Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * August '24

Lets go back to summer with these MFS RR cards that I've received in August. They're from Finland, Russia, Japan and South Korea.

 

Ruotsinpyhtää is a town in southern Finland, near Anna's childhood home area. The local church was built in 1771 from wood. It was renovated in 1898 to its current gothic revival appearance.

When I posted July's card, I've said that Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is probably one of the places / monuments in Russia that I've the most cards from. In August, Inesa sent me another card. 

The monastery ensemble includes over 50 buildings of different significance.  The largest building of the monastery is the Assumption Cathedral constructed in 1559-1585 by the orders of Ivan the Terrible to celebrate the annexation of Kazan and Astrakhan Khanates to Russian lands. This majestic cathedral is very similar to the Assumption Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin. Its white stone facades harmoniously contrast with the four bright-blue domes, which sparkle with golden stars. The fifth dome of the Assumption Cathedral is gold-plated. - in: https://www.advantour.com

Hirosaki Saisho-in five-story pagoda is considered to be the most beautiful pagoda in Tōhoku region. Tomoko wrote that five-story pagodas represent the Buddhist view of universe, which consists of five elements, earth, water, fire, wind and sky. 

The construction of this pagoda began in 1656 and was completed in 1667.  It was built during the Edo Period using a construction method with no nails. The pagoda is designated as a national important cultural heritage site.

This is a detail of a traditional Korean roof with Japsang figures. Japsang is a group of small animal-shaped statues made of clay and placed on top of the roofs, lined up on the edge of vertical ridges at the eaves. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392 CE – 1910 CE), which was under the influence of the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368 CE – 1644 CE), Koreans began to place Japsang on top of the roofs of royal palaces.

Japsang is always installed in odd numbers, ranging from 3 to 11, and comprises different animals – dragon, phoenix, lion, giraffe, sea horse, haetae (a mythical unicorn lion), and monkey – considered sacred and becoming guardians to the building.

Japsang figures were used as decorative symbols to represent the authority, dignity, and grandeur of a building and as shamanic symbols to protect from and chase away evil spirits, harmful energy, and misfortune. Like the Chinese, it is believed that Koreans’ greatest fear was a fire during that time since most of the buildings were made of wood. Japsang, therefore, was believed to prevent fire in a shamanistic way. - in: https://www.rubensdelacorte.com

Card sent by "hellow0rld".

Changdeokgung Palace Complex - South Korea

Constructed in the 15th century during the Joseon Dynasty, the Changdeokgung Palace Complex occupies a 57.9 ha site in Jongno-gu, in northern Seoul. 
Changdeokgung is an exceptional example of official and residential buildings that were integrated into and harmonized with their natural setting. The complex was originally built as a secondary palace to the main palace of Gyeongbokgung, differentiated from it in its purpose and spatial layout within the capital. 

The official and residential buildings that make up the complex were designed in accordance with traditional palace layout principles. The buildings and structures include three gates and three courts (an administrative court, royal residential court and official audience court), with the residential area to rear of the administrative area reflecting the principles of ‘sammun samjo (三門三朝)’ and ‘jeonjo huchim (前朝後寢)’. The buildings are constructed of wood and set on stone platforms, and many feature tiled hipped roofs with a corbelled multi-bracket system and ornamental carvings. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/816/

KR-7992, sent by Samara.
The Juhamnu pavilion was built in 1776 and is a 2 floors palace raising the talented, studying and publishing for the country. The 1st floor is the Gyujangkak royal library and the 2nd a readind room.

State exams were conducted in front of the pavilion on special occasions in presence of the king.

Injeongjeon Hall is the main hall at Changdeokgung Palace. It was used by the king and officials for conferences and as a meeting point with visitors. Foreign envoys would meet the king at this location when they arrived at the palace.
Originally built in 1405, it was twice destroyed by fire, once in 1592 and again in 1804. Both times it was rebuilt.
The royal walkway and courtyard, dating back to 1609, can be seen in front of the hall.
On this walkway are stone markers inscribed with ranks of court officials. Court officials would stand behind their designated stone marker when meeting with the king. Higher ranked officials stood closest to the king. Lower ranked officials would stand furthest from the king. - in: https://www.theseoulguide.com/sights/palaces/changdeokgung-palace/injeongjeon-hall-and-injeongmun-gate/

Photo by Seo Heun-Kang

KR-25753, sent by "yunjeong".

