Heritage Eng

SECOND EDITION
EXPLORING KOREAN
HISTORY THROUGH
WORLD HERITAGE
SECOND EDITION
EXPLORING KOREAN
HISTORY THROUGH
WORLD HERITAGE
SECOND EDITION
EXPLORING KOREAN
HISTORY THROUGH
WORLD HERITAGE
Published by the Academy of Korean Studies Press

First Edition in December 2010
Second Edition in December 2014
Edited by the Center for International Affairs

Photo by Seo Jae-sik
Address The Academy of Korean Studies

323 Haogae-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 463-791, Korea
Tel 82-31-708-5360
Fax 82-31-701-1343
Homepage book.aks.ac.kr
Copyright 2010 The Academy of Korean Studies

No portion of the contents may be reproduced in any form
without written permission of the Academy of Korean Studies.
ISBN 979-11-86178-16-4 03900
Printed in Korea THE ACADEMY OF KOREAN STUDIES PRESS

PRESIDENT'S FOREWORD
H eritage means the spiritual and material culture that we have inherited
from our ancestors. It is the basis of our lives and is an asset we must
leave behind to our descendants. It is an irreplaceable source of life and
addition of Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong to the World
Heritage, this August, Korea will be home to 9 Cultural Heritages, 1
Natural Heritage, 7 Memories of the World, and 8 Intangible Heritages.
inspiration. When considering the small size of the land, this number demonstrates the
In 1972, UNESCO held the Convention Concerning the Protection long history and tradition of Korea has a very high global value.
of the World Cultural and Natural WHC (World Heritage Committee), also The Exploring Korean History Through World Heritage (2010 edi-
known as the World Heritage Convention, in order to discover, protect, and tion) will introduce Koreas World Heritages, determined by UNESCO, to fo-
preserve the natural heritages that contain universal values to mankind. Since reigners. The book tries to refrain from providing simple, factual informa-
then, UNESCO has held the annually, World Committee of UNESCO tion on cultural heritages, and connects the cultural heritage with Korean his-
general assembly, to determine World Heritages. tory. It is impossible to show all the long history of Korea in a single book.
In order to be registered a World Heritage; the cultural and natural Despite that, I hope that this book will be a key opportunity to understand
heritages must be recognized for their authenticity, superiority of value, and Koreas history, culture, and tradition.
maintenance of the state. Upon registration as a World Heritage, UNESCO
will provide technical support for the prevention of damages and permanent December 2014
safekeeping. Some nations might be eligible for funding, as well. Lee Bae Yong
UNESCO World Heritage is categorized into natural propertiesfor President of the Academy of Korean Studies
natural objects, cultural properties for products of human work, and mixed
properties for joint production pieces between nature and human. Also, there
is a separate categoryList of World Heritage Sites in Danger. As of 2010,
911 World heritages in 151 nations are registered and managed. 33 out of
which are separately listed as World Heritage Sites in Danger.
Korea, with its 5,000 years of history has various precious heritages
worthy of being World Heritage. Some of them have been selected as
various tangible and intangible heritages, according to the Convention
Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural WHC. With the
4 5
DIRECTOR'S FOREWORD
T he Center for International Affairs (CEFIA) at the Academy of Korean

