Historic site in South Korea
The
Tombs of the Joseon dynasty
refers to the 40
tombs
of members of the
House of Yi
, which ruled
Korea
(at the time known as
Joseon
, and later as the
Korean Empire
) between 1392?1910. These tombs are scattered over 18 locations across the
Korean Peninsula
. They were built to honor and respect the ancestors and their achievements and assert their royal authority.
[1]
The tombs have been registered as an
UNESCO
World Heritage Site
since 2009. Two other Joseon tombs, located in
Kaesong
,
North Korea
, were proposed but not submitted.
Structure of the tombs
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]
The royal tombs can be divided into three main sections:
Area around Jeongjagak
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]
It is the meeting point between the dead and the living. The area around
Hongsalmun
gate is the space for the living.
Area just past the gate
[
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]
This is the space between the earthly and the holy. This is the area where the spirits of the kings and queens meet their earthly worshippers. This area also contains the Jeongjagak shrine, the Subokbang, and the Suragan buildings.
The sacred ground of the grave mounds
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]
This area also includes the wall and the other stone structures.
[2]
Other structures
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]
Other structures include:
[2]
- Gokjang
? these are the five sides of walls around the grave mound that protects the sacred area.
- Seokho
? the tiger deity which serves as the guardian of the
Bongbun
.
- Seogyang
? a sheep statue which fends off the evil spirits from earth and prays for the souls of the departed.
- Mangjuseok
? this is a pair of stone pillars erected on both sides of the mound.
- Bongbun
? this is where the body of the king or queen lies. It is also called
Neungchim
or
Neungsang
.
- Nanganseok
? it is the hedge-like stone which protects the
Byeongpungseok
.
- Honyuseok
? a rectangular stone erected in front of the mound which is believed to invite the soul to come out and play.
- Muninseok
? statues of scholars placed on the left and right sides of the
Jangmyeongdeung
lantern.
- Jangmyeongdeung
? a lantern which comforts and prays blessing over the soul.
- Seongma
? a horse statue.
- Muinseok
? statue of a soldier said to be guarding the king and is placed below the
Muninseok
.
- Yegam
? it is located on the left-side corner behind the
Jeongjagak
and is used for burning the written prayers after a burial service.
- Bigak
? a building which has a stone monument where the names of the king and the queen are written at the front, while at the back was written the list of the king's accomplishments.
- Jeongjagak
? this is where memorial services are held; it refers to a pavilion that is shaped like the
hanja
character 丁(Jeong; 情) when viewed from above.
- Chamdo
? these are two stone-covered paths that lead to the Jeongjagak. The higher path is called
Sindo
(The Path of the Gods), while the lower path is called
Eodo
(The Path of the King). Only the
Eodo
path can be used by visitors under Korean customs.
- Suragan
? this is where the food for the memorial services is brought and prepared.
- Subokbang
? this is the living quarter of the officer guarding the tomb.
- Baewi
? this is where the king and memorial service officials knelt in honor of the deceased king. It is also called
Panwi
or
Eobaeseok
.
- Hongsalmun
? this is the gate with two red cylindrical pillars.
- Byeongpungseok
? it is the stone which was placed underneath and around to protect the
Bongbun
.
Tombs
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The tombs are classified into two types. The kings and queens and those posthumously granted the title of king or queen, were interred in
reung(陵; 陵)
-type tombs. Crown princes and their wives were interred in
won(園; 원)
-type tombs.
Other members of the royal family were interred in
myo(墓; 墓)
-type tombs.
The royal tombs are scattered over 18 locations, with many of them located as far as 40 kilometers from
Seoul
. For example, Jangneung is in
Yeongwol
,
Gangwon Province
, while Yeongneung is in
Yeoju
,
Gyeonggi Province
. Tombs were made for individuals as well as family groups. There are 40
reung
-type and 13
won
-type tombs, thus creating a total of 53 royal tombs.