On this card there's the Jangnangmum Gate, the Main Gate of Nakseonjae House.

Nakseonjae was built by King Heonjong in 1847 for his concubine Kim Gyeongbin. It stands to reason that King Heonjong must not have been to infatuated with his wife considering he had this entire complex built for a concubine. Even the name Nakseonjae tends to indicate that the King preferred his concubine more than his wife because Nakseonjae literally means the “Mansion of Joy and Goodness”. This probably did not go over to well with his wife which might explain why the King died at age 22 only two years later in 1849.

Nakseonjae had been closed off to the public for decades because it had been used as the residence for the last remaining Korean princesses until 1989 when Princess Deokhye, the youngest daughter of King Gojang, the 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty passed away in 1989. Even after her death Nakseonjae didn’t open to the public until 2006. - in: http://rokdrop.com

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * August '19

What did I say yesterday? Great cards again. Yuka, Dagmar, Sandra and Hwa did a great job choosing these cards for me. 

This 1st card depicts the longest wooden walking bridge in the world. Located in the city of Shimada, Japan,  Hōrai Bridge is a wooden pedestrian bridge over the Ōi River located in the city of Shimada. It was constructed in 1879. With a length of 897.422 metres (2,944.30 ft), the bridge was registered in The Guinness Book of Records in 1997. 

© Schöning Verlag

Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany. 

Fulda Cathedral is the former abbey church of Fulda Abbey and the burial place of Saint Boniface. Since 1752 it has also been the cathedral of the Diocese of Fulda. The abbey was dissolved in 1802 but the diocese and its cathedral have continued. The dedication is to Christ the Saviour. The cathedral constitutes the high point of the Baroque district of Fulda, and is a symbol of the town. - in: wikipedia

Photo by Mike Jones © Smith-Southwestern

San Francisco de Asis Mission Church is a historic and architecturally significant church on the main plaza of Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. Built between 1772 and 1816 when New Mexico was part of the Vice-Royalty of New Spain, it is one of the finest extant examples of a Spanish Colonial New Mexico mission church (...). It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970. - in: wikipedia

Every June, parishioners and the community volunteers gather to re-plaster the church in adobe. This annual project is called “The Enjarre,” or “the mudding” of the church. Since the church is the heart of the community many people are moved to help preserve the church’s historicity. By mixing clay, sand, straw, and water into thick mud it is applied to the surface, layer upon layer, until the entire adobe structure, from top to bottom which becomes resilient to the elements. - in:  https://taos.org/what-to-do/arts-culture/spanish-culture/san-francisco-de-asis-church/

I've to blame postcards for my long list of places I want to visit. This one of those cards that puts me in travel mode. I guess I need to add South Korea to that long list of must visit countries. 

Located near the entrance of the Moaksan Provincial Park, Geumsansa Temple was established in the first year of King Beop of the Baekje Kingdom (AD 599). The Buddhist temple features over ten designated cultural properties including Mireukjeon Hall, a national treasure. 

Mireukjeon Hall of the Geumsansa Temple is a three story wooden structure making it unique among Korean Buddhist halls. Mireukjeon houses a large Mireuksa Buddha (Buddha of the Future). The hall was (re-)constructed in 1635. The first floor is called Daejabojeon ("Hall of Great Mercy and Treasure"), the second Yonghwajihoe ("Gathering of Dragon and Beauty") and the third Mireukjeon ("Hall of Maitreya"). 

Mireukjeon is constructed using a multi-beam style where the eaves beams are not only placed above the pillars supporting the eaves, but also amongst the supporting pillars. - in: wikipedia

KR-239787

My very 1st lighthouse card from South Korea. Udo Lighthouse is located on Jeju island. 

KR-239787, sent by Bowi.

Udo Lighthouse was the first lighthouse on the eastern side of Jeju Island. It began operations in March, 1906. 

