# Bosingak > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bosingak > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bosingak.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosingak > Source revision: 1356858825 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Bell pavilion in Seoul, South Korea}} {{Infobox building | name = Bosingak | image = Bosingak(20240413).jpg | caption = The building in 2024 | address = 03189 54, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul | coordinates = {{coord|37.5699|126.9834|type:landmark_source:enwiki-googlemaplink|display=inline,title}} | mapframe-zoom = 14 | completion_date = 1396 | public_transit = 63m from Exit 4 of Jonggak Station on Line 1 (1-minute walk) | embedded = {{Infobox Korean name/auto |hangul=^보신각 |hanja=普信閣 |child=yes }} }} [[File:옛 보신각 동종 문화재청.jpg|thumb|The Bosingak bell (Treasure No 2. [ROK](/source/South_Korea))]] '''Bosingak''' ({{Korean|hangul=보신각}}) is a large [bell](/source/bell_(instrument)) [pavilion](/source/pavilion) on [Jongno](/source/Jongno) in [Seoul](/source/Seoul), South Korea. The bell in Bosingak gives Jongno its name, which translates to "bell street". The pavilion was originally constructed in 1395{{Citation |last=안 |first=귀숙 |script-title=ko:옛 보신각 동종 (舊 普信閣 銅鍾) (The bell of Bosingak Pavilion) |work=[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Korean_Culture) |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0028001 |access-date=2024-05-15 |publisher=[Academy of Korean Studies](/source/Academy_of_Korean_Studies) |language=ko}} but destroyed many times by both war and fire. It was designated Bosingak by Emperor [Gojong](/source/Gojong_of_the_Korean_Empire) in 1895. The bell was cast in 1468.{{Cite web |script-title=ko:보물 옛 보신각 동종 (옛 普信閣 銅鍾) : 국가유산포털 - 문화재청 (The bell of Bosingak Pavilion) |url=https://www.heritage.go.kr/heri/cul/culSelectDetail.do?pageNo=1_1_1_0&ccbaKdcd=12&ccbaAsno=00020000&ccbaCtcd=11&ccbaCpno=1121100020000 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=[Cultural Heritage Administration](/source/Cultural_Heritage_Administration) |language=ko}} In the [Joseon](/source/Joseon) period, this bell was at the center of the castle town. The bell was struck to announce the opening and closing of the four gates around Seoul. At 4 am and 10 pm the bell was struck 33 times and gates were opened and closed. It was used as a fire alarm as well.{{cite web|url=http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264135|title=Bosingak Belfry|publisher=[Korea Tourism Organization](/source/Korea_Tourism_Organization)|accessdate=2014-02-07}} In modern times, the bell is rung only at midnight on [New Year's Eve](/source/New_Year's_Eve). Because of the massive number of people who attend this ceremony, Metro trains on [Line 1](/source/Seoul_Subway_Line_1) of the [Seoul Subway](/source/Seoul_Metropolitan_Subway) do not stop at [Jonggak Station](/source/Jonggak_Station) on New Year's Eve. == History == It was in 1398 (the 7th year of King [Taejo](/source/Taejo_of_Joseon)'s reign) that the bell was first hung in [Hanyang](/source/Hanyang_(Korea)) during the Joseon Dynasty, and a bell that was cast in [Gwangju](/source/Gwangju) was hung on the west side of [Cheongungyo](/source/Cheongungyo)'s bell tower.{{cite news |last=Park |first=Chan-hwa |date=2018-01-01 |script-title=ko:보신각 종, 33번 치는 까닭은? |trans-title=Why does the bell in bosingak is rung 33 times? |url=http://www.hmhtimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1626 |language=korean|work=hanmunhwa times |location=Daejeon |access-date=2020-11-13}} Bosingak served as an important landmark and a means of keeping time for the city. The bell tower, Bosingak, was once part of the city's defensive system. It stood at the center of a busy marketplace and was used to announce the opening and closing of the city gates during the Joseon Dynasty. Every evening, the bell would toll to signal the closing of the gates, after which the city would be under curfew.Wu-Yong, J. (2018). ''The Seoul City Wall: Walking the History of Seoul''. The Seoul Institute. https://www.seoulsolution.kr/en/content/7767 Bosingak originally served as a pivotal landmark in the city, playing a significant role in timekeeping for Seoul. The Bosingak Bell, originally housed at Jongno Pavilion in 1395, tolling morning and evening hours, was destroyed by fire in 1597 during Japanese invasions. After reconstruction, a bell from Wongaksa Temple replaced it. Its origins are uncertain due to a lack of inscriptions. Records suggest it was at Sindeok wanghu's tomb before moving to Wongaksa, and later King Seonjo relocated it to Bosingak. Confusion arises with another bell called Heungcheonsa Temple Bell, now at [Deoksugung Palace](/source/Deoksugung_Palace), due to similar timelines and temple associations. Designated Treasure No. 2 since 1948, the deteriorated Bosingak Bell is displayed at the [National Museum of Korea](/source/National_Museum_of_Korea), while a replica hangs in the pavilion.Choi, E. C. (2007). Bosingak Bell: Enduring symbol of the Joseon Dynasty. ''Koreana'', ''21''(4), 52–55. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edo&AN=31881005&site=eds-live&scope=site Today, the Bosingak Bell is a symbol of Seoul and holds cultural significance. ==Gallery== Image:Boshingak.jpg Image:Korea-Seoul-Bosingak-01.jpg Image:Korea-Seoul-Bosingak-02.jpg Image:Korea-Seoul-Bosingak-03.jpg ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Bosingak}} *[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=South+Korea-Seoul&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.847644,59.0625&ie=UTF8&ll=37.569876,126.983435&spn=0.002066,0.003605&t=h&z=18 Satellite View] Category:Jongno District Category:Downtown Seoul Category:Bells (percussion) Category:Pavilions Category:Historic buildings and structures in Seoul Category:Tourist attractions in Seoul Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1396 {{SouthKorea-struct-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bosingak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosingak) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosingak?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.