In the Walled City of Pyongyang in ancient times, men had to go through the Chilsong Gate to go to the martial arts training site and soldiers also had to do so to go to the frontier on guard duty. Therefore, Pyongyang people coined the saying “He has never gone through the Chilsong Gate” referring to those who were ignorant of martial arts or did not do military service.
There is also a legend which goes that a young man, who had been unsuccessful in love since he failed to go through the gate, trained himself in martial arts at the training site by passing the gate and performed great feats in battlefields to become a general, before returning home to live happily with his love.
So people called the Chilsong Gate “gate of happiness”.
Located on Pyongyang’s Moran Hill, the gate was built during the period of Koguryo in the mid-6th century as the northern gate of the keep of the walled city, and the present gatehouse was rebuilt in 1712.
The name of Chilsong is derived from the constellation of the Great Bear and signifies the “northern gate”. Its lower part with the gateway almost preserves the appearance of that in the period of Koguryo.
As one of key gateways leading northward from the walled city, the gate is situated in a place which is hard to attack and advantageous for defence.
The walls on its both sides were erected to pass each other at intervals of about 10 metres and the gate was built horizontally to make a right angle with the two walls.
The embankment was built in good order with trimmed stones and had an archway.
The gatehouse on top of the embankment is a single-storey building with three bays (7.38 metres long) in the facade and two (4.36 metres long) on the flank on the stylobate. The gate has a gabled roof in a single layer of eaves and the gatehouse is painted in moderate colours to add to the imposing look of the building.
The gate is associated with the patriotic struggle of the Korean people who fought against foreign invaders.
When hundreds of thousands of foreign invaders attacked Koryo (the first unified state of Korea that existed between 918 and 1392) in 1010, its people made a clear sweep of enemies by relying on the gate and during the 1592-1598 Imjin Patriotic War, it was the major battlefield for recapturing the Walled City of Pyongyang from the Japanese invaders.
Today, the Chilsong Gate is under good protection as a historical relic.
More From Pyongyang Times
A delegation of the DPRK Ministry of External Economic Relations led by Minister Yun Jong Ho left Pyongyang by air on April 23 to
April 25, 2024
A delegation of the DPRK Ministry of External Economic Relations led by Minister Yun Jong Ho left Pyongyang by air on April 23 to
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned against the US military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
April 25, 2024
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned against the US military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
The DPRK health delegation led by Jong Mu Rim, minister of Public Health, returned home by air on April 23 after visiting Russia.
April 25, 2024
The DPRK health delegation led by Jong Mu Rim, minister of Public Health, returned home by air on April 23 after visiting Russia.
The anti-Japanese armed struggle was a revolutionary war to defeat Japanese imperialism and achieve the cause of Korea’s
April 25, 2024
The anti-Japanese armed struggle was a revolutionary war to defeat Japanese imperialism and achieve the cause of Korea’s
The first revolutionary armed forces in Korean history were founded on April 25 1932. In order to defend the dignity of the nation
April 25, 2024
The first revolutionary armed forces in Korean history were founded on April 25 1932. In order to defend the dignity of the nation
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, in an interview with the Warpa News Agency on April 20, condemned the US for its unreasonable
April 25, 2024
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, in an interview with the Warpa News Agency on April 20, condemned the US for its unreasonable
The idea of “The people are God” and devoted service for the good of the people are the foundation of all lines and policies of th
April 25, 2024
The idea of “The people are God” and devoted service for the good of the people are the foundation of all lines and policies of th
The participants in the second workshop of officials in the field of information work of the Workers' Party of Korea conducted
April 25, 2024
The participants in the second workshop of officials in the field of information work of the Workers' Party of Korea conducted
The Spring National Footwear Exhibition-2024 opened in Pyongyang under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Light Industry.
April 25, 2024
The Spring National Footwear Exhibition-2024 opened in Pyongyang under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Light Industry.
Sea Kumgang Gate is situated about 20 kilometres away from the county town of Kosong in Kangwon Province.The area abounds with fis
April 24, 2024
Sea Kumgang Gate is situated about 20 kilometres away from the county town of Kosong in Kangwon Province.The area abounds with fis
A delegation of the Moscow Zoo of Russia led by Director Svetlana Akulova arrived in Pyongyang by plane on April 22.
April 24, 2024
A delegation of the Moscow Zoo of Russia led by Director Svetlana Akulova arrived in Pyongyang by plane on April 22.
The 2024 Asian wrestling Olympic qualification tournament took place in Kyrgyzstan from April 19 to 21. Choe Hyo Gyong, Mun Hyon
April 24, 2024
The 2024 Asian wrestling Olympic qualification tournament took place in Kyrgyzstan from April 19 to 21. Choe Hyo Gyong, Mun Hyon
In his speech to mark the 214th anniversary of the start of struggle for national independence on April 19, the Venezuelan vice
April 24, 2024
In his speech to mark the 214th anniversary of the start of struggle for national independence on April 19, the Venezuelan vice
The Russian permanent representative to the UN censured the US for protecting Israel in the UN Security Council meeting concerning
April 24, 2024
The Russian permanent representative to the UN censured the US for protecting Israel in the UN Security Council meeting concerning
Russian President Vladimir Putin advanced the task to be tackled by the public health sector in a congratulatory message sent to
April 24, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin advanced the task to be tackled by the public health sector in a congratulatory message sent to
The Japanese reactionaries visited the Yasukuni Shrine keeping the name tablets of war criminals to make offerings on April 21.
April 24, 2024
The Japanese reactionaries visited the Yasukuni Shrine keeping the name tablets of war criminals to make offerings on April 21.
Now, extreme weather conditions caused by global warming have unprecedentedly frequented the world, followed by continuous
April 24, 2024
Now, extreme weather conditions caused by global warming have unprecedentedly frequented the world, followed by continuous
Farmers moved into new dwelling houses in the villages of the Sangi Industrial Crop Farm of Kujang County, North Phyongan
April 24, 2024
Farmers moved into new dwelling houses in the villages of the Sangi Industrial Crop Farm of Kujang County, North Phyongan
The second workshop of officials in the field of information work of the Workers' Party of Korea took place at the People's Palace
April 24, 2024
The second workshop of officials in the field of information work of the Workers' Party of Korea took place at the People's Palace
Ahmed Abu al-Gheit, secretary general of the League of Arab States, on April 17 said that massacre committed by Israel should be
April 24, 2024
Ahmed Abu al-Gheit, secretary general of the League of Arab States, on April 17 said that massacre committed by Israel should be
More Articles
