A study on the Haechi(獬豸) that is built in front of Gwanghawmon(光化門)

Abstract

Haechi is a lion-like horned creature that often appears in myths. It is a legendary animal representing justice and integrity. In 2008, Seoul city has selected the imaginary creature “Haechi’’ as the symbolic icon of the city. Also Seoul made Haechi homepage for introducing Haechi to citizens. Although Seoul city made that homepage, it has many wrong information about Haechi. Why did these problems happened? I think that when Haechi selected as the symbolic icon of the city, it has few academic research.BR This article studied about Haechi which is located in front of Gwanghawmon(光化門). Haechi was created in ancient China. In the books that was written in ancient China, Haechi described as a lion-like horned creature. Gwnaghawmon Haechi has known it has no horne. But this article show that Haechi has horne of sheep. Also this article researched that why do Haechi has horne of sheep. The reason Haechi has this kind of horne is that Haechi has meaning of divine sheep. This meaning was made in ancient China, however Chinese never made Haechi which has horne of sheep.BR Gwanghawmon Haechi was created by Daewongun(大院君). Even though Daewongun knew about Chinese style Haechi, he din’t imitated that. Because the Chinese style Haechi used to built in front of imperial tomb, But Gwanghawomon Haechi symbolized strengthening of regal power. This kind of reason, Daewongun wanted to build different style of Haechi.