Joseon-era royal tombs followed the guidelines outlined in Chinese
Confucian
texts, such as the
Book of Rites
(
Li Ji
) and the
Rites of Zhou
(
Zhou Li
). Many factors went into consideration when deciding the location of a tomb, such as the distance from
Hanseong
(present-day Seoul), the distance between other royal tombs, the accessibility of the location, and Korean traditions of
pungsu
(
geomancy
). The tomb construction also took into account the traditional burial rituals of Korea and the natural environment.
There now follows a list (in alphabetical order) of the individual (or clusters of) tombs. There are two more royal tombs from the Joseon Dynasty in
Kaesong
, North Korea, namely
Jereung
(
帝陵
) (the tomb of
Queen Sinui
, first wife of
King Taejo
) and
Hureung
(
厚陵
) (the tombs of
King Jeongjong
and
Queen Jeongan
).
[3]
Donggureung Cluster (東九陵)
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37°37′11″N
127°07′53″E
/
37.61972°N 127.13139°E
/
37.61972; 127.13139
This cluster is the best sample of group tombs from the Joseon era and represents the evolution of tomb architecture over a period of five hundred years. Seven kings and ten queens are interred in nine
reung
-type tombs. The most notable in this group is
Geonwolleung
(健元陵) for
King Taejo
, the founder of the Joseon dynasty. The other tombs in the cluster are
Gyeongneung
(景陵) (
King Heonjeong
and his two wives,
Queen Hyohyeon
and
Queen Hyojeong
),
Hyereung
(惠陵) (
Queen Danui
, first wife of
King Gyeongjong
),
Hwireung
(徽陵) (
Queen Jangnyeol
, second wife of
King Injo
),
Mongneung
(穆陵) (
King Seonjo
and his two wives,
Queen Uiin
and
Queen Inmok
),
Sungneung
(崇陵) (
King Hyeonjong
and
Queen Myeongseong
),
Sureung
(首陵) (
Crown Prince Hyomyeong
, who was posthumously honored as King Munjo, and
Queen Sinjeong
),
Wolleung
(원릉) (
King Yeongjo
and his second wife,
Queen Jeongsun
) and
Myeongbinmyo
(명빈墓) (Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the
Andong Kim clan
, a concubine of
King Taejong
). The cluster is situated on the west bank of the Wangsukcheon Stream in the city of
Guri
,
Gyeonggi Province
.
[4]
Gwangneung (광릉)
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37°45′08″N
127°10′38″E
/
37.75222°N 127.17722°E
/
37.75222; 127.17722
Gwangneung
is a pair of tombs in the city of
Namyangju
,
Gyeonggi Province
. The tombs, arranged in a V shape, contain the remains of
King Sejo
and his wife,
Queen Jeonghui
. They were built in 1468 and 1483 respectively. Gwangneung is important because changes taking place in the architecture of royal tombs are evident in its construction. Screening rocks were not installed at this tomb. Instead of an outer coffin stone,
quicklime
was used. Another break from tradition was that the reverential access was not built. Finally, only one T-shaped ritual shrine was built for both burial mounds. This change in tomb architecture came from the last wishes of the king and reflects a new frugal style that influenced later royal tomb construction.
Heonilleung (헌인릉)
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Heolleung:
37°27′58″N
127°04′59″E
/
37.46611°N 127.08306°E
/
37.46611; 127.08306
Illeung:
37°27′58″N
127°04′50″E
/
37.46611°N 127.08056°E
/
37.46611; 127.08056
This site is located in the south of
Seoul
, at the bottom of the southern slope of Daemosan Mountain.
Heolleung
is a pair of tombs holding the remains of
Taejong of Joseon
and
Queen Wongyeong
, while
Illeung
is a single mound situated two hundred meters to the west and holds the remains of
King Sunjo
and
Queen Sunwon
.
