▲ Taewonjeon where to enshrine the portrait of King Taejo.   To the northwest of Gyeongbokgung are various shrines, including Binjeon, Honjeon and Yeongjeon. Binjeon was where the caskets of the royal deceased were laid soon after their deaths. Honjeon was where their mortuary tablets were housed for two years until they were sent to Jongmyo, the Royal Ancestral Shrine. Yeongjeon displayed portraits of the deceased and rites were held in front of these images. Taewonjeon Shrine held the portrait of King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Later, it was used for other purposes, such as housing mortuary tablets and performing rites for the deceased. This quiet area is isolated from the other palace buildings. King Gojong(1852-1919) often went to Gongmukjae, a rite-preparation building adjacent to Taewonjeon, to meet his court officials. Taewonjeon was dismantled in the early 20th century and the current building is an exact replica of the old structure. Befitting a shrine, the building exudes a somber ambience.

▲ Sukmundang   ▲ The potrait of King Taejo