Mausoleum of Dangun
Encyclopedia
The Mausoleum of Dangun is ancient burial site in Kangdong near Pyongyang
, North Korea
. It is claimed by North Korea to be the tomb of Dangun
, legendary founder of Gojoseon
, the first Korean kingdom.
The Mausoleum was extensively restored in 1994. The complex occupies about 1.8 km² (.70 mi²) on the slope of Taebak Mountain (대박산). The complex is divided into three major sections: restoration work area, stone statue area, and the burial site. Dangun's grave is shaped like a pyramid, about 22 m (72 ft) high and 50 m (164 ft) on each side.
In both Koreas, Gojoseon was thought to have been founded in 2333 BCE. Current excavations, however, have dramatically changed the estimates of North Korean historians back to at least 3000 BCE, making the site c.5011 years old (±267 years in 1993).
, dating to the Goguryeo
period (37 BCE-668 BCE), has been the subject of much controversy. This discovery has thus led some North Korean historians to conclude that the mausoleum was discovered and renovated during that period. Many observers and historians outside of North Korea, including South Korea, consider the data and the interpretation compromised by politics and nationalism. North Korea has permitted no independent testing to resolve the questions over authenticity and dating.
Sites dealing with the controversy:
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. It is claimed by North Korea to be the tomb of Dangun
Dangun
Dangun Wanggeom was the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, around present-day Liaoning, Manchuria, and the Korean Peninsula. He is said to be the "grandson of heaven", and to have founded the kingdom in 2333 BC...
, legendary founder of Gojoseon
Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
, the first Korean kingdom.
The Mausoleum was extensively restored in 1994. The complex occupies about 1.8 km² (.70 mi²) on the slope of Taebak Mountain (대박산). The complex is divided into three major sections: restoration work area, stone statue area, and the burial site. Dangun's grave is shaped like a pyramid, about 22 m (72 ft) high and 50 m (164 ft) on each side.
In both Koreas, Gojoseon was thought to have been founded in 2333 BCE. Current excavations, however, have dramatically changed the estimates of North Korean historians back to at least 3000 BCE, making the site c.5011 years old (±267 years in 1993).
Controversy
A nail found in the mausoleumMausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
, dating to the Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
period (37 BCE-668 BCE), has been the subject of much controversy. This discovery has thus led some North Korean historians to conclude that the mausoleum was discovered and renovated during that period. Many observers and historians outside of North Korea, including South Korea, consider the data and the interpretation compromised by politics and nationalism. North Korea has permitted no independent testing to resolve the questions over authenticity and dating.
See also
- List of tombs and mausoleums
- List of archeological sites in Korea
- List of Korea-related topics
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- Mausoleum of the Yellow EmperorMausoleum of the Yellow EmperorThe Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor is the burial site of the Chinese legendary Yellow Emperor, located in Huangling County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province, China. According to legend, the Yellow Emperor attained immortality and was taken up to heaven, leaving behind only his clothing and cap to be...
External links
Sites dealing with the controversy:
- http://san-shin.org/dan-gun-1.html
- http://web.edunet4u.net/~lost/
- http://www.kimsoft.com/2002/danggun.htm
- http://www.dangoon21.net/
- http://daangoon.pe.kr/
- http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EAL/