries were organized into 5 sections, depending on place of origin and/or material of the artefact; India and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, the Sinan Shipwreck Collection, Japan, Buddhist Sculpture, Metal Crafts, Celadon, Buncheon Ware and White Porcelain all had their own sections in the galleries.  Overall, there were 600 works in the Sculpture & Crafts Gallery that captured the essence of Korean crafts, and a total of 970 artefacts showing off the “universality and diversity of Asian cultures” in the Asia Gallery.

Buddhist Sculptures

Open Lotus

Fuxi and Nuwa

The explanation for Fuxi and Nuwa... interesting!

Spices from the Sinan Shipwreck Collection

Then, when we arrive on the second floor of the museum, there were two more galleries: the Donations Gallery and the Calligraphy & Painting Gallery.  At the entrance of the Calligraphy & Painting Gallery, there was a live-sized mock-up of a Sarangbang (Scholar’s Studio), with all the typical furniture that one would see in the gentleman’s quarters.  As a part of Korean history and culture, Confucianism has a hierarchal system much like the caste system of India wherein the Scholar was considered to be the highest.  More recently the hierarchy seems inverted so the Scholar has less modern-day worth, but education is still highly valued and the Scholar is still a prominent figure of Korean culture.  Within the Donations gallery, there were nine main contributors, some of which were of Japanese descent and had donated in the hopes of re-establishing positive bonds between Japan and Korea.  Since the 800 artefacts were donated from a variety of private collectors, the Donations Gallery showed a wonderful array of culturally-diverse remnants, ranging from roof-end tiles to bronze helmets, duck-shaped vessels to Buddha heads.  

Buddhist statue and yours truly :D

One of the prettiest Silk Screens in the gallery

Japanese Warrior... accessories not included

Hindu Deities Masks

Finally, we walked down to the 1^st floor to the Prehistory & Ancient History Gallery and the Medieval & Early Modern History Gallery.  While the Neolithic, Palaeolithic and Bronze Age sections of the gallery showcased things that could be on display in Canada (for example, arrowheads), there was approximately 10,000 relics displayed from the Palaeolithic period to the Unified Silla and Balhae periods.  Between the two galleries stood a Ten-Story Pagoda with carvings of traditional Buddhist images.

Gold Crown from the Silla Kingdom, nicely showcased in glass... makes you want to plan a heist doesn't it?

If you're wanting to feel small, I strongly recommend standing beside a ten-story Pagoda.

Last, but not least, Hilary and I began to explore the outdoor exhibits area of the National Museum.  While overlooking the Botanic Garden for Traditional Dyes, it started to,  so we quickly strolled over to the Reflecting Pond to snap a couple of pictures of the Cheonjajeong (pavilion with Celadon Roof Tiles).  Although we were being rained out, we were just happy it didn’t happen earlier, particularly because there was a call for thundershowers all weekend.   

The Reflecting Pond... it's usually more reflective when the sun is at full force.