Studies (AKS) conducts projects to disseminate the proper
understanding of Korea more accurately and faithfully, as well as developing
recognition of its excellence and improve the image of Korea.
Many people have generously given their help in creating this book,
particularly those that have thoroughly reviewed the manuscript written in
materials on the history and culture of Korea. By publishing this book, we 2005, and rewrote the additional parts. Thank you to Lee Yeong-chun, the
added and emended the Exploring Korean History Through World Heritage, head of the Research Publication Department of the National Institute of
that was published in 2005, and now introduce UNESCO World Heritages in Korean History, professor Kim Il-gwon, professor Ok Yeong-jeong and
Korea. This book will provide experience in the long history, culture, and researcher Chang Ki-hong of the Academy of Korean Studies. A special
tradition of Korea and not just to expert researchers of Korean studies in the thanks to Leif P. Olson, the Deputy Director of Korean Studies at the Korea
international society, but also to the students of Korean studies, as well as the Society for his special interest in the culture and tradition of Korea. I would
general public. also like to thank Mr. Seo Jae-sik for providing us with such wonderful
The aim of this book is to introduce the overall history and culture pictures to be used in the book, as well as Yun Ji-seon, the head of the
of Korea through 19 different pieces of culture that are currently on the division of publication at the Academy of Korean Studies, as well as
Korean peninsula and are registered with UNESCO. The 19 pieces of World everyone in the division of publication. My thanks also to Song Taek-sung
Heritages, Memories of the World, and Intangible Heritages give a balanced for the translation of this book, Andrew W. Ignash for the Supervision of this
view of the 5,000 year long Korean history from the prehistoric times to the book despite the difficulty of its contents. This book is the fruit of many
modern times. Koreans might have created these heritages, but now they are peoples labor, and I sincerely hope that it will help in introducing the long
outstanding pieces of property with universal values for all mankind. history and tradition of Korea to foreigners, while enhancing Koreas
Korea is home to a relatively large number of world class World international image.
Heritages, Memories of the World, and Intangible Heritages that need to be
protected for everyone to enjoy. We must strive to make people appreciate December 2014
the existence and value of these cultural heritages, and furthermore, protect Kim Hyeon
them. Through such efforts, the uniqueness and excellence of the Korean Director of the Center for International Affairs
history and culture will naturally take root in the minds and hearts of people
around the world. We also hope that this book will improve the readers
understanding of the Korean history and culture, and also enhance the
6 7
CONTENTS
PRESIDENT'S FOREWORD 4
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
DIRECTOR'S FOREWORD 6 THE ROYAL ANCESTRAL RITE AND RITUAL MUSIC IN JONGMYO SHRINE 138
THE PANSORI EPIC CHANT 152
WORLD HERITAGE (WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE) THE GANGNEUNG DANOJE FESTIVAL 160
SEOKGURAM GROTTO AND BULGUKSA TEMPLE 12
HAEINSA TEMPLE JANGGYENG PANJEON, THE DEPOSITORY OF THE TRIPITAKA 22 MEMORY OF THE WORLD
JONGMYO SHRINE 32 HUNMINJEONGEUM MANUSCRIPT (KOREAN ALPHABET) 170
CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX 50 ANNALS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY 182
HWASEONG FORTRESS 70 BAEGUN HWASANG CHOROK BULJO JIKJISIMCHEYOJEOL (JIKJI) 198
GYEONGJU HISTORIC AREAS 84 SEUNGJEONGWON ILGI, THE DIARIES OF THE ROYAL SECRETARIAT 206
GOCHANG, HWASUN AND GANGHWA DOLMEN SITES 94 UIGWE: THE ROYAL PROTOCOLS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY 214
GOGURYEO TOMB COMPLEX 104 DONGUIBOGAM: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF EASTERN MEDICINE 228
ROYAL TOMBS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY 114
HISTORIC VILLAGES OF KOREA: HAHOE AND YANGDONG 124 WORLD HERITAGE MAP 245
SEOKGURAM GROTTO AND BULGUKSA TEMPLE
HAEINSA TEMPLE JANGGYENG PANJEON, THE DEPOSITORY OF THE TRIPITAKA
JONGMYO SHRINE
CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX
WORLD HERITAGE HWASEONG FORTRESS
GYEONGJU HISTORIC AREAS

(WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE)
GOCHANG, HWASUN AND GANGHWA DOLMEN SITES
GOGURYEO TOMB COMPLEX
ROYAL TOMBS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY
HISTORIC VILLAGES OF KOREA: HAHOE AND YANGDONG

Yeonhwagyo and Chilbogyo Bridges in Bulguksa
Temple. The bridges symbolize the path
connecting Earth and the blissful land of Buddha
realized in Bulguksa Temple. The Baegungyo and
Cheongungyo Bridges in the background have the
same symbolism.
SEOKGURAM GROTTO AND

BULGUKSA TEMPLE
Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, both of which were built

in the mid-eighth century during the Unified Silla era, provide a
comprehensive view of the development of Buddhist art. Seokguram
Grotto is one of the greatest achievements of the golden age of
Silla, completely reflecting Silla architecture, mathematics, geo-
metry, religion, and art, granting Bulguksa Temple a unique archi-
tectural beauty that perfectly illustrates Buddhist ideals.
Complete view of Bulguksa. The building of
which only the roof is visible is Museoljeon. The
tops of Dabotap and Seokgatap stand out
gracefully above it.
Dabotap (Seokgatap appears in the background)
A fter unification, Silla reformed its dominant political institutions, as

