Jongmyo & Changdeokgung

Koreans are proud of their culture very much, I think.

A policy, visitors must join a tour with a guide, is made by Jongmyo these years. I thought it was aimed at protecting the structures, but I might be wrong. 

To match the time, I joined a Japanese tour. The guide was very good at Japanese, and likely knew Japan a lot. I guessed it would be boring if I visited Jongmyo alone, because I learned many things about it from that guide. She said that Jongmyo was listed in the world heritage and rated highly, because every year in May, the posterity of Joseon Dynasty holds the traditional rites. Jongmyo ariginated from China, and could be found in southeast Asia countries. They just remain the structures, while Korean Jongmyo continues holding rites. For that, I got clear why there was a guide. Koreans are doing an effort  to show foreign visitors their culture, that is the point.

Waiting to get in Jongmyo

Main structure of Jongmyo

I visited Changdeokgung, one of the Five Grand Palaces in Joseon Dynasty, and found it resembled the palace in northeast China which also had floors upon the ground and stovepipe outside the house to keep the room warm and resist the cold climate in winter. It is simple nature. I like structures with the original wooden color more than the painting stuffs, though I didn't expect to see them in a palace.

Main gate of Changdeokgung

Injeongieon, Main Hall 

stovepipe

Floor upon the ground