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Royal Tombs and Its History
조선왕릉
The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty inscribed in the UNESCO's list of the World Heritage Sites in 2009 refer to 40 graves of the monarchs and their consorts who ruled Joseon (1392-1897) and the Korean Empire (1897-1910).

The royal tombs comprise the forty-two tombs of the seventy-three rulers and their consorts of Joseon (1392-1897) and the Korean Empire (1897-1910). Established based on the state ideology of Confucianism, the Joseon dynasty was meticulous in its construction and management of the graves of the royal ancestors according to the virtues of filial piety and ceremonial propriety. The construction of a royal or imperial tomb typically began with a quest to find the most auspicious site based on the principles of pungsu (or feng shui). Each tomb had to be located in the capital area not far from the royal palace so that the reigning kings could make frequent visits to their ancestral graves. The construction of the royal tomb followed the discovery of an auspicious site. Construction entailed dividing the site into three sections: a section where the spirits of the king and his queen consort(s) were laid to rest in everlasting peace, a section where ceremonies honoring their virtues and achievements were held, and a landscaped section which enclosed the tomb in a state of natural harmony with its surroundings.

The royal tombs of Joseon are a rare example of tombs of an entire dynasty that have been almost entirely preserved in their original condition. More remarkably, the construction and management of each of these royal tombs, which took five months on average from discovering the burial site to completion of the tomb, were recorded in detail in the protocols and chronicles called Uigwe and Neungji, respectively. The annual memorial rites to the royal ancestors of the Joseon dynasty are still held today in the precincts of the tombs, making them a tangible heritage of the traditional virtues of filial piety and ceremonial propriety maintained by the Korean people.


List of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
Historic Site Royal Tomb Name Royal Tomb Owner Form

East Nine Royal Tombs, Guri

Geonwolleung

King Taejo

Single Burial

Hyeolleung

King Munjong, and Queen Hyeondeok

Double Hill Twin Burials

Mongneung

King Seonjo, Queen Uiin, and Queen Inmok

Double Hill Twin Burials

Hwireung

Queen Jangnyeol, the Second Consort of King Injo

Single Burial

Sungneung

King Hyeonjong, and Queen Myeongseong

Twin Burials

Hyereung

Queen Danui, the First Consort of King Gyeongjong

Single Burial

Wolleung

King Yeongjo, and Queen Jeongsun

Twin Burials

Sureung

Honorary Emperor Munjo and Honorary Empress Sinjeong

Double Burial

Gyeongneung

King Heonjong, Queen Hyohyeon, and Queen Hyojeong

Triple Burials

Heolleung and Illeung Royal Tombs, Seoul

Heolleung

King Taejong, and Queen Wongyeong

Twin Burials

Illeung

King Sunjo, and Queen Sunwon

Double Burial

Yeongneung and Nyeongneung Royal Tombs, Yeoju

Yeongneung

King Sejong, and Queen Soheon

Double Burial

Nyeongneung

King Hyojong, and Queen Inseon

Single Hill Twin Burials

Jangneung Royal Tomb, Yeongwol

Jangneung

King Danjong

Single Burial

Gwangneung Royal Tomb, Namyangju

Gwangneung

King Sejo, and Queen Jeonghui

Double Hill Twin Burials

West Five Royal Tombs, Goyang

Gyeongneung

Honorary King Deokjong and Honorary Queen Sohye

Double Hill Twin Burials

Changneung

King Yejong, and Queen Ansun

Double Hill Twin Burials

Myeongneung

King Sukjong, Queen Inhyeon and Queen Inwon

Double Hill Twin Burials

Ingneung

Queen Ingyeong, the First Consort of King Sukjong

Single Burial

Hongneung

Queen Jeongseong, the First Consort of King Yeongjo

Single Burial

Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs, Seoul

Seolleung

King Seongjong, and Queen Jeonghyeon

Double Hill Twin Burials

Jeongneung

King Jungjong

Single Burial

West Three Royal Tombs, Goyang

Huireung

Queen Janggyeong, the Second Consort of King Jungjong

Single Burial

Hyoreung

King Injong, and Queen Inseong

Twin Burials

Yereung

King Cheoljong, and Queen Cheorin

Twin Burials

Taereung and Gangneung Royal Tombs, Seoul

Taereung

Queen Munjeong, the Third Consort of King Jungjong

Single Burial

Gangneung

King Myeongjong, and Queen Insun

Twin Burials

Jangneung Royal Tomb, Gimpo

Jangneung

Honorary King Wonjong and Honorary Queen Inheon

Twin Burials

Jangneung Royal Tomb, Paju

Jangneung

King Injo, and Queen Inyeol

Double Burial

Uireung Royal Tomb, Seoul

Uireung

King Gyeongjong, and Queen Seonui

Single Hill Twin Burials

Three Royal Tombs, Paju

Gongneung

Queen Jangsun, the First Consort of King Yejong

Single Burial

Sulleung

Queen Gonghye, the First Consort of King Seongjong

Single Burial

Yeongneung

Honorary Emperor Jinjong and Honorary Empress Hyosun

Twin Burials

Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs, Hwaseong

Yungneung

Honorary Emperor Jangjo and Honorary Empress Heongyeong

Double Burial

Geolleung

King Jeongjo, and Queen Hyoui

Double Burial

Hongneung and Yureung Imperial Tombs, Namyangju

Hongneung

Emperor Gojong, and Empress Myeongseong

Double Burial

Yureung

Emperor Sunjong, Empress Sunmyeong and Empress Sunjeong

Double Burial

Jeongneung Royal Tomb, Seoul

Jeongneung

Queen Sindeok, the Second Consort of King Taejo

Single Burial

Sareung Royal Tomb, Namyangju

Sareung

Queen Jeongsun, the Consort of King Danjong

Single Burial

Olleung Royal Tomb, Yangju

Olleung

Queen Dangyeong, the First Consort of King Jungjong

Single Burial

The Forms of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
  • Single Burial
    A royal tomb where either a king or queen was buried alone.
  • Twin Burials
    A royal tomb where a king and queen were buried under separate mounds built on the same hill.
  • Double Burial
    A royal tomb where the king’s body was buried with queen’s under the same mound.
  • Double Hill Twin Burials
    A royal tomb where a king and queen were buried under separate mounds built on separate hills, with the T-shaped shrine (Jeongjagak) between the two.
  • Single Hill Twin Burials
    A royal tomb in which the king’s mound was built above his queen’s, on the same hill.
  • Triple Burials
    A royal tomb where a king was buried with his two queens, each under separate mounds built on the same hill.