well as its economic system and society, remaining stable until the
mid-eighth century. However, a power struggle among the aristocracy over
the succession to the throne arose in the late eighth century. Powerful local
gentry took advantage of this lapse in state control and the confused state of
affairs to develop into independent powers.
By the late ninth century, rebellions in every province drove Silla
into a state of chaos. Two rebel leaders, Gyeonhwon and Gungye, founded
Later Baekje and Later Goguryeo respectively, and Silla was consequently
reduced to a small country consisting only of Gyeongju and its immediate
surroundings. This era is known as the Later Three Kingdoms Period.
Gungye, the founder of Later Goguryeo, resorted to despotism, and was
eventually overthrown by Wang Geon, one of his subjects. Following his
accession to the throne, Wang Geon renamed his country Goryeo. Silla sur-
rendered itself to Goryeo, which was now the strongest of the Later Three
Kingdoms states, and collapsed.
The dominant ideology of Unified Silla was Buddhism, which was
popular among the ruling class because it justified and consolidated their
leadership on a religious foundation. Buddhisms influence expanded to the
wider public at the beginning of the Unified Silla era, the result of the efforts
of many priests, including Wonhyo and Uisang, and the political require-
ments of the king who sought to build unity with Goguryeo and Baekje on
their shared Buddhist faith.
Silla Buddhist culture experienced a golden age in the eighth centu-
ry when Buddhism began to be actively studied, leading to the writings of
great priests. Silla Buddhist culture developed considerably, especially in the
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 14 15 SEOKGURAM GROTTO AND BULGUKSA TEMPLE
Distant view of Seokguram
Buddhas in Seokguram
realm of art, which displayed a highly developed and mature aesthetic sensi-
bility that went far beyond the simplicity of Three Kingdoms period art
forms. During this time, artists strove, somewhat paradoxically, through the
use of realistic techniques, to represent an idealized world of unity, harmony,
and beauty, rather than portraying objects realistically.
Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple are representative works of
advanced Unified Silla era Buddhist art. Kim Dae-seong, the prime minister
of the kingdom, began the construction of Seokguram Grotto in the mid-
eighth century under the rule of King Gyeongdeok; it took twenty-four years
to complete. Seokguram Grotto, named Seokbulsa Temple at the time of its
construction, was modeled after a rock cave temple in China, though the
Chinese cave is a natural rock cave, while the Korean one is purely artificial.
Seokguram Grotto is composed of a rectangular front room and a circular
main room, modeled after an ancient Indian-style grotto.
The rock cave of Seokguram Grotto was created near the eastern
peak of Tohamsan Mountain using white granite. Within its confines are thir-
ty-nine carved Buddhist images including female Buddhist statues on the
main wall, centering on the Seokgayeorae Bulsang, the Buddhas statue. The
cave has a rectangular front room and a circular main room that are connect-
ed to each other by a passage, and the subtle architectural technique, in
which the domed ceiling of its circular main room was created with about
360 flagstones, is unique in the world.
The rectangular front room at the entrance to Seokguram Grotto
contains four carved guardian images on each side, as well as a carved Deva
king image on each side of the mouth of the inner passage, and two carved
Deva images on each side of the narrow passage. Passing through the narrow
Seokguram Bonjon Bulsang (the 3.5-meter-high
main Buddha) is recognized by UNESCO as part
of World Cultural Heritage and is especially
spectacular in terms of the spirituality and artistry
of its carving.
passage, one comes to the circular main room, which possesses a domed
ceiling and an octagonal stone pillar set on each side of its entrance, while in
the adjoining rectangular main room the principal Buddha image stands a lit-
tle back from the center. Starting from the entrance, carved images of both
female Buddhist statues and the ten great disciples of Buddha are located
symmetrically along the inner walls of the temple. Behind the principal
Buddha statue is an eleven-faced Buddhist Goddess of Mercy image.
It may be said that these works are the best East Asian Buddhist
carvings since they exhibit a mature carving technique and a realistic repre-
sentation. In particular, the Gupta-style Buddha statue, Seokgayeorae
Bulsang, located in the main room, represents the most ideal form of beauty.
The Buddhas statue is a symbol of the spiritually enlightened Buddha who
victoriously overcame the temptations and threats of demons.
Bulguksa Temple, seated on the western mid-slopes of Tohamsan
Mountain, was also constructed by Kim Dae-seong, who oversaw its com-
pletion in twenty-four years. Bulguksa Temple is an earthly realization of the
ideal Buddhist state as it was described in the Buddhist scriptures and as it
existed in the spiritual world of the Silla people. It is the supreme artistic and
architectural achievement of the Unified Silla era, in which profound
Buddhist concepts and the soul of a gifted artist bore fruit in a unique way.
Its excellence is acknowledged around the world.
Bulguksa Temple grand and unique eighth-century stone structure as
seen from the faade reflects the time of its construction; the wooden build-
ing was destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and rebuilt in
the eighteenth century, while the corridor was restored in the 1960s. The
stone structure is composed of magnificently diverse examples of well-cut
The Eleven-Face Buddhist Goddess of Mercy
image in Seokguram
stone, including long and short stepping and terrace stones, arched stones,
round pillar stones, and handrail stones. The carefully chiseled stone posts
and round stone handrails of both the Yeonhwagyo and Chilbogyo Bridges
excel in their sophistication, magnificence, and smoothness.
The three-story Seokgatap Pagoda (8.2m tall) at Bulguksa Temple
possesses a simple and magnificent style that derives from the harmonized
structure of its parts and an overall sense of balance. Another pagoda, the
10.4m tall Dabotap Pagoda, built by assembling well-cut stones on a square
foundation (a similar style to what was used for wooden pagodas), is valued
for its excellent artistic characteristics as well as its complex and splendid
magnificence, unique structure, and original representation.
During the dismantling of the Seokgatap Pagoda for remodeling in
October 1966, archeologists discovered in the pagodas second story, the
Mugujeonggwang-dae-daranigyeong (Spotless Pure Light Dharani Sutra)
inside a gold-copper reliquary. It is believed that this edition of the
Mugujeonggwang-dae-daranigyeong was produced no later than AD 751
before the Seokgatap Pagoda was built; as such, it is the oldest extant wood-
block printed object in the world.
Both Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple were registered with
World Heritage by UNESCO in December 1995.
4FPLHVSBN #VMHVLTB
Complete view of Janggyeong Panjeon, the
depositories for the 80,000 Tripitaka Koreana
woodblocks at Haeinsa. The two buildings are
arranged to the North and South of each other.
The long building in the front is Beopbojeon Hall,
and the one in the back is Sudarajang.
HAEINSA TEMPLE JANGGYENG PANJEON,