Hongyureung (홍유릉)
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Hongneung:
37°37′52″N
127°12′45″E
/
37.63111°N 127.21250°E
/
37.63111; 127.21250
Yureung:
37°37′50″N
127°12′33″E
/
37.63056°N 127.20917°E
/
37.63056; 127.20917
Yeongwon:
37°37′46″N
127°12′56″E
/
37.62944°N 127.21556°E
/
37.62944; 127.21556
The styles of the two main tombs reflect the political changes experienced by Korea during the waning days of the Joseon dynasty. With the declaration of the
Korean Empire
, the style of the tombs of the last two rulers,
Emperor Gojong
and
Emperor Sunjong
were designed to reflect their new status.
Hongneung
holds the remains of Emperor Gojong and
Empress Myeongseong
.
Yureung
holds the remains of
Emperor Sunjong
and his two wives,
Empress Sunmyeong
and
Empress Sunjeong
. Other notable tombs include
Yeongwon
(永遠), the tomb of
Yi Un, Crown Prince Euimin
and
Yi Bang-ja, Crown Princess Euimin
. They are located in the city of
Namyangju
, just to the east of
Seoul
.
Jangneung (Gimpo) (金浦 章陵)
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37°36′47″N
126°42′40″E
/
37.61306°N 126.71111°E
/
37.61306; 126.71111
There are three locations with Joseon tombs named
Jangneung
. This particular double tomb is found in
Gimpo
,
Gyeonggi Province
, near the border with
Incheon
. It holds the remains of
Prince Jeongwon
(who was posthumously honored as King Wonjong) and
Queen Inheon
, the parents of
King Injo
.
Jangneung (Paju) (坡州 章陵)
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]
37°46′25″N
126°42′29″E
/
37.77361°N 126.70806°E
/
37.77361; 126.70806
This tomb is located in
Paju
,
Gyeonggi Province
, near the confluence of the Rivers
Imjin
and
Han
, where the Osusan Observatory overlooks
North Korea
. It holds the remains of
King Injo
and his first wife,
Queen Inyeol
.
Jangneung (Yeongwol) (寧越 章陵)
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37°11′51″N
128°27′11″E
/
37.19750°N 128.45306°E
/
37.19750; 128.45306
This tomb lies in the county of
Yeongwol
,
Gangwon Province
and is the furthest from the capital. It holds the remains of
King Danjong
.
Jeongneung (정릉)
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37°36′08″N
127°00′21″E
/
37.60222°N 127.00583°E
/
37.60222; 127.00583
Not to be confused with the more famous
Jeongneung
in the area of
Bukhansan Mountain
. This tomb is also in
Seoul
, but north of the
Han River
. It holds the remains of
Queen Sindeok
, the second wife of
King Taejo
.
Olleung (溫陵)
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37°43′13″N
126°57′04″E
/
37.72028°N 126.95111°E
/
37.72028; 126.95111
Olleung
is a tomb located in
Yangju
,
Gyeonggi Province
, just to the north of the
Capital Region First Ring Expressway
's Songchu Interchange. It holds the remains of
Queen Dangyeong
, the first wife of
King Jungjong
.
Paju Samneung Cluster (坡州 三稜)
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Gongneung:
37°44′45″N
126°49′48″E
/
37.74583°N 126.83000°E
/
37.74583; 126.83000
Sulleung:
37°44′37″N
126°50′11″E
/
37.74361°N 126.83639°E
/
37.74361; 126.83639
Yeongneung:
37°44′33″N
126°50′01″E
/
37.74250°N 126.83361°E
/
37.74250; 126.83361
Located in this cluster are
Gongneung
(공릉) (
Queen Jangsun
, first wife of
King Yejong
),
Sulleung
(술陵) (
Queen Gonghye
, first wife of
King Seongjong
and younger sister of Queen Jangsun) and
Yeongneung
(영릉) (
Crown Prince Hyojang
, who was posthumously honored as King Jinjong, and
Queen Hyosun
). It is situated in the city of
Paju
,
Gyeonggi Province
. Yeongneung is not to be confused with
King Sejong
's tomb in
Yeoju
.
