Gardens
Naturalism is a feature to the gardens of Korea. Simulating the natural landscape with a rich variety of hills, streams and fields, Korean gardens often come in small sizes but with an ideal harmony of man and nature. Though remains of gardens built in the microcosmic style re still found in many places, those of naturalistic designs featuring trees and water are predominant as they were built quantity from the 15th century under the strong influence of Confucianism. Historically, the gardens of Korea have been categorized according to their function and style as follows; the sacred woods of the nature-worshiping period, the gardens of palaces and temples, the pavilion gardens of Confucian academies, the gardens of literati homes and government offices, the gardens of commoner's homes, and those of royal tombs. Out of submission to heaven's rule, no fountains that shot water heavenward were made. Instead, waterfalls and ponds to receive water from meandering waterways were favored as it was only natural to follow the law of nature by which water always flows down stream.

Sacred Woods
The genesis of the nature worship on which the idea of sacred forests rests can be found in the legend of Tangun, the founder of the Korean nation, who is said to have descended from heaven to earth under a sacred tree atop and to have built sacred city there. Such nature worship remained as late as the Chosun period as evidenced by the fact that Taejo, the founder king of Chosun honored all tutelary deities of major mountains, rivers nd ancient trees with the title of Guardian Deities of the nation. In Kyongju, the capital of Shilla, there were sacred woods called Chongyongnim, Shintyurim and Kyerim.All the sacred woods had altars and landscaped gardens. The best known of them is Kyerim, where Kim Alji, the ancestor of Kim's clan was born here AD 67.The 7,270 square meter area is densely forested with willow trees and zelkovas of more than 500 years of age among which a stream meanders.

Anapji
Records of gardens in the palaces date from the fourth century. Of the best preserved ancient palace garden is Anapji pond in Kyongju. It was recently drained for a through excavation and restoration. Built in the garden of Tonggung, the palace of the crown prince of Shilla, the pond measures 15,658 square meters. The sides of the pond are lined with dressed stones, partially forming a curved or angular lines. Over the 5.2m high embankment of the pond stands recently built three pavilions along the water edge. Five other building sites were excavated, but remained unconstructed. In the middle of the pond are three small islands symbolizing the Three Gods. Twelve smaller ones are the symbolic peaks of the Musan, all alluding to the legendary location Taoist.

Posokjong
It is an another Shilla garden located in the southern valley of Namsan mountain.
At the site of a detached palace in the 8th century, the pavilion is a channel in which wine cups were floated during royal feasts. The channel defies an abalone-shaped area that is 10.3m long from end to end and about 5m across the center. the garden must have been a lovely sight with thick bamboo groves, beautiful streams and dense woods of pine trees and zelkovas.

Kyongbok palace
It is an extant Chosun palace with its beautiful gardens and pavilions. Double storied wooden Kyongwhoeru is one of the largest pavilion built on the pond. It was used for banquets and to entertain foreign envoys. The pavilion stand on an island in a rectangular pond that is 113m long and 128m wide and is reached by three handsome stone bridges. Two small rectangular island to which there are no bridges are also in the pond. The pond was enclosed by a wall and guest could enjoy boating on it. Nearby is Amisan garden. The garden is in the back of Kyotaejon, once the royal bed chamber, features four brick chimneys adorned in beautiful patterns, stone cisterns and fantastic rocks placed among the plants on the terraced flower beds. The Chakyongjon, the residence of the king's mother, which is located to the east of Amisan, is surrounded by the most beautiful wall in Korea, and interesting feature of which is a chimney that is hardly detectable.
The wall and the chimney are decorated with the ten longevity symbols-turtles, cranes, deer, pine, bamboo, the fungus of immortality, rocks water, clouds and the sun, as well as plants and mythical birds and animals. Hyangwonjong, located in the northern part of the palace, is one of the most elegant palace gardens and is sits in the middle of a lotus pond. A beautiful wooden bridge spans the pond the pavilion.

Secret Garden
The art of Chosun's palatial garden making at its best is embodied in the Secret Garden of Changdok palace. Comprising 78 acres of the palace proper, the garden has 30 buildings including 18 pavilions and seven ponds, stone bridge, some fantastically shaped rocks, stone water troughs and springs scattered attractively among dense woods that are more than 400 years old. Separated from the entrance gate by a hill is the square Puyongji pond which enthralls viewers with the intriguingly structured Pyoyngjong pavilion and Yongwhdang house that grace its borders. A two-story pavilion called Chuhapnu looms over the area partially hidden by dense foliage. nearby is another lovely spot made more tranquil by the arrangement of a square one called Aeryonji and a graceful pavilion that stand on its edge which is also square. Yonkyongdang house is located a short distance to the west. it was built in 1828 in a style typical of commoners' houses so that the royal family could experience the life of an ordinary person. Ongnyuchon valley which extends into thickly wooded hills to the west is the quietest and most secluded part of the garden. The area was created in 1636 to resemble a deep mountain valley. Game such as deer and rabbits were raised here so the kin could enjoy hunting.