THE DEPOSITORY OF THE TRIPITAKA
The Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depository of the

Tripitaka Koreana, the oldest of the existing buildings in Haeinsa
Temple, is a treasure trove housing some 80,000 blocks of the
Tripitaka Koreana. The Janggyeong Panjeon is the only set of
buildings in the world that houses the Tripitaka Koreana. Haeinsa
Temple features the traditional wooden building style of the early
Joseon era; it is not only beautiful, but was designed to naturally
provide its interior with such functions as ventilation, and temperature
and humidity control.
Distant view of Haeinsa
Haeinsa
F ounded in the early ninth century, Goryeo independently unified the

Later Three Kingdoms without the intervention of foreign powers in AD
936. The unification of the separate kingdoms by Goryeo did not include the
officials were favored while military officials were largely ignored.
Discontented military officials in turn massacred civil officials in an effort to
seize political power. This in turn led to a fierce power struggle among mili-
territory of Balhae, although it did allow Balhae refugees to settle within its tary officials and a very unstable military regime. The chaotic political situa-
borders. Furthermore, the unification by Goryeo was the starting point for a tion only settled down when Choe Chung-heon, a military official, seized
single nation that was maintained until the division of the peninsula into power. Thereafter, his family maintained a tight grip on the reins of power
North and South Korea in the mid-twentieth century. and Goryeo remained under the military rule of Choes family for four gener-
Wang Geon, the founder of Goryeo, gained support and assistance ations (or some sixty-two years). During a total of about ninety years of mili-
from powerful local gentry in each province. Goryeo was an aristocratic tary government, Korea experienced its most frequent period of popular
family-based society, and artistic products such as celadon and lacquer works uprisings in its history, when even the lowest classes protested against the
inlaid with mother-of-pearl were developed to meet their needs. Goryeo military government, shaking the state to its roots.
exported these special products to Song China together with ginseng and In such an unstable situation and lacking the impetus for thorough
paper, while it imported silk, spices, books, and other goods from Song. The systematic reform, Goryeo faced a national crisis when the Mongols invaded
name of Goryeo became known to the outside world through visiting in the early thirteenth century. The military regime transferred its capital to
Arabian traders. The current English word for Korea originated from the Ganghwa Island and resisted the Mongols for forty years, but it could not
term Goryeo. escape the inevitable; eventually Goryeo surrendered and the military regime
The 470 years of the Goryeo era are usually divided into two rough- collapsed. Afterwards, Yuan (the name of the Mongolian dynasty in China,
ly equal periods: before and after the revolt of the military officials in 1170. declared in 1271) intervened in Goryeos administration for about seventy
The aristocratic clans of Goryeo gradually attempted to monopolize political years, brining many changes. Under the influence of Yuan, many Mongolian
power, leading to frequent conflicts with the royal family and other aristo- customs were introduced into Goryeo society. Meanwhile, the power of
cratic families. The various rebellions of the early twelfth century all arose as Goryeos royal family was weakened as the kings of Goryeo were replaced
the result of the monopoly of power by a few aristocratic families and weak- according to Yuans needs, and social conflict deepened into the unparalleled
ened royal authority. Amid such rebellions, the aristocratic family-based great confusion of the late Goryeo era.
society of Goryeo fell into ever-deeper conflict without any active attempts The Tripitaka Koreana are the wood printing blocks that were
to resolve the problem. carved under the rule of King Gojong of Goryeo. Tripitaka Koreana is both a
Since the political order centered on the aristocratic families, civil library of Buddhist scriptures and a collection of the three baskets of
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 24 25 HAEINSA TEMPLE JANGGYEONG PANJEON
Interior of the Janggyeong Panjeon
Buddhist writings: sutras, laws, and treatises. In general, the Haeinsa

