The Hyonmu Gate, the northern gate of the northern fort of the Walled City of Pyongyang, still remains on picturesque Moran Hill in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
It was named after the mythological turtle, which was in charge of defending north, among four guardian gods. It was built first in the mid-6th century when building the Walled City of Pyongyang in the days of Koguryo, repaired and rebuilt several times in the days of Koryo. The present gate is the one rebuilt in 1714. It underwent large repairs in 1855 and 1954. It consists of a platform linked to the wall, and a roof above it. The platform, like the wall, was piled up with quadriangular stone slabs one over another to prevent a straight lengthwise line. In the middle of the platform is a rainbow-shaped gate.
The gate is precious cultural legacy which showcases the Korean people’s high level of techniques of building wall gate.