In December 2003, a circular concrete lighthouse with a height of 16m was newly built. It has the capability of illuminating the way for ocean-going vessels even 50 kilometers away.

This is the first lighthouse-themed park in Korea, one which contributes to the local economy.

At the Udo Lighthouse Park, there is an PR Exhibition Room, a 3D Experience Hall, and scale models of 14 domestic and overseas lighthouses, including the Paros Lighthouse in Greece, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. - in: https://www.visitjeju.net/en/detail/view?contentsid=CNTS_000000000020565#

Bulguksa Temple - South Korea

Bulguksa Temple is also a UNESCO site in South Korea. 

The lovely snowy card is an official from Japan and the 2nd card was sent by Claus 10 years ago! 

 Designed by Green & Blue

JP-268799, sent by Junko.

Bulguksa is a Buddhist temple in the North Gyeongsang province of South Korea. Although much-restored, it is an important example of Silla architecture and is home to no less than seven Korean national treasures.

Given its important status today, it is interesting that Bulguksa was never intended to be a major temple. It was originally founded in 535 by King Pob-hung, for the use of his queen to pray for the welfare of the kingdom. 

The present temple was begun in 751 by Prime Minister Kim Daeseong.

Bulguksa was burned to the ground during the 1592 Hideyoshi Toyotomi invasion. It was partially reconstructed during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945) and fully restored under President Park Chung-hee (1961-1979).

Bulguksa Temple was added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1995, together with the nearby Seokguram Grotto. - in: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/south-korea/bulguksa.htm

Andong - South Korea

Andong is a city in South Korea and the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. Andong is known as a centre of culture and folk traditions. The Hahoe Folk Village is perhaps the most notable folk village in South Korea. This village was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site  in 2010.

This was a site still missing in my collection. 

Andong Hahoe Village has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon dynasty. Moreover, the village was not artificially created; there are people who actually live there. 

Because the village is surrounded by mountains and water, it had never been invaded. This is the reason why these houses still remain in their original structures. - in: https://www.asia-planet.net/korea/andong-si.htm

The card was sent by Marina from Italy. 

Namhansanseong - South Korea

Namhansanseong was one of the new sites added last year to the WHS list and this card was the last surprise sent by Claus. He really made my day. Thank you so much!!! 

Namhansanseong was designed as an emergency capital for the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), in a mountainous site 25 km south-east of Seoul. Built and defended by Buddhist monk-soldiers, it could accommodate 4,000 people and fulfilled important administrative and military functions. Its earliest remains date from the 7th century, but it was rebuilt several times, notably in the early 17th century in anticipation of an attack from the Sino-Manchu Qing dynasty. The city embodies a synthesis of the defensive military engineering concepts of the period, based on Chinese and Japanese influences, and changes in the art of fortification following the introduction from the West of weapons using gunpowder. A city that has always been inhabited, and which was the provincial capital over a long period, it contains evidence of a variety of military, civil and religious buildings and has become a symbol of Korean sovereignty. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1439

Mt. Halla - South Korea

Last October Relie traveled to South Korea and visited the Jeju Island. She wrote this card on her flight from the island to Seoul. 

Mt. Halla, also known as Hallasan or Hanla Mountain, is the highest mountain is South Korea. 

© Photographed by Kwon Gi Gap

Hallasan (Halla Mountain) rises up proudly from the center of Jeju Island and is perhaps one of the island’s most memorable landmarks. Also called Mt. Yeongjusan, meaning ‘mountain high enough to pull the galaxy,’ Mt. Hallasan is widely acknowledged by scholars for its research value. Designated as a National Park in 1970, there are 368 parasitic mountains called ‘Oreums’ (peaks) around Halla Mountain. 

Mt. Hallasan is famous for its vertical ecosystem of plants that results from the varying temperatures along the mountainside. Over 1,800 kinds of plants and 4,000 species of animals (3,300 species of insects) have been identified; to explore the mountain's treasures, simply follow one of the well-developed mountain hiking trails. - in: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264172

The special nature of this area led to its being designated and managed a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a World Natural Heritage Site in 2007.

Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs - South Korea

The Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs are three of 40 royal tombs from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) that have together received the UNESCO World Heritage designation.