Tripitaka is known as Goryeo Daejanggyeong (Grand Tripitaka of Goryeo)
since it was made during the Goryeo era; however, it is also referred to as the
Tripitaka Koreana (Eighty-Thousand Grand Tripitaka) because it contains
84,000 laws on over 80,000 wood printing blocks. It gained an additional
name that of the Remade Tripitaka when it was reproduced after the origi-
nal edition (carved under the rule of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo in the early
eleventh century) was destroyed by fire during the Mongol invasion. As the
original Tripitaka was lost, the government relocated its capital to Ganghwa
Island, and organized the Daejang Dogam (Office for the Tripitaka) in an
effort to reproduce the Tripitaka for the purpose of preventing further
Mongolian invasions by invoking the help of Buddha in the early thirteenth
century. It took twelve years to complete the Tripitaka; sixteen years if the
preparation period is counted.
Woodblock printing was extremely popular during the Goryeo peri-
od. Once woodblocks were made, they could be preserved for a long period
of time for later use. Goryeo developed Sillas woodblock printing further,
producing diverse works associated with Buddhism and Confucianism. This
was the result of aristocratic culture, which led to the great demand for printed
texts to be read, collected, and preserved, including Buddhist scriptures. The
most representative of such Goryeo woodblock printings is the Tripitaka. The
Tripitaka blocks were carved in a coastal area in South Gyeongsang Province,
and transferred to Tripitaka Hall on Ganghwa Island for safekeeping, before
being transferred yet again in the late fourteenth century to Haeinsa Temples
Janggyeong Panjeon for safekeeping from the incessant attacks by Japanese
pirates in the late Goryeo era.
Rear view of Daejeok Gwangjeon Hall from
Tripitaka woodblocks
Boandang Cottage of Sudarajang in Haeinsa
Exterior of the Janggyeong Panjeon
Buddhist monks from Haeinsa making Tripitaka

woodblock prints
Fortunately, the Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon has never suf-

fered any damage from war or fire following its construction in the early
Joseon era (fifteenth century), so the Tripitaka Koreana has been safely pre-
served. The Janggyeong Panjeon is composed of two large buildings with fif-
teen rooms arranged side by side from north to south. Of the two main
Janggyeong Panjeon buildings, the one to the south is called Sudarajang, the
one to the north Beopbojeon Hall, while two small Saganpanjeon Halls are
situated one to the east and one to the west.
These structures were built in a simple unadorned manner in order to
carry out the necessary function of preserving the woodblocks. Rationally
designed devices inside the building for such functions as providing protec-
tion against moisture, maintaining the correct temperature, balanced arrange-
ment of wood-blocks, contribute to the perfect preservation of the Tripitaka
Koreana.
These halls contain 81,258 blocks of the Tripitaka. It is believed that
the number of Chinese characters carved on these blocks amounts to some
52,000,000. Since the characters are all carved evenly and precisely without
any mistakes or missing characters, they are highly valued, and enjoy world-
wide fame as a result of their long history and perfect content. The Tripitaka
blocks were registered with World Heritage by UNESCO in December 1995.
Since the Tripitaka Koreana is a collection of the three baskets of
sutra, laws, and treatises of Buddhism, it is essential for the global study of
Buddhism. The Tripitaka became a model for the Japanese Revised Tri-
pitaka, was re-exported into China, and introduced to Western countries such
as Britain, the United States of America, France, and Germany, and has had a
profound impact on Buddhism around the world.
Overview of the Jongmyo Shrine
JONGMYO SHRINE
Jongmyo Shrine is a royal shrine in which the ancestral tablets of