Temple Gardens
Temples were built on the plains until seventh century, after which sequestered mountain areas were more favored. Monks built gardens to reflect Buddhist philosophy. A good example is the garden of Pulkuksa temple in Kyongju. The lotus pond symbolizing the nine gardens of Nirvana was made in front of the temple to separate the hallowed Buddhist domain from the mundane world. The pond, which was believed to have been filled by means of waterfalls, was excavated but reburied because the water source was not found. The temples are generally very little landscaped for being located in mountains or valleys.

Gardens of Confucian Academy
The Sowon, a private Confucian academy. came into being in the 15th century. Common to the numerous Sowon of the Chosun period is their symbolic simulation of Muichongsa Academy which the much revered Chinese Confucian scholar Chu Hsi founded in Muisan mountain in 1183. Sosu Sowon in Yongju, the first Korean Sowon, and Tosan Sowon in Andong founded by the most renowned Confucian scholar of the ear, Yi Hwang, are fashioned after Chinese prototypes.
the latter, which is located in a beautiful area with a stream in front of it and surrounded by a dense pine forest, is noted for its garden that is typically Confucian in that it is of a very simple design featuring a lotus pond and flower beds of the so-called four Gentlemen, plums, bamboos, chrysanthemums and orchids. The most famous gardened homes of the literati is Soswaewon in Tamyang, Cholla Pukdo province. Designed by hang Sanbo in 1530, the 2.5 acre garden has a rapid stream that burbles past a pavilion and a water mill, a lotus pond spanned by a wooden bridge and a symbolic Sokkasan mountain. Orchids, banana plants, and myrtle trees embellish the flower terraces planted with the ubiquitous Four Gentleman, which are always found in the gardens of Sowon and in the gardens of literati as they represent noble attributes. Other common features are interesting rock configurations, lotus ponds and pavilion.

Pavilion Gardens
This type is best represented by Kqnghallu garden in Namwon, Cholla Pukdo Province. Built in 1418, it is the romantic setting of Korea's most popular love story, Chunhyangjon. Kwanghallru, a two-story pavilion symbolizing the moon, stands by a pond which symbolizes the Milky Way. A bridge named Ohakkyo spans the pond in allusion to another favorite story of tragic lovers Kyonu and Chinnyo that correspond to the star Vega the Weaver and Altair the herdsman, who were separated by gods to each side of the Milky Way to be joined together only on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar year when sympathetic magpies build a bridge over the Milky Way by interlocking their wings. The pond also has three small islands of Taoist origin.

Home Gardens
The house of a traditional upper-class Korean comprises a Sarangchae, the domain for the men of the family, an Anchae the women and children, and Haengnangchae, a servant quarters. No landscaping is usually done in the courtyards that separate these three quarters, the better part of the garden making being concentrated in the back of the house or the space in front of the house proper. The best private gardens are graced with lotus ponds and pavilions as well as a rich array of flowery plants as is the case of Sosokchi in Yongyang- gun, Kyongsang Pukdo province which was built in 1613, 18th century Yondang of Haman in Kyongsang Namdo province and 19th century Songyongjang house in Kangnung. Most commoners' houses, however do not have ponds or pavilions, though a variety of fruit bearing trees including persimmon, cherry, dates, pear and Chinese quince are generally planted in the front of the house.

Tomb Gardens
Geomancy played an important part in selecting tomb sites from the seventh century. They were always bordered by woods, but well out of reach of tree roots, and covered and surrounded by a nice thick lawn. The combination of lawns and pine tree is commonly found in all the royal tombs today. Eighth century royal tombs of Shilla usually had reinforcing stone slabs with carvings of the 12 figures of the Oriental zodiac at the base of the mounds. A stone altar was placed in front of the mound and stone figures of military and civil officials stood in two parallel lines. This tomb design continued as late as Chosun period with the addition of a walkway made of stone slabs and a square lotus pond located outside a memorial gate. A royal tomb would often occupy an area more spacious than the parks of today. The tombs of those other than royalty have a stone ceremonial table, a stele and a guardian figure.