"Silent Guards" Seoul Travelogue by bpacker


Seoul Travel Guide: 3,322 reviews and 6,303 photos

Keeping a vigilant watch over centuries..

Behind the Chinese-looking facade of Gyeongbokgung Palace lies a host of silent protectors.
Cracked with age, they have largely been forgotten even though they have protected the palace from countless of invasions and fires.

Warding off evil,

These creatures exist only in mythology. Perhaps, nothing is more apt than the quote from the Korean Herald :

“All follows from the haetae's vocation to root out violent change. The large nose sniffs for hidden iniquity or distant smoke. The big, luminous eyes stare alert into the middle distance, concerned not with what is but with what will be. The cavernous mouth with overshot lower jaw fastens like a bulldog on the past, not letting it go. The well-bred haetae is a thoughtful, even intuitive creature. Enemy of change, it is no fan of newborn things; it will eat a child who gets too close. It can
challenge time itself, bite the sun or moon, and create an eclipse.”

Watching over royal halls and...

Another guard keeps a vigilant watch over the main hall of Gyeongbokgung palace.

and ancient remains...

Who would have thought that an ordinary monument would bear the marks of a practicing swordsman?
Someone's fury was carved deep in this monument as uniform slashmarks were found in front and behind the marker.

These silent guards live on the floors,

A Haetate lies flat on its belly, to ward off evil from the Kings.

.....ceilings,

A Longevity symbol lies hidden under Gwanghwamun gate, breathing fire to keep harm away

  • Page Updated Feb 23, 2004
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Comments (38)

Post a Comment   Submit Comment  
  • Jim_Eliason's Profile Photo
    Jim_Eliason Nov 11, 2007 at 6:56 PM Report Abuse

    Great tips Glen! I am headed here next Saturday.

  • angiebabe's Profile Photo
    angiebabe Oct 26, 2007 at 1:47 AM Report Abuse

    lovely shots you have too!thanx for visiting&rating my pages& kind comments.My cameras- Nikon SLR f60 &f55,Samsung digimax 7mgpixel,now a Panasonic lumix tz3.Want a nikon SLR digital but waiting for the right price?!will come back to your Seoul page soon!

  • ftho Oct 3, 2007 at 9:05 AM Report Abuse

    Your SEOUl page is a 6 star. That guy at make-shift stall in Namdaemum deserves to be punched & you gave him a knock-out blow on tis site. Hopefully, it will be the begining of his end.. Very helpful guide in my coming trip in Oct. TQ

  • Fra.da. Jul 6, 2007 at 1:56 AM Report Abuse

    Thanks for sharing... your tips are simply excellent. My ratings are with you!!

  • celloplay's Profile Photo
    celloplay May 24, 2007 at 11:02 AM Report Abuse

    hey thanks for ur korea tips :) im singaporean too! vic

  • bpacker's Profile Photo
    bpacker Mar 20, 2007 at 7:39 PM Report Abuse

    Hello everyone - Thanks for the encouragement. Badin-you're right, things are tad expensive over here, esp the designer stuff.

  • Eurasian68's Profile Photo
    Eurasian68 Dec 23, 2006 at 4:07 AM Report Abuse

    Love reading your travel page on SEOUL, looking forward to my next trip! thanks for sharing!

  • badin's Profile Photo
    badin Dec 6, 2006 at 7:38 PM Report Abuse

    hi..nice website...i been there last sepetember,2006....unfortunately everthing is expensive..hope to go again...

  • Teacher_at_loss's Profile Photo
    Teacher_at_loss Nov 4, 2006 at 8:47 PM Report Abuse

    Thanks again! I came back looking for the directions and you helped once again :)

  • volopolo Oct 15, 2006 at 10:18 AM Report Abuse

    lovely page! Nikos

bpacker

“Using HK as a springboard to see the world and eating fine as usual”

Online Now

Female

Top 1,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 0 0 6 1

Badges & Stats in Seoul

  • 45 Reviews
  • 71 Photos
  • 42 Forum posts
  • 40 Comments
  • 40,131PageViews

Have you been to Seoul?

  Share Your Travels  

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (5)

Latest Seoul hotel reviews

Ellui Hotel Seoul
28 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 26, 2011
Hotel Flower
12 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 11, 2011
Marriott Executive Apartments - Yeouido Park Centre
25 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Nov 19, 2011
The Shilla Seoul
510 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 10, 2012
Hotel Nostalgia
8 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 23, 2011
Central Hotel Seoul
31 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 6, 2012
Beewon Guesthouse
25 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 8, 2012
New Boolim Tourist Hotel Seoul
77 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 30, 2011
Cheongdam Human Starville, Seoul
10 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Oct 31, 2011
Gumi Century Hotel
3 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Oct 24, 2011
Young Dong
22 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Nov 28, 2011
Seoul Palace Hotel
65 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 18, 2011
Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul
40 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 28, 2011
Holiday In Korea Hostel
18 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Sep 23, 2011
Kyoyuk MunHwa HoeKwan Hotel
12 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Nov 11, 2011