jump to the content
Recherche avancée

Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty

Les noms des biens figurent dans la langue dans laquelle les Etats parties les ont soumis.

Corée, République de (Asie et pacifique)

Date de soumission : 16/01/2006
Critères: (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Catégorie : Culturel
Soumission préparée par :
Cultural Heritage AdministrationDunsan-dong 920, Seo-gu, Government ComplexDaejeon, Korea
Etat, province ou région :
Seoul Metropolitan Area, Gyeonggido ProvinceGangwondo Province
Coordonnées
N37 37 31 E126 53 59
Ref.: 2097

Description

There are two types of tombs of the royal family during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910): Neung is the tomb of the kings and queens and of the kings and queens posthumously designated; and Won is the tomb of Crown Princes and their wives, and of the royal parents.

The Neungs and Wons of the Joseon Dynasty, with the exceptions of Jangneung in Yeongwol-gun County, Gangwon-do Province and Yeongneung and Nyeongneung in Yeoju-gun County, Gyeonggi-do Province, are all located within 40km of the capital of Hanyang (current day Seoul). There are 40 Neungs and 13 Wons, composing 53 royal tombs in total.

Based on the Chinese Confucian texts such as the Book of Rites (Li Ji) and the Rites of Zhou (Zhou Li), the location and arrangement of royal tombs (family tombs and single tombs) of the Joseon Dynasty were determined in accordance with their distance from Hanyang and other royal tombs; accessibility and boundaries; and the geographical features of surrounding mountains (according to traditional geomancy). Royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty were located and built in accordance with the culture (traditional burial rituals of Korea) and the nature (environmental sustainability).



Donggureung Tomb Cluster

The Donggureung tomb cluster is the most representative royal family group tombs through the Jogeon Dynasty. Here, seven kings and ten queens an entombed in nine Neung: from Geonwolleung, tomb of King Taejo (Yi Seong-gye, the finder, 1135-1408, r. 1392-1398) built in the ninth month of 1408; to Gyeongneung, tomb of King Hyeonjong, the 24th ruler (1827-1849, r. 1834-1849) with his wives Queen Hyohyeon (1828-1843) and Queen Hyojeong (1831-1903).The changes in royal tombs over the five hundred years of the Joseon Dynasty can be seen at a glance in this precious cultural heritage.



Seosamneung Tomb Cluster

The Seosamneung (lit. "Three Western Neung") tomb cluster, in Goyang-si City, Gyeonggi-do Province, located within 20km of Seoul, is so named because of the three royal tombs (Neung) located in the western suburb of the Capital Hanyang: Huineung, the tomb of Queen Janggyeong (1491-1515), the wife of King Jungjong, the 11th ruler of the Joseon (1488-1544, r. 1506-1544); Hyoreung of King Injong, the 12th ruler (1515-1545, r. 1544-1545) with his wife Queen Inscong ( 1514-1577) ; and Yereung of King Cheoljong, the 25th ruler (1831-1863, r. 1849-1863) with his wife Queen Cheorin (1837-1878). In addition to these three Neungs, there is the cluster of fifty tombs of princes, princesses and royal concubines. Furthermore the cluster of the taesil (monuments built to house the royal placenta and umbilical cords) that were once scattered over the country are now gathered, displaying various styles.



Gwangneung

Gwangneung, located in Narnyangiu-si City, Gyeonggi-do Province, contains the tombs of King Sejo, the 7th ruler (1417-1468, r. 1455-1468), and his wife Queen Jeonghui (1418-1483) built in 1468 and 1483 respectively. Gwangneung shows important changes in the construction of royal tombs in the Joseon Dynasty: in accordance with the last wishes of the king, no screening rocks were installed, the outer coffin stone was replaced with hardened quicklime, and the reverential access was not built, showing a virtue of frugality. In addition, there is only one T-shaped ritual shrine for both burial mounds. This new arrangement style was first adopted at Gwangneung and influenced the royal tomb system from that time on.



Hongneung and Yureung

In addition to Hongneung, the burial place of Emperor Gojong, the 26th ruler of Joseon (1852- 1919, r. 1863-1907) and Empress Myeongseong (1851-1895); and Yureung Tomb, the burial place of Emperor Sunjong, the 27th ruler of Joseon (1874-1926, r. 1907- 1910) and his wives Empress Sunrnyeonghyo (1872-1904) and Empress Sunjeonghyo (1894-1966), other tombs are located in this area including Yeongwon, the tomb of Crown Prince Yeongwang (1897-1970) and Crown Princess Yi Bangja (1901-1989). These were made as imperial tombs of upgraded style, since the national polity of Joseon Dynasty became the Great Korean Empire, and its rulers ascended the Imperial throne.