The Monument to Party Founding (Korean:당창건기념탑;MR:Tangch'anggŏnkinyŏmt'ap) is a monument in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.
The monument is rich in symbolism: its hammer, sickle and calligraphy brush symbolize the workers, farmers and intellectuals. It is 50 meters high to symbolize the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea. The number of slabs comprising the belt around the monument and its diameter stand for the date of birth of Kim Jong Il. The inscription on the outer belt says "Long live the leader and organizer of the victories of the people of Korea, the Workers' Party of Korea!" On the inside of the belt are three bronze reliefs with their distinct meanings: the historical roots of the party, the unity of people under the party and the party's vision for a progressive future. Two red flag-shaped buildings with letters forming the words "100 battles, 100 victories" surround the monument.
The Monument to Party Founding appeared on postage stamps in 1995 and 2005[4] and is featured on the 50 won banknote.[5]
Features
The monument is directly opposite to the Mansu Hill Grand Monument on the other side of the Taedong River from where it can be seen.The element based on the emblem of the Workers' Party symbolizes the worker, farmer and intellectual.
The monument site in its entirety spans 25,000square meters.[9] This includes a plaza in front of the monument where dances and festivities are held.[10] The lawn of the park surrounding the monument is 15,000square meters in extent. There are 12 fountain basins. The grounds are spotted with more than 53,000 trees.[11]
There are symmetrical, waving flag-shaped, red residential buildings on either side of the monument.[11][12] The letters on top of the buildings read: "ever-victorious".[13]
The monument itself is made of granite and the reliefs are bronze.[14]
Three highest element of the monument features three clenched fists holding a hammer, sickle and a calligraphy brush.[1] The hammer and sickle symbolize workers and farmers and the brush intellectuals.[15] The triumvirate is based on the emblem of the Workers' Party of Korea.[16] The monument reaches to a height of 50meters to signify the 50th anniversary of the party.[17]
The three fists are surrounded by a belt, symbolizing the "single-hearted unity of the leader, Party and people".[6] The inscription on the outer belt reads: "Long live the leader and organizer of the victories of the people of Korea, the Workers' Party of Korea!" (Korean:조선인민의 모든 승리의 조직자이며 향도자인 조선로동당 만세!;MR:Chosŏninminŭi modŭn sŭngniŭi chojikchaimyŏ hyangdojain chosŏllodongdang manse!) The diameter of the belt is 50meters on the outside and 42meters on the inside.[9] The belt is made of 216 blocks. The 216 blocks and the 42-meter inner diameter symbolize the date 16 February 1942, the purported date of birth of Kim Jong Il.[19] In reality, he was born on 16 February 1941 in the Soviet Union.[20]
The circular foundation under the monument is 70meters in diameter symbolizing the about 70-year history of the party from the days of the Down-With-Imperialism Union. On the inside of the belt are three reliefs covering the history of the party.[9]
Depicts "the harmonious whole of the leader, the Party and the masses":[21] veteran handing down the torch of Juche to the younger generation,[23] and a worker, farmer, intellectual, soldier and a student united by the party flag.[24]
Depicts "the struggle to realize global independence":[25] the desire for the advance of socialist construction under the torch of Juche. The inscription against the world map reads: "Let us defend independence!"[26]
↑Cuhaj, George S., ed. (17 February 2012). 2013 Standard Catalog of World Paper Money – Modern Issues: 1961–Present (18ed.). Iola: Krause Publications. p.748. ISBN978-1-4402-2956-5.
12Choe So-ok; Ri Jung-gil (30 May 2002). Han Pŏn-jo (ed.). Pyongyang: A Park City. Translated by Choe Sang-gwon and Im Hwan. Korea Pictorial. p.26. OCLC867776819.