successive kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1920)
were enshrined and commemorated. The shrine is located in
Hunjeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The area of the grounds measures
186,787 (56,503 pyeong). The entire compound, including
Jongmyo Shrine, was designated Historical Site Number 125.
Jeongjeon was also designated National Treasure Number 227, and
Yeongnyeongjeon (shrines made for those who could not be
enshrined in Jongmyo Shrine as kings and queens) was designated
Treasure Number 821. In 1995, Jongmyo Shrine was registered with
UNESCO World Heritage. Later in 2001, UNESCO registered the
Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine as
Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
T he term Jongmyo referred to the royal shrines of regional kings in
ancient China, where the spirit tablets of five generations of ancestors
were enshrined and commemorated. The imperial shrines were referred to as
tral tablets of the four generations of kings and queens preceding Taejo,
Mokjo, Ikjo, Dojo, and Hwanjo are enshrined, as well as those of the kings
and queens that were moved from Jeongjeon. In Jeongjeon, Taejo, Sinui
Taemyo, and enshrined the tablets of seven generations of ancestors. Nobles Wanghu, and Sindeog Wanghu are all enshrined in the first hall. Additionally,
and bureaucrats below the grade of Daebu enshrined tablets for three genera- nineteen kings and thirty queens are also enshrined for a total of forty-nine
tions of their ancestors in a family shrine called Gamyo where they were royals. In Yeongnyeongjeon, the kings and queens of four generations of
commemorated. Since the era of the Three Kingdoms, dynasties in Korea ancestors preceding Taejo who were posthumously made Kings, as well as
assumed the position of regional kings to China, and they maintained the the nineteen Kings that were moved to Yeongnyeongjeon from Jeongjeon are
five-generation Jongmyo Shrine. However, the five-generation system was enshrined. Crown Prince Uimin, who passed away in 1970, and his wife
not strictly adhered to, and past kings who performed great deeds remained were also enshrined, making for a total of thirty. In Gongsindang, the hall
enshrined and were commemorated even after five generations had passed. across the yard from Jeongjeon, the ancestral tablets of eighty-three vassals
Together with the government, Jongmyo Shrine was an important institution of merit of various kings from the Joseon Dynasty are enshrined.
that traditionally symbolized the fate of the country. Jongmyo is also home to a shrine that commemorates King Gong-
The Jongmyo in Seoul contains Jeongjeon, the main shrine, which min of Goryeo, as well as Chilsadang (a shrine for services in various sea-
has nineteen burial chambers, and Yeongnyeongjeon, the attached shrine, sons). Jongmyo also has structures other than shrines, such as Mangmyoru,
which possesses sixteen burial chambers. These burial chambers are where Eosuksil, Jeonsacheong, Hyangdaecheong, Akgongcheong, and Subokbang.
the ancestral tablets of the deceased kings and queens are enshrined, and Jongmyo commemorates the ancestors of the royal family and the
each chamber is labeled with the epitaphs of the kings, such as Taejo, institution had its beginnings during the Yin Dynasty of ancient China (1600
Taejong, and Sejong. The rule in assigning posthumous names to the Kings BC to 1300 BC). The Yin Dynasty had a shrine called Daejong, which com-
was to putjoon the epitaphs of kings who either established or revived a memorated the ancestors in direct line to the emperor. Also, it had a shrine
dynasty, and put jong on the epitaphs of kings that were of great virtue. called Sojong that commemorated the ancestors in the collateral line to the
However, this rule was not always followed. Kings came to be referred to emperor. At the Yin Dynastys Jongmyo site were found the many bones of
posthumously by their epitaphs on the chambers of Jongmyo. humans and animals who had been sacrificed. Some of the bones bear writ-
In the Jeongjeon of Jongmyo are enshrined the ancestral tablets of ten inscriptions.
the four most recent kings and queens, as well as the ancestral tablets of The ritual and etiquette of the Chinese nation was first organized
great kings like Taejo, Taejong, and Sejong. In Yeongnyeongjeon, the ances- during the izhou Dynasty (Western hou, twelfth century BC to 771 BC),
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 34 35 JONGMYO SHRINE

Distant view of Jongmyo Shrine
and a system similar to Jongmyo was established for the generations that tor, Bakyeokgeose. A separate royal shrine for the Kim family was later built
came afterwards. In ancient China, a separate shrine was built for each of the in 487 (the ninth year of the reign of King Soji). In a record from 687 (sev-
ancestors who were commemorated. The progenitor of the line was placed in enth year of the reign of King Sinmun), it is stated that the four generations
the middle of the shrine and the shrines for the second, third, fourth, and fifth from the ancestors direct line and King Michu, the Silla Dynastys progenitor,
generations were built on the left and right sides in an alternating pattern. were commemorated in Jongmyo. This implies that the Chinese style of the five-
This was called the Somok system. The emperor built seven chambers to chamber system was in place at that time. However, in the Jesaji of the
commemorate seven generations of ancestors, regional kings built five for Samguksagi (The Histories of the Three Kingdoms), it is stated that the
five generations, nobles and bureaucrats three, and scholars one or two to five-chamber system of Jongmyo commemoration was put in place during
commemorate their parents or their parents and grandparents. Commoners the reign of King Hyegong.
were not allowed to build shrines, and commemorated only their parents in a Goryeo decided on the five chambers system in 988 (seventh year of
commemoration room. the reign of Seongjong) and built the Jongmyo the next year. It is said to
In the seven chambers of the emperors were commemorated the pro- have been located outside the east gate of the flowerbeds in Gaeseong.
genitor of the line and the four direct preceding generations, as well as two Seongjong gave orders to determine the detailed locations and order for the
kings of great virtue (designated by the state). In the five chambers of the ancestral tablets in Jongmyo. Goryeos Jongmyo was burnt down and rebuilt
regional kings, only their four direct preceding generations and their progeni- many times due to invasions by the Khitan and the Mongols. Goryeos
tor were commemorated. This system was passed down from previous Jongmyo was similar to the five-chamber system, but due to the fact that
dynasties, but the popular method was not to build separate shrines for dif- brothers often succeeded brothers, rather than sons succeeding fathers, there
ferent ancestors, but simply to use different burial chambers within the same were many disputes over how to enshrine the ancestral tablets. In the later
building. After the nine-chamber system was implemented during the reign days of Goryeo, Jongmyo had seven chambers with brothers who served as
of King Wang Mang at the end of the Western Han Dynasty (AD 8 to 23), monarchs being placed together in the same generation. This led to a large
succeeding emperors mostly followed that system. number of ancestors being commemorated.
In Korea, records indicate that even from early on burial chambers After Lee Seong-gye established the Joseon Dynasty through a
for progenitors were built. In addition, progenitors were commemorated by dynastic revolution in July 1392, he demolished Goryeos Jongmyo and start-
the royal houses of Goguryeo and Baekje. Royals and families of the royal ed to construct the Jongmyo of the new dynasty in its place. However, the
bloodline, called Gochuga, were also allowed to build Jongmyo com- next year only saw the construction of a new palace and Jongmyo in the new
pounds. Early in its existence, the Silla Dynasty built a shrine for its progeni- capital and construction on the Jongmyo in Gaeseong ceased. The construction

