A request that this article title be changed to Ganghwasanseong is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
Ganghwasanseong Fortress (Korean: 강화산성; Hanja: 江華山城) was a fortress that started construction in 1232 to serve as the capital of the Goryeo kingdom. It was built following the relocation of the Goryeo court from Kaesong to Ganghwa Island during the Mongol invasions of Korea. Although it was destroyed as part of a peace deal with the Mongols, parts were later rebuilt and continued to serve a defensive purpose until the 20th century.
| Ganghwasanseong Fortress | |
|---|---|
 The eastern gate | |
  Location of Ganghwasanseong Fortress in South Korea | |
| 37°45′20″N 126°28′37″E / 37.75556°N 126.47694°E | |
| Type | Fortress |
| Location | San 3, Gukhwa-ri, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon[1] |
| History | |
| Built | 1232 |
| Built for | Goryeo dynasty |
| Site notes | |
| Area | 789,204 square metres (8,494,920 sq ft) |
Official name | Ganghwasanseong Fortress |
| Designated | June 10, 1964 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 강화산성 |
| Hanja | 江華山城 |
| RR | Ganghwasanseong |
| MR | Kanghwasansŏng |
The original structure consisted of three layers of rammed earth walls. This reflected the triple-layer design of the Kaesong city walls. The inner wall surrounded the palace site, and the outer wall extended down Ganghwa Island's eastern coastline. This defensive system was intended to prevent invasions from the mainland. The inner and outer walls were rebuilt during the Joseon period, however the middle wall was never rebuilt. Both the inner and outer walls were eventually reconstructed in stone.
The strategic location of the fortress, protecting the mouth of the Han River, meant it remained an important military site. It was damaged during the 1866 French expedition to Korea and the 1871 United States expedition to Korea. The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 was signed at the site. The inner fortress was designated a Historic Site in 1964, and has seen significant restoration work since. The outer walls were designated a separate Historic Site in 2003.
History
editDuring the Mongol invasions of Korea, the Goryeo court moved to Ganghwa Island in 1232.[2]: 169–170 This decision was made by Ch'oe U, a military leader who controlled the government during the reign of King Gojong of Goryeo.[3]: 4 The population of the former capital, Kaesong, was around 100,000 at that time, and significant development was needed on Ganghwa to accommodate all those moving to the relatively safe island.[3]: 5
Construction of the new capital was likely supervised by the Jangjakgam.[4]: 383 Around 2,000 soldiers are recorded to have been involved in the construction of the complex.[3]: 4 The builders may also have included civilians.[4]: 382 Artisans from the capital were likely involved in producing giwa (roof tiles) at the site.[4]: 392 Construction accelerated in January 1234.[1]
The fortress was a multi-layered system with inner, middle, and outer walls, designed to resist potential Mongol coastal invasions.[2]: 173 These defensive walls protected the palace complex. The outer wall was likely constructed first, followed by the middle wall.[3]: 4 All of the walls were demolished as part of the peace deal after the Koreans surrender to the Mongols and the capital moved back to the mainland.[3]: 4 [5]
The Sambyeolcho Rebellion started on Ganghwa in June 1270.[2]: 166 The outer walls of the Ganghwa fortress may have inspired the construction of the Hwanhaejangseong walls around Jeju Island by the Sambyeolcho. Either or both of these may have then inspired the Genkō Bōrui in Kyushu, Japan.[2]: 169–170
The Joseon dynasty rebuilt the inner fortress, although it was destroyed again during the 1636–1637 Qing invasion of Joseon. It was again rebuilt, and slightly enlarged, during the rule of Sukjong of Joseon.[1][5] The outer wall was repaired in 1618 during the rule of King Gwanghaegun, but was also destroyed during the Qing invasion.[6] The outer wall was also rebuilt using stone under Sukjong, with new fortifications being constructed along it.[6] Fortifications built along the coast during the late 17th century include the Ganghwa Dondae Fortresses. These were sometimes built upon former structures.[3]: 6 [7] Erosion during rain led to the outer wall being reconstructed in 1743 on the initiative of a local governor, who obtained permission from King Yeongjo.[6]
The fortress was damaged again in 1866 during the French expedition to Korea.[1] An extension of the Joseon Kyujanggak library (referred to as the Oegyujanggak) was mostly destroyed during the French invasion. Copies of the Uigwe were taken from this library to France, although they have been returned to South Korea on a permanent loan.[5]
The island also saw military action during the 1871 United States expedition to Korea.[8] The fortress was the location of the signing of the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876.[1] Ganghwa Island served as a military fort protecting the Han River until the 20th century.[8]
The inner fortress was designated as the Ganghwasanseong Fortress (강화산성; 江華山城) Historic Site on 10 June 1964.[1] Extensive restoration took place after 1977.[9] The outer wall was separately designated as its own Historic Site (강화외성; 江華外城) on October 25, 2003.[6]
Design
editThe layout of the Ganghwasanseong resembled the previous capital, suggesting it was intended to provide governance as well as serve military purposes.[4]: 373 The triple wall structure also reflected the Kaesong city walls around the old capital.[4]: 384 Later fortresses constructed by the Sambyeolcho also had similar designs,[4]: 373 however Ganghwasanseong was geographically quite close to the former capital, and was likely seen in a different context.[4]: 371
