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.
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.”
Another guard keeps a vigilant watch over the main hall of Gyeongbokgung palace.
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.
A Haetate lies flat on its belly, to ward off evil from the Kings.
A Longevity symbol lies hidden under Gwanghwamun gate, breathing fire to keep harm away
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Comments (38)
Great tips Glen! I am headed here next Saturday.
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!
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
Thanks for sharing... your tips are simply excellent. My ratings are with you!!
hey thanks for ur korea tips :) im singaporean too! vic
Hello everyone - Thanks for the encouragement. Badin-you're right, things are tad expensive over here, esp the designer stuff.
Love reading your travel page on SEOUL, looking forward to my next trip! thanks for sharing!
hi..nice website...i been there last sepetember,2006....unfortunately everthing is expensive..hope to go again...
Thanks again! I came back looking for the directions and you helped once again :)
lovely page! Nikos
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