Showcase for 5 000-Year History of the Korean Nation
Pyongyang Folk Park was newly set up. Covering over 200 hectres and
located at the foot of Mt. Taesong in the capital city of Pyongyang,
the park is divided into several areas–those of general history
education, historical relics exhibition, contemporary times, folklore
village, folk games–where are displayed the cultural assets and
relics created by Koreans in the different ages of their development,
and contemporary creations in their real sizes or in miniature.
Long history, splendid culture and unique customs
The Korean nation has 5 000-year-long history, culture and beautiful
traditions and customs unique to it.
This is clearly illustrated by the nine large mural paintings in the
general history education area. The murals deal with the territories
of the ancient states in their respective thriving periods, and their
founding fathers, famous generals and persons, struggles against
foreign invasion, scientific and cultural creative activities, and
customs. Models of weapons, monuments and towers characteristic of
various periods of the nation’s development are erected on both
sides of the central road of the park.
The area for historical relics exhibition provides a clear glimpse of
the primitive, ancient and middle ages. Displayed there are the
replicas of the Komunmoru Site in Sangwon County and earliest type of
man in Korea, and the sculptures of two-horn rhinoceros, flat-antler
deer and mammoth, and straw-thatched huts, all representative of the
early period of the Paleolithic era. Also exhibited there are dolmens
and the miniature of pyramid-type mausoleum of King Tangun, the
founding father of Ancient Joson and of the Korean nation. They
illustrate that Ancient Joson (early 30th century B.C.-108
B.C.) was a strong slave state.
On display in the section of middle age are many remains and relics
including the mural paintings in tombs in the period of Koguryo (277
B.C.-A.D. 668) that were registered as world heritage. What draws
particular attention is the mural paintings in the tomb of King
Kogugwon. The mural depicting the king dealing with state affairs and
that portraying a long procession are masterpieces which are typical
murals in the middle age of Korea and of great significance in the
world history of fine arts. This area also includes Sokgul Grotto in
Kyongju, one of the three treasures in the East, the 66-metre-high
pagoda in Kumgang Temple, Pigyokjinchonroe, the first
delayed-fuse demolition bomb, turtle-shaped ship, the first iron-clad
warship in the world, udometer and Chomsongdae observatory.
Covering scores of hectares, the folklore village area is more
impressive. There visitors can see many structures which have been
built on the principle of fidelity to the historical truth. Among
them are a part of a fortified wall and government office building
and Kyongdang school where warriors were trained in Koguryo
period, a royal palace in the period of Palhae, a relics exhibition
of Koryo period (918-1392) and a 99-bay house of aristocrats. The
Korean Folk Museum is housed in the government office building of
Koguryo period and the royal palace of Palhae so as to help visitors
understand the traditions and beautiful manners and traits of the
Korean nation in a short time. There are also houses representative
of provinces in the period of the Feudal Joson Dynasty (1392-1910),
where special dishes of provinces concerned are served.
Epitome of Modern Korea
Modern history occupies a particularly brilliant position in the 5
000-year-long history of the Korean nation.
Entering the area for the contemporary times visitors can see the
magnificent Mt. Paektu regarded as the ancestral mountain in Korea.
Mt. Paektu is the centre of the anti-Japanes war organized by Kim Il
Sung (1912-1994), founding father of socialist Korea, to win back the
lost country. In other words, contemporary times originated in the
mountain. It is the mountain in which Kim Jong Il (1942-2011), who
ushered in a new heyday of prosperity, was born. There visitors can
see Jong Il Peak, named after him, and his native home.
This area is divided into two sections, one dedicated to monuments
and the other to structures, where the monumental edifices built by
the Korean people are exhibited.
The former section represents in an intensive way the modern history
of Korea. The Arch of Triumph is a monument to the exploits Kim Il
Sung performed to defeat the Japanese imperialists and achieve the
liberation of Korea (August 1945). Also on display are the miniatures
of the Party Founding Memorial Tower built to glorify the history of
the Workers’ Party of Korea that leads the Korean people to victory
and glory, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Memorial Tower
built to eulogize the Korean people who defeated the United States
which boasted of “being strongest” and defended their
sovereignty, the Tower of the Juche Idea, which symbolizes the
immortality of the idea, eternal guiding ideology in the era of
independence, and the Three Charters for National Reunification
Memorial Tower which inspires the visitors with confidence that the
earnest desire of the Korean people for national reunification will
surely be realized.
Exhibited in the latter section are monumental structures permeated
with the creative wisdom of the Korean people. Among them are the
Korean Revolution Museum, Grand People’s Study House, Okryu
Restaurant, Chollima Statue, Pyongyang Grand Theatre, Ice Rink,
Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, People’s Palace of Culture,
8-kilometre-long West Sea Barrage, 105-storeyed Ryugyong Hotel, and
parachute-shaped May Day Stadium, all representative of the different
stages of modern history of Korea. They were built in only dozens of
years under the leadership of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
In a nutshell, Pyongyang Folk Park vividly showcases how the 5
000-year-long history of Korea has been created and glorified.
No comments:
Post a Comment