The initial fortifications were all made of earth.[1] The construction of the walls appears to have varied by terrain. Some techniques, such as filling a gap between two rows of stones with rubble, were later used by the Sambyeolcho in Jeju.[4]: 382–383 Other commonalities between the sites include the positioning of timber within the walls and the addition of an interior waterway.[4]: 383
Inner fortress
editThe inner fortress now sometimes referred to by itself as Ganghwasanseong Fortress (강화산성; 江華山城).[5][1] It is also referred to as the Ganghwaeupseong Walled Town.[6] It was designed to be similar to Manwŏltae, the palace complex in Kaesong.[1] While the palace building was overall smaller than the Kaesong complex, it had rooms with similar functions.[5]
The inner wall was 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) long. It had four main gates, as well as four hidden gates and two water gates.[1] The four main gates were referred to as the Anparu (the southern gate), Cheomhwaru (the eastern gate), Manghanru (the western gate), and Jinsongru (the northern gate).[9] The south gate collapsed in 1955, but was restored in 1975. The current eastern gate was built in 2011.[5]
The Yeonmudang pavilion near the west gate, once a military training area, was where the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 was signed.[9] This treaty is now viewed in Korea as an unequal treaty favoring Japan, and a memorial has been established at the site. The area between the eastern and southern gates is now covered by parts of the main Ganghwa town. There was originally three watchtowers: Namjangdae (남장대), Bukjangdae (북장대), and Seojangdae (서장대). While none survived, Namjangdae was rebuilt in 2010.[5] The currently protected site covers 789,204 square metres (8,494,920 sq ft).[1]
Middle wall
editThe middle earthen wall stretched around the inner palace. It had eight gates[9] and protected the inner fortress from the eastern coast.[1] Relatively little evidence of the wall remains.[5] However, what does remain preserves the original Goryeo rammed earth construction, unlike other areas which were rebuilt at later times. Remains of 11.39 kilometres (7.08 mi) of wall have been found in a "C" shape. It is thought to have had 17 gates of various sizes.[10]
To construct the wall, bedrock was flattened if necessary, and then covered by a layer of clay. A layer of stones was placed upon this, including foundation stones placed about 4 metres (13 ft) apart on top of which pillars were built. These pillars were connected by wooden planks about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) wide, forming a frame of about 4 by 4.5 metres (13 ft × 15 ft). Earth was used to construct the rest of the wall, sometimes topped by tiles.[4]: 382
Outer wall
editThe outer wall (외성; 外城) was originally built from 1233 to 1237.[4]: 382 Its completion is recorded in the Goryeosa. It stretched 23 kilometres (14 mi) along the island's eastern coast.[6] There are few archaeological remains of the original Goryeo walls.[2]: 161 However, what has been found in excavations has provided information on historical fort construction techniques.[6]
The final wall was around 6 metres (20 ft) high and 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) wide, made of large stones topped by stone bricks. The Chojijin Fortress lies on one end of the 23 kilometres (14 mi) length. The wall could be passed through via six main gates, six secret gates, and further had 17 sluice gates. The area of land designated as a Historic Site is 255,544.9 square metres (2,750,662 sq ft).[6]
See also
edit
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Ganghwasanseong Fortress". Korea Heritage Service. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- 1 2 3 4 5 김보한 [Kim Bo Han] (2017). "몽골의 고려･일본 침공과 해안성곽의 성격에 대한 고찰 [Consideration on the Character of Coastal Castles in the Mongolian Invasion of Korea and Japan]". 한일관계사연구 (in Korean). 58: 151–177.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wanghoon Rhee; Young-Jae Kim (28 April 2022). "Understanding Ganghwa Dondae Forts as a Vernacular Model of Construction and Reuse". Buildings. 12 (5). doi:10.3390/buildings12050568.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 김호준 [Kim Hojun] (2020). "삼별초 제주도 항몽유적의 축성시기 검토 - 항파두리성과 환해장성을 중심으로 [A Review Of The Construction Period of Sambyeolcho's Anti-Mongolian Movement Historic Sites – Focusing on Hangpaduriseong Fortress and Hwanhaejangseong Fortress]". 동아시아고대학 (in Korean). 60: 367–404. doi:10.17070/aeaas.2020.12.60.367. ISSN 1229-8298.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 이춘희 [Lee Chunhee] (2024-04-25). "[One Day Walk] Following the Traces of 'Ganghwa Cheondo'... Ganghwa Nadeulgil Course 15" (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Outer Wall of Ganghwa Fortress". Korea Heritage Service. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ↑ "Gapgotdon Outpost". Ganghwa County. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- 1 2 Steven L. Shields (2021-05-18). "Ganghwa Island: Cultural heritage spot, defender of Seoul". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
- 1 2 3 4 "Ganghwasanseong Fortress (강화산성)". Visit Korea. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ "19-Meter Koryeo Era Bastion Discovered in Ganghwa Castle". NRich. National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. p. 47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-10-06.