Palaces are symbol for cultural identity, and it has been marked, for centuries, as history by every country in the world. They have been built in many different architecture plan and layout, structure and construction techniques, decorative styles an...
Palaces are symbol for cultural identity, and it has been marked, for centuries, as history by every country in the world. They have been built in many different architecture plan and layout, structure and construction techniques, decorative styles and architectural details, and even religious interpretation and symbolism that can be seen on the architecture of those palaces.
This study attempts to explain the similarities and difference between two palaces that are located in very different geographical regions, climate and social structure background. They are Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea (built in 1395) and Kraton Palace in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (built from 1755 – 1756).
The thesis is based on the data collected from site visit to Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul, South Korea and Kraton palace in central Java, Indonesia, and literature review that comes up with the comparison of each palace using geomancy concept that were prevalent in the palaces themselves. In this research, Vastusastra (Hindu cosmological concept) that was assimilated with Javanese culture in Keraton Yogyakarta’s geomancy concept was applied into Gyeongbokgung Palace point of view. Similar, the Feng Shui concept from Confucianism culture in Korea as Gyeongbokgung Palace’s geomancy concept was also applied into Keraton Yogyakarta point of view.
The different attributes of the structures are described and analyzed with reference to the standardized cosmology and geomancy design of each palace in some interesting main spaces such as Main/ Throne Hall, Office Quarter, Living Quarter, and Pavilion or other Fun Area in the palace. Design issues that will also be discussed, and these issues include the layout setting, architectural design and characteristic, together with the overview of their form, material, and pattern as well as chronological development and use of the sites. Finally, the influence of religious doctrine and culture, as expressed in architecture, as a result of applied cosmology and geomancy which were using the same sun, moon, stars and any other constellation movement in this planet, are also explored.