A History of Gwancheondae and Ilyeongdae in the Joseon Dynasty : Especially on the Ilyeongdae in Changgyeong Palace

Abstract

The name of gwancheondae(觀天臺) means a sky- observing stand. It was a stand for ganeui(簡儀: a kind of torquetum) or soganeui(小簡儀: a kind of small torquetum). The name of ilyeongdae(日影臺) means sun- shadow stand. It was a stand for ilgu(日曇: sundial) or ilseongjeongsieui(日星定時儀: a kind of astrolabe). Ilseongjeongsieui was an astronomical clock used for checking the nearby clepsydra for clay and night. There is a stone stand designated for treasure No. 851 inChanggyeong Palace(昌 慶宮). It is known as a gwancheondae for soganeui, but it is not a gwancheondae but an ilyeongdae for ilseongjeongsieui. It is the only stand for ilseongieongsieui, and the stone stand located in Hyundae office building in Gye-rdong is the only stand for soganeui remained till now