The Eight Gates of Seoul



The Eight Gates of Seoul are a series of historic gates located in Seoul, South Korea. Two of the gates are now destroyed, although the others are still standing. The gates were constructed between 1396 and 1398, and allowed access to the city, which was surrounded by the Fortress Wall during the Joseon period.

Introduction


The Eight Gates were based roughly in the four cardinal and four intermediate directions of the compass. Of the eight gates, the North, South, East, and West were known as the “Four Great Gates”, while the Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest gates were known as the “Four Small Gates”.

Of the eight gates, two (West and Southwest) no longer exist. Memorials are currently placed roughly where the West and Southwest gates once stood (July 2012). There has been discussion and announcements about rebuilding the West Gate, but no construction has yet been undertaken (as of July 2012) for this gate.

On February 10, 2008, the South Gate was severely damaged in a fire set by an arsonist. The gate was rebuilt over five years, and reopened to the public on May 4, 2013. This gate has the designation of National Treasure No. 1 of South Korea. Of the eight gates, the South and East gates are the largest, and both are located in busy market areas (Namdaemun Market and Dongdaemun Market, respectively).

Names
The eight gates have had various names over the centuries, and may still be referenced by different names. The charts below give the most common names for the gates. Official names and spellings are taken from signage currently found at and on the gates themselves. Note that Hanja is read right-to-left at times, and left-to right at other times. Thus, the character for "gate" (mun, 門) may appear either on the left or right side of actual signboards.