A Study on the Locational and Spatial Characteristics of Lotus Ponds of Fortress Wall of Seoul(漢陽都城) during the Joseon Dynasty

Abstract

In the maps of the period, there were three large ponds called Dongji(東池), Seoji(西池) and Namji(南池) in Hanyang, the capital of Joseon Dynasty. They were different than the ponds found in the palace, civic buildings, and private dwellings. Dongji, Seoji and Namji were ponds relating to Fortress wall of Seoul, and all had lotuses cultivated in them. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the locational and spatial characteristics of these ponds and to detail the construction and reconstruction process and management conditions through maps, drawings, illustrations, historical records and literary works from the urban environmental perspective.The results are as follows. First, Seoji and Namji were intended for Bibo(裨補) which redeemed the geographical weaknesses of Hanyang, securement of bright court water(明堂水), supplement for fire energy(火氣), fire preventive water and waterscape facilities, while Dongji was emphasized on protecting water mouth(水口) besides Bibo and securement of bright court water. Second, Seoji was connected to mountain streams and Dongji and Namji were to ditches. The ponds connected to ditches had been difficult to fill and maintain. Third, Seoji and Namji were in urban areas, whereas Dongji was in farmlands, and these locational differences had an influence on the use of ponds. Fourth, the shapes of ponds, in contrast to the ponds in palace and civic buildings, which were perfectly square, were either freeform or square with rounded edges. Fifth, lotus ponds could be maintained by continuous management polices, earth filling and reconstructing process were repeated during the Joseon Dynasty.The lotus ponds of Fortress Wall of Seoul which had managed over 500 years, were built in, in accordance with the tenets of Bibo pungsu geomancy; however as time passed, they were maintained not only as public open spaces, but also a cultural attraction for residents and visitors. 4)