Main gate of Jongmyo Shrine
A well at Jongmyo Shrine. The water in this well

was used in Royal Ancestral Rites.
on the Jongmyo in Seoul began in December of 1394 (third year of the reign of
King Taejo), and the five chambers of Jeongjeon were completed in September
of 1395 (fourth year of the reign of King Taejo), with the ancestral tablets of
the four generations of ancestors of King Taejo being enshrined in the cham-
bers. According to the ancient Chinese tradition of putting chambers on the
left and institutions on the right, the Jongmyo was built to the left of
Gyeongbok Palace and to the right of government buildings.
In 1421 (third year of the reign of King Sejong), the funeral rites of
King Jeongjong were completed. However, there were no more chambers
in Jongmyo to enshrine his ancestral tablet. Therefore, following the prece-
dent of building the Sajojeon for King Taejo in the Song Dynasty, the
Yeongnyeongjeon was built to the west of Jeongjeon with four chambers.
The ancestral tablet was moved to Yeongnyeongjeon after it was completed.
Jeongjeon ran out of space once again after the ancestral tablets of the broth-
er kings Munjong and Sejo were enshrined in Jeongjeon along with the
ancestral tablets of Taejong and Sejong as great kings. Small rooms were
added to both sides of the Jeongjon as a temporary measure. Then in 1546
(first year of the reign of Myeongjong), four new chambers were built in
Jeongjeon, making for a total of nine chambers.
When the Japanese invaded Korea in 1592 (twenty-fifth year of the
reign of King Seonjo), the king had to take refuge in Uiju. The ancestral tab-
lets from Jongmyo and the shrines traveled with him. After they had been
returned to Seoul in October of the following year, the ancestral tablets were
enshrined in the house of Sim Yeon-won, the prime minister and his house
was designated as the temporary Jongmyo. Jeongjeon and Yeongnyeongjeon
were both destroyed in the war and were rebuilt in May 1608 (the year King

Overview of the Main Hall of Jongmyo Shrine
Gwanghaegun ascended the throne). Jeongjeon was built with eleven cham- Ancestral Rite was abolished after liberation in 1945, but revived in 1969,
bers, and Yeongnyeongjeon with ten chambers. In 1726 (second year of the and was performed under the supervision of the government. Then in 1971,
reign of King Yeongjo), four more chambers were added to Jeongjeon the Jeonjuissi Daedong Jongyagwon (Society of the Royal Family of the
because more kings were designated as great kings. The west side of the Joseon Dynasty) was given responsibility for the rites and has continued to
main shrine was left untouched, and the east side was only extended. So all carry them out every year on the first Sunday of May. Jongmyo was regis-
the small rooms to the east, such as Sinmun, Dongmun, and Subokbang, tered as a World Heritage site in the nineteenth General Assembly of the
were all moved to the east side and rebuilt. Then in 1836 (second year of the UNESCO World Committee held in Berlin in December 1995. In May 2001,
reign of King Heonjong), more chambers needed to be constructed. Four both the Royal Ancestral Rite and the Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine were
chambers were added to Jongmyo, leading to the current nineteen chambers. selected as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
As the years passed and more and more ancestral tablets were moved to The buildings of Jongmyo can be divided into three categories. First,
Yeongnyeongjeon, it was repeatedly extended, and finally ended up with the the buildings where commemoration services were carried out, which
current sixteen chambers. The last ancestral tablet to be enshrined in includes Jeongjeon, Yeongnyeongjeon, Gongsindang, and Chilsadang.
Jeongjeon was ueen Yun, the second queen of King Sunjong, who was Second, the buildings in which the participants to the rites waited for the
enshrined in the nineteenth chamber in 1969. The last ancestral tablet to be rites to begin and purified themselves, these includes Mangmyoru, Hyang-
enshrined in Yeongnyeongjeon was Crown Prince Uimin, who was enshrined daecheong, and Eosuksil. Third, the buildings in which food items for the
in the sixteenth chamber in 1973. These latest enshrinements filled up the rites were prepared, which includes Jeonsacheong and Jejeong.
last rooms of both Jeongjeon and Yeongnyeongjeon, and currently neither In Jongmyo, Jeongjeon, and Yeongnyeongjeon Jongmyo, the main
shrine has room for any more ancestral tablets remaining. halls have halls attached to the left and right, as well as small rooms to the
Jongmyo was open to the public in 1961. It was designated as left and right of the main halls. All the halls are connected together in one
Historic Site Number 125 in January 1963, and the Ritual Music in Jongmyo long line. Jeongjeon is located in the southwest of the grounds. Inside the
Shrine was designated as the first Intangible Cultural Heritage in December central hall, there are nineteen chambers housing ancestral tablets in the mid-
1964. Even when national sovereignty was lost during the Japanese invasion dle section of the building with three additional chambers to the side. The
(1910 to 1945), the Royal Ancestral Rite was performed under the supervi- side halls to the left and right have three chambers in the middle or to either
sion of Lee Wang-jik. In 1939, the days of the anniversaries started to be cal- side, and the small rooms that were attached to the left and right side halls
culated according to the solar calendar, and commemoration services were have four chambers to one side. The floor space of Jeongjeon is 1,270 (384
held in the first halves of March, June, September, and December. The Royal pyeong), which would make it among the largest wooden structures in the