Sareung (사릉)
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37°38′50″N
127°11′51″E
/
37.64722°N 127.19750°E
/
37.64722; 127.19750
This tomb is in
Namyangju
,
Gyeonggi Province
, 1.6 km from
Geumgok Station
. It holds the remains of
Queen Jeongsun
, wife of
King Danjong
.
Seonjeongneung (選定陵)
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]
Seolleung:
37°30′32″N
127°02′44″E
/
37.50889°N 127.04556°E
/
37.50889; 127.04556
Jeongneung:
37°30′32″N
127°03′07″E
/
37.50889°N 127.05194°E
/
37.50889; 127.05194
Located in the south of
Seoul
,
Jeongneung
(not to be confused with its namesake on the southern slopes of
Bukhansan Mountain
, also in Seoul) is the tomb of
King Jungjong
, while
Seolleung
holds the remains of
King Seongjong
and his third wife,
Queen Jeonghyeon
. The tombs are in a park, the entrance of which is 340 meters from
Seolleung Station
.
Seooreung Cluster (西五陵)
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]
Changneung:
37°38′09″N
126°53′42″E
/
37.63583°N 126.89500°E
/
37.63583; 126.89500
Hongneung:
37°37′58″N
126°53′38″E
/
37.63278°N 126.89389°E
/
37.63278; 126.89389
Gyeongneung:
37°37′47″N
126°53′38″E
/
37.62972°N 126.89389°E
/
37.62972; 126.89389
Ingneung:
37°37′47″N
126°54′02″E
/
37.62972°N 126.90056°E
/
37.62972; 126.90056
Myeongneung:
37°37′31″N
126°54′04″E
/
37.62528°N 126.90111°E
/
37.62528; 126.90111
Daebinmyo:
37°37′49″N
126°53′32″E
/
37.63028°N 126.89222°E
/
37.63028; 126.89222
Sugyeongwon:
37°37′38″N
126°54′02″E
/
37.62722°N 126.90056°E
/
37.62722; 126.90056
Sunchangwon:
37°37′45″N
126°53′50″E
/
37.62917°N 126.89722°E
/
37.62917; 126.89722
A group of tombs in
Goyang
,
Gyeonggi Province
, it holds
Changneung
(昌陵) (
King Yejong
and his second wife,
Queen Ansun
),
Hongneung
(홍릉) (
Queen Jeongseong
, first wife of
King Yeongjo
; not to be confused with the resting place of
Empress Myeongseong
and
Emperor Gojong
in
Namyangju
),
Gyeongneung
(景陵) (
Crown Prince Uigyeong
, who was posthumously honored as King Deokjong, and Queen Sohye, better known as
Queen Insu
),
Ingneung
(翼陵) (
Queen Ingyeong
, first wife of
King Sukjong
) and
Myeongneung
(明陵) (the twin tombs of
King Sukjong
and his second wife,
Queen Inhyeon
; and
Danneung
(單陵), the tomb of Sukjong's third wife,
Queen Inwon
). Other notable tombs include
Daebinmyo
(大賓墓) (
Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Indong Jang clan
, a concubine of
King Sukjong
and the mother of
King Gyeongjong
),
Sugyeongwon
(수경원) (
Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jeonui Yi clan
, a concubine of
King Yeongjo
and the biological mother of
Crown Prince Sado
) and
Sunchangwon
(純昌原) (
Crown Prince Sunhoe
and
Crown Princess Gonghoe
).