Johnson from Hong Kong, sent me this card some time ago and now i'm only missing 1 Unesco whs from South Korea.

As sites where not only the physical bodies of the deceased but also their memories and spirits were housed and honored, the burial sites of the Joseon monarchs were selected with great care. Traditionally, they were placed in auspicious locations where they could be protected by hills and face south toward water, ideally with mountain ridges visible in the distance.
Nestled in a quiet, wooded park that is surprisingly peaceful for being located in the heart of busy Gangnam, the Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs and their surroundings have a beauty about them that suggest the importance of the royal burial customs.
The Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs consist of Seolleung and Jeongneung. Seolleung is the burial site of King Seongjong (1457-1494), the ninth king of Joseon, and his second wife Queen Jeonghyeon (1462-1530). Jeongneung is where their son King Jungjong (1488-1544), the eleventh king of Joseon, is buried.
While placed together and collectively called Seolleung, the king and queen’s tombs sit apart. King Seongjong’s tomb sits at the western end of the park, closest to its entrance, where a red-spiked gate known as hongsalmun indicates sacred grounds. In accordance with custom, the royal burial mound is surrounded by a stone fence and stone sculptures of civilian and military vassals and their horses. Just below the tomb area is Jeongjagak, a T-shaped wooden shrine where sacrificial rites were offered in honor of the king’s spirit. - in: http://m.korea.net/english/NewsFocus/Travel/view?articleId=104150

KR-35233

An official from South Korea.

KR-35233, sent by Jinee.

I've no idea where in South Korea is this building located. There's no information about it on the card.

When i receive a postcard i really like to know a bit more about the place, building, monument on the card. Looking at the picture is not enought, i always want to learn something.

Hwaseong Fortress - South Korea

This card of the Hwaseong Fortress in South Korea, was one of the last Unesco cards i've received in the last days. It was sent from Estonia by "ossuusso".

Hwaseong, the wall surrounding the centre of Suwon, the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, was built in the late 18th century by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty to honour and house the remains of his father Prince Sado, who had been murdered by being locked alive inside a rice chest by his own father King Yeongjo having failed to obey his command to commit suicide. Located 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Seoul and enclosing much of central Suwon including King Jeongjo's palace Haenggung, UNESCO designated the fortress a World Heritage site in 1997. - in: wikipedia

Commoner's House - South Korea

A few weeks ago Steffi "catty412" was offering South Korean cards and i liked this one, which shows a Commoner's House.

The walls of these house were generally built of mud over timber framework and the roofs were thatched with rice straw. Inside floors were of beaten earth.
There's no information about the specific location of the house on the card, it only says is somewhere in the northern region.

South Korean Unesco Sites

I never thought it would be possible for me to have so many unesco sites from South Korea. The country has 10 sites inscribed on the list and, with these 2 new cards sent by Adam, i already have 7. These cards are from Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites and Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks.

This card shows the Gochang Dolmen Sites, the largest and most varied group of these dolmens. "The Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites are the location of hundreds of stone dolmen which were used as grave markers and for ritual purposes during the first millennium BCE when the Megalithic Culture was prominent on the Korean Pensinsula. The sites were designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2000. Korea is said to contain more than 40% of the worlds dolmen, which are mostly concentrated in these three sites.

The megalithic stones are invaluable because they mark the graves of the ruling elite. Pottery, comma-shaped jewels, bronzes, and other funerary artifacts have been excavated from these dolmen. The culture of the people during this time can be gleaned from the evidence left by the dolmen. Additionally, the stones show how stone was quarried, transported, and used to build dolmen.

Dolmen in Korea have been dated to the seventh century BCE in locations such as Gochang and the practice ended around the third century BCE. The dolmen culture is linked with the Neolithic and bronze cultures of Korea." - in: wikipedia

"Located deep in the mountains of Hapcheon County in southeast Korea — emphasis on the word deep — Haeinsa Temple is one of Korea’s three largest Buddhist monasteries, one of the “Three Jewels,” as Korean Buddhists prefer to call them. A UNSECO World Heritage Site, the compound is home to the Tripitaka Koreana — a 13th century collection of woodblock carvings of the Buddhist scriptures and the oldest and most complete edition of the Buddhist canon in Chinese characters. For centuries, the monastery has been the scholastic center of Korean Buddhism, preserving the traditional of scriptural studies through the generations." - in: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=559527

Jongmyo Shrine - South Korea

Another unesco card from Asia, this one from South Korea. The card was sent by Claus and it shows the Ilmu, a line dance performed in Jongmyo Shrine.

"Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. According to UNESCO, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established since the 14th century. Such shrines existed during the Three Kingdoms of Korea period but only the shrines for the rulers of Joseon remain. The Jongmyo Shrine was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995." - in: wikipedia

Jeju Island - Korea

I wasn't waiting for a Korea card, when i saw it i thought it was an official. I was wrong, it was another surprise from Claus and another new unesco site for my collection :D Claus always make me jump of joy!!!!!

This is a card from the Jeju Island with the Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. This peak "rose from under the sea in a volcanic eruption over 100,000 years ago. Located on the eastern end of Jejudo Island, there is a huge crater at the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. The crater is about 600m in diameter and 90m high. With the 99 sharp rocks surrounding the crater, it looks like a gigantic crown. While the southeast and north sides are cliffs, the northwest side is a verdant grassy hill that is connected to the Seongsan Village. The ridge provides an ideal spot for walks and for horse riding as well.
The sunrise from the crater is magnificent." - in: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264207

"Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes together comprise three sites that make up 18,846 ha. It includes Geomunoreum, regarded as the finest lava tube system of caves anywhere, with its multicoloured carbonate roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls; the fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, rising out of the ocean, a dramatic landscape; and Mount Halla, the highest in Korea, with its waterfalls, multi-shaped rock formations, and lake-filled crater. The site, of outstanding aesthetic beauty, also bears testimony to the history of the planet, its features and processes." - in: www.whc.unesco.org/en/list/1264

Unesco gift

A few days ago i've received an envelope from Germany with these cards. I couldn't believe when i realized that all of these cards were new unesco cards and from places not so easy to get. This was a great Christmas present. The generous postcrosser was Claus, "elbe" a trully Santa Claus :D Vielen Danke.

" Uxmal is a large pre-Columbian ruined city of the Maya civilization in the state of Yucatán, Mexico.

While much work has been done at the popular tourist destination of Uxmal to consolidate and restore buildings, little in the way of serious archeological excavation and research has been done; therefore, the city's dates of occupation are unknown and the estimated population (about 25,000 people) is at present only a very rough guess subject to change upon better data. Most of the architecture visible today was built between about 700 and 1100.

Maya chronicles say that Uxmal was founded about 500 A.D. by Hun Uitzil Chac Tutul Xiu. For generations Uxmal was ruled over by the Xiu family, was the most powerful site in western Yucatan, and for a while in alliance with Chichen Itza dominated all of the northern Maya area. Sometime after about 1200 no new major construction seems to have been made at Uxmal, possibly related to the fall of Uxmal's ally Chichen Itza and the shift of power in Yucatan to Mayapan. The Xiu moved their capital to Maní, and the population of Uxmal declined. After the Spanish conquest of Yucatán (in which the Xiu allied themselves with the Spanish), early colonial documents suggest that Uxmal was still an inhabited place of some importance into the 1550s, but no Spanish town was built here and Uxmal was soon after largely abandoned." - in: wikipedia

" Tucked away amid the modern urban area of Cairo lies one of the world's oldest Islamic cities, with its famous mosques, madrasas, hammams and fountains. Founded in the 10th century, it became the new centre of the Islamic world, reaching its golden age in the 14th century." - in: http://www.unesco.org/ 

Cheomseongdae Observatory in South Korea is one of the oldest structures in Korea. 'Ch'eomseongdae' means 'Star Gazing Tower'. Designated as National Treasure 31, it was built during the reign of Queen Seonduk of the Old Silla kingdom in 634. Cheomseongdae Observatory is the oldest existing observatory in the Far East and one of the oldest scientific installations on earth.
Cheomseongdae is part of the Gyeongju Historic Areas, an Unesco whs since 2000.

South Korea

Traditional south korean costume sent by "shangrila".