Yungneung and Geolleung
Encyclopedia
Yungneung and Geolleung are two royal tombs from the Joseon Dynasty
within an oak
-forested park in Hwaseong, South Korea
. Yungneung is the tomb of Crown Prince Sado and Princess Hyegyeong, while Geolleung houses King Jeongjo
and Queen Hyoui. The tombs are part of the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
.
Crown Prince Sado (1735-1762), having been killed by his father King Yeongjo
, was buried on Mr Baebongsan in Yangju
, though his body was moved to its current location, then called Hyeollyungwon, in 1789 by his son King Jeongjo
. Prince Sado's wife, Princess Hyegyeong, was buried with his husband in 1816. In 1899, when Prince Sado and Princess Hyegyeong were posthumously elevated in status and given the titles Emperor Yangjo and Empress Heonyeong, the tomb was also upgraded and renamed Yungneung.
The tomb itself features retaining stones around its perimeter, is decorated by capstones featuring prominent carved lotuses, possibly to soothe the spirit of Prince Sado, whom his son had believed to have been killed before reaching his full potential. The tomb is guarded by statues on the downward slope, at the bottom of which sits a shrine, which is in turn led to by a wide worship road. There are two other buildings in the immediate vicinity: a royal kitchen and a shelter for two memorial steles
. The memorial road is accessed via a red spiked wooden gateway, which stands a short distance from a circular pond. This, symbolising the wish-granting bead of a dragon, and therefore King Jeongjo's love of his father, is an unusual feature for a royal tomb from the Joseon era.
Annual memorial rites are held here on the second Sunday of April.
On his death in 1800, King Jeongjo
was buried on a hill to the east of Yungneung, then called Hyeollyungwon, but on the death of his wife, Queen Hyoui, his body was exhumed and moved to the current site, Geolleung, where the couple were buried together. The tomb matches Yungneung in layout, though with only one stele and without the pond.
Memorial rites are performed here on the second Sunday of May each year.
The tomb keeper's house, by the park entrance, consists of two buildings in a walled courtyard containing an old Chinese juniper
and a Korean plum yew
. This building is used for prepare the memorial rites.
, or a 15-minute ride (number 24, 34, 34-1, 35, 35-1, 44, 50, or 50-1) from Byeongjeom Station
(Exit 2).
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
within an oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
-forested park in Hwaseong, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Yungneung is the tomb of Crown Prince Sado and Princess Hyegyeong, while Geolleung houses King Jeongjo
Jeongjo of Joseon
King Jeongjo was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He made various attempts to reform and improve the nation of Joseon. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo and succeeded by his son King Sunjo...
and Queen Hyoui. The tombs are part of the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty refers to the 40 tombs of members of the Korean Joseon Dynasty . These tombs are scattered in over 18 locations across South Korea. They were built to honour and respect the ancestors and their achievements, and assert their royal authority...
.
Yungneung
37°12′42"N 126°59′38"ECrown Prince Sado (1735-1762), having been killed by his father King Yeongjo
Yeongjo of Joseon
Yeongjo was the twenty-first king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. He was the second son of Sukjong by Lady Suk-bin of the Choi clan , succeeded his older brother Gyeongjong.-Reign:...
, was buried on Mr Baebongsan in Yangju
Yangju
Yangju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yangju is located south of Dongducheon and north of Uijeongbu not far from Seoul.- Attractions:...
, though his body was moved to its current location, then called Hyeollyungwon, in 1789 by his son King Jeongjo
Jeongjo of Joseon
King Jeongjo was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He made various attempts to reform and improve the nation of Joseon. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo and succeeded by his son King Sunjo...
. Prince Sado's wife, Princess Hyegyeong, was buried with his husband in 1816. In 1899, when Prince Sado and Princess Hyegyeong were posthumously elevated in status and given the titles Emperor Yangjo and Empress Heonyeong, the tomb was also upgraded and renamed Yungneung.
The tomb itself features retaining stones around its perimeter, is decorated by capstones featuring prominent carved lotuses, possibly to soothe the spirit of Prince Sado, whom his son had believed to have been killed before reaching his full potential. The tomb is guarded by statues on the downward slope, at the bottom of which sits a shrine, which is in turn led to by a wide worship road. There are two other buildings in the immediate vicinity: a royal kitchen and a shelter for two memorial steles
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
. The memorial road is accessed via a red spiked wooden gateway, which stands a short distance from a circular pond. This, symbolising the wish-granting bead of a dragon, and therefore King Jeongjo's love of his father, is an unusual feature for a royal tomb from the Joseon era.
Annual memorial rites are held here on the second Sunday of April.
Geolleung
37°12′50"N 126°59′17"EOn his death in 1800, King Jeongjo
Jeongjo of Joseon
King Jeongjo was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He made various attempts to reform and improve the nation of Joseon. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo and succeeded by his son King Sunjo...
was buried on a hill to the east of Yungneung, then called Hyeollyungwon, but on the death of his wife, Queen Hyoui, his body was exhumed and moved to the current site, Geolleung, where the couple were buried together. The tomb matches Yungneung in layout, though with only one stele and without the pond.
Memorial rites are performed here on the second Sunday of May each year.
Tomb Keeper's House
37°12′29"N 126°59′23"EThe tomb keeper's house, by the park entrance, consists of two buildings in a walled courtyard containing an old Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis
Juniperus chinensis grows as a shrub or tree with a very variable in shape, reaching 1-20 m tall. This native of northeast Asia grows in China, Mongolia, Japan, Korea and the southeast of Russia.-Growth:...
and a Korean plum yew
Cephalotaxus koreana
Cephalotaxus koreana, commonly called the Korean Plum Yew, is a coniferous shub or small tree in the plum yew family. It is native to Korea, Japan and northeast China. Some botanists consider it synonymous with C. harringtonia....
. This building is used for prepare the memorial rites.
Admission
The park is open from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. (last admission 5.30) from March to October, closing one hour earlier from November to February, but is closed on Mondays. There is an entrance fee of 1000 won for adults and 500 won for children.Transport
The park is accessible by a 40-minute bus ride (number 24 or 46) from Suwon StationSuwon Station
Suwon Station is a railway station in the city of Suwon, South Korea. The station was completely redeveloped in 2002 and 2003, and is now integrated with the Aekyung Shopping Mall. This station serves the national Gyeongbu Line and Line 1 of the Seoul subway, which runs services from Soyosan...
, or a 15-minute ride (number 24, 34, 34-1, 35, 35-1, 44, 50, or 50-1) from Byeongjeom Station
Byeongjeom Station
Byeongjeom Station is a station on Line 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the currently the only train station serving the city of Hwaseong...
(Exit 2).