Cheonggyecheon history and culture entry
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Supyogyo Bridge
Supyogyo Bridge in cheonggyecheon in Supyo, a flood warning system during the period of Joseon In 1441, the 23rd ruling year of King Sejong, it rained ince
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Description
Supyo, a flood warning system during the period of Joseon In 1441, the 23rd ruling year of King Sejong, it rained incessantly in Hanyang, which caused a severe flood in the Cheonggyecheon Stream. It became necessary to measure the water level of the stream and get prepared for future floods. Thus, King Sejong demanded the construction of a wooden measuring instrument, Supyo, on the west side of Majeongyo Bridge. Supyo that is currently stored at the Memorial Hall of King Sejong the Great is scaled from one to ten chuck units on one side. On the other side, it has holes at the spot of three, six, and nine chuck units. At that time, one chuck was approximately 23 centimeters long; water level of three chucks signified a drought, six chucks meant normal, and nine chucks stood for a flood. This way, the Supyo was able to warn the inundation of Cheonggyecheon Stream. After installing Supyo, Majeongyo Bridge started to be called as Supyogyo Bridge. Sukjong, the king who fell in love with a beauty at Supyogyo Bridge During the latter period of Joseon Dynasty, Supyogyo Bridge was a passage from Changdeokgung Palace to Yeongheejeon Temple, which is located at today's Jeo-dong, Jung-gu. Youngheejeon is a place where the portraits of King Taejo, Sejo, Wonjong(father of King Yinjo), Yeongjo, and Sunjo were enshrined. During national holidays such as Korean New Year’s Day, Hansik(the 105th day after the winter solstice), Dano(May fifth), and Chuseok(Korean Thanksgiving Day), the king crossed Supyogo Bridge to pay respects at the Yeongheejeon Temple, and people crowded to watch the royal march. According to unofficial history documents, when King Sukjong was returning from the Yeongheejeon Temple, he fell in love with a beauty at his first sight on Supyogyo Bridge. She was Jang Ok-jeong, who later becomes Sukjong’s concubine. However, it is said in the annals of the Joseon Dynasty that Jang Ok-jeong became a royal court maid in her early childhood and met King Sukjong at the palace. Supyo and Supyogyo Bridge, reserved in their original forms Supyo and Supyogyo Bridge were both moved to the Jangchungdan Park at Dongguk University Station when the Cheonggyecheon Stream was covered with concretes in 1958. Later, only Supyo was moved to the Memorial Hall of King Sejong the Great. Supyo and Supyogyo Bridge were unable to be restored in their original place during the restoration project of Cheonggyecheon Stream in 2005. This was because the restored stream was narrower than its original size during the Joseon Dynasty, so the Supyogyo Bridge was too long for the stream. Currently, there is a provisional wooden bridge replacing the Supyogyo Bridge at the Cheonggyecheon Stream.
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Source
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