As Shakespeare said, @slowwalker, there is a tide in the affairs of men - sometimes it leads on to fortune, as it did to China during the Choson dynasty.

China's power was greater than Korea's so the Korean Emperor was degraded to a mere king.

But tides change and in time, the influence of China declined and the Korean King was once again elevated to the status of Emperor.

The power struggle is clearly depicted in the mythical animals carved into the steps of the palace.

The phoenix represents an era of peace under a benign king, but that changes when the king over time becomes the dragon-- the Emperor, and Korea rises again as a world power.

The photos today are strikingly beautiful, in particular, the close-ups of the dragon paintings on the palace ceiling.

An informative and entertaining post, my friend.