Seosamneung Cluster (西三陵)
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]
Hwireung:
37°39′49″N
126°52′14″E
/
37.66361°N 126.87056°E
/
37.66361; 126.87056
Hyoreung:
37°39′53″N
126°51′51″E
/
37.66472°N 126.86417°E
/
37.66472; 126.86417
Yereung:
37°39′56″N
126°52′07″E
/
37.66556°N 126.86861°E
/
37.66556; 126.86861
Hoemyo:
37°39′58″N
126°51′32″E
/
37.66611°N 126.85889°E
/
37.66611; 126.85889
Hyochangwon:
37°39′50″N
126°52′02″E
/
37.66389°N 126.86722°E
/
37.66389; 126.86722
Uiryeongwon:
37°39′50″N
126°52′02″E
/
37.66389°N 126.86722°E
/
37.66389; 126.86722
Seosamneung
(literally translated to "The Three Western Tombs") is situated in
Goyang
,
Gyeonggi Province
, 20 km from Seoul. The cluster holds
Hwireung
(徽陵) (
Queen Janggyeong
, second wife of
King Jungjong
),
Hyoreung
(孝陵) (
King Injong
and
Queen Inseong
) and
Yereung
(睿陵) (
King Cheoljong
and
Queen Cheorin
). There are fifty other tombs, most notably
Hoemyo
(회묘) (
Deposed Queen Yun
, second wife of
King Seongjong
and the mother of
Yeonsangun
),
Hyochangwon
(孝昌園) (
Crown Prince Munhyo
),
Sogyeongwon
(소경원) (
Crown Prince Sohyeon
, situated in an undisclosed area) and
Uiryeongwon
(의령원) (
Crown Prince Uiso
). The cluster serves as resting place for many other princes and princesses, as well as three of
King Jeongjo
's concubines (including
Royal Noble Consort Ui of the Changnyeong Seong clan
), and a concubine of
King Heonjong
(Royal Noble Consort Gyeong of the
Gwangsan Kim clan
). Additionally, monuments built to house the royal
placenta
and
umbilical cords
(known as
taesil
), which had once been scattered all over Korea, have also been gathered here.
Taegangneung (태강릉)
[
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]
Taereung:
37°38′05″N
127°05′49″E
/
37.63472°N 127.09694°E
/
37.63472; 127.09694
Gangneung:
37°38′24″N
127°06′19″E
/
37.64000°N 127.10528°E
/
37.64000; 127.10528
Located in eastern
Seoul
, 1 km from each other,
Taereung
(태릉) holds the remains of
Queen Munjeong
, while
Gangneung
(江陵) is the resting place of her son and daughter-in-law,
King Myeongjong
and
Queen Insun
.
Uireung (義陵)
[
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]
37°36′13″N
127°03′25″E
/
37.60361°N 127.05694°E
/
37.60361; 127.05694
Uireung
is a pair of tombs arranged in a line, holding the remains of
King Gyeonjong
and his second wife,
Queen Seonui
. It is located in Seokgwan-dong,
Seongbuk District
,
Seoul
.
Yeongneung (영릉)
[
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]
Yeongneung (King Hyojong):
37°18′50″N
127°36′32″E
/
37.31389°N 127.60889°E
/
37.31389; 127.60889
Yeongneung (King Sejong):
37°18′29″N
127°36′11″E
/
37.30806°N 127.60306°E
/
37.30806; 127.60306
These tombs, whose names are pronounced identically but with different hanja, lie in the west of the city of
Yeoju
,
Gyeonggi Province
.
Sejong the Great
and his wife,
Queen Soheon
, are within a burial mound, surrounded by statues and near a pond and memorial shrine.
[5]
King Hyojong
’s tomb lies in line with the tomb of his wife,
Queen Inseon
.
Yunggeolleung (융乾陵)
[
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]
Geolleung:
37°12′50″N
126°59′17″E
/
37.21389°N 126.98806°E
/
37.21389; 126.98806
Yungneung:
37°12′42″N
126°59′38″E
/
37.21167°N 126.99389°E
/
37.21167; 126.99389
Located within a park in
Hwaseong
,
Gyeonggi Province
,
Yungneung
(隆陵) is the resting place of
Crown Prince Sado
and
Lady Hyegyeong
(posthumously honored as King Jangjo and Queen Heongyeong), while
Geolleung
(健陵) holds the remains of
King Jeongjo
and
Queen Hyoui
.
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]