| Title |
Architectural Characteristics of Gwanwoldang at Kotoku-in, Japan |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2025.41.12.221 |
| Keywords |
Gwanwoldang; Kotoku-in; Joseon Royal Household; Ancestral Shrine; K-Shared Heritage |
| Abstract |
The building known as Gwanwoldang at Kotoku-in in Kamakura, Japan, was dismantled and returned to Korea. This study examines the
architectural characteristics of Gwanwoldang up to the period immediately before its dismantling in 2024 and explores its possible function as
an ancestral shrine associated with the Joseon royal family. Based on Japanese documentary sources, the historical development of
Gwanwoldang was analyzed, and the long-standing hypothesis that its prototype derived from Naebul-dang in Gyeongbokgung Palace was
critically reassessed. Alternative interpretations of its original form were also considered. Through analysis of its structural and decorative
features, Gwanwoldang was reconstructed as a shrine-type building related to the Joseon royal lineage. Comparison with Chilgung, a
representative surviving royal shrine of the Joseon dynasty, indicates that Gwanwoldang shares key characteristics of typical Joseon royal
shrine architecture. However, given its smaller scale than Chilgung, it is presumed to have enshrined a royal family member of lower status
than the concubines honored at Chilgung. |