Distant view of Jongmyo Shrine

Jongmyo Shrine seen from outside its walls
world at the time of its construction. The style of the construction is not as Seongnujo.
fancy or decorative as the palaces and temples but was built in a solemn, On the opposite side of Jeongjeons inner courtyard, to the east, is
plain, and elegant Confucian style. Since it has nineteen chambers, it is located Gongsindang, and to the west is Chilsadang. Gongsindang is where
shaped like a long corridor. Jeongjeon is surrounded by a rectangular wall the ancestral tablets of eighty-three officials of merit, who had served various
and has a front door, as well as a door to its left and right side. kings of the Joseon Dynasty, are enshrined. When the building was first con-
The Grand Hall and Iksil, the halls attached to the left and right of structed, there were only three rooms, but more were added later, and it grew
Jeongjeon, has a round pillar standing on top of a round foundation stone. into a long building of sixteen rooms. Since it faced Jeongjeon, it was kept
Placed on top of the pillars are a Judu, Ikgong, and Cheomcha to form adual smaller than that building and constructed in a plain fashion. Chilsadang was
wing style.The roof was constructed in a single eave, counter-lifting style. where rites to the seven divinities of the central chamber were carried out
The front half is an open space in the form of a narrow wooden porch, and and it possessed three front rooms and one side room with a counter-lifting
every room has two pairs of large plank doors that open to the interior of the roof. There were plank doors and latticed windows on the front side and
rooms. The center room has a door that is attached to the outside with a bolt stone walls on the other three sides.
across it. The attached halls to the left and right are constructed in the same Yeongnyeongjeon, located to the west of Jeongjeon, also had rectan-
manner but are empty inside. The small room to the east had its east, west, gular walls with a door to its front and a door on its left and right sides. The
and south sides open, and was used as a space to prepare for the rites. The central chamber in the middle had four rooms at the front and three on the
small room to the west has walls on four sides and was used as a storage side. The attached hall to the east had six rooms at the front and three rooms
space for utensils used in the rites. on the side. The attached hall to the west had five rooms in the front and
In front of Jeongjeon, wide stone beams were piled up to create three rooms on the side. All the rooms were connected in a straight line.
steps. On the surface, bakseok (thin stones) were laid, and on the royal There was a wide stone step in front of Yeongnyeongjeon as well. The stone-
road that led to the front gate jeon (quadrangle stones) were placed. On the work was piled with stone beams and was laid with thin stones. The stereo-
east side of the royal road, in the middle, jeon were also used to place jeon- bate was likewise made up of a pile of stone beams, and the structure of the
hapanwi and sejapanwi. There the king and his crown prince would bow building was more or less the same as Jeongjeon. The utensils used in rites
during the rites. The royal road was constructed with bakseok in such a were stored to the east of Yeongnyeongjeon. The roof of the building does
manner that the middle was higher and the left and right sides were lower. not have angle rafters. It has four rooms in the front and two rooms on the
Stones were placed below the fences of Jeongjeon and Yeongnyeongjeon side with a wooden door. Lattice windows were installed on the pillars to
so that rainwater would flow within them. These stones were called either side. Outside the southwestern wall of Jeongjeon and Yeongnyeong-

jeon is the Akgongcheong. Here, musicians from Jangagwon would stand by The food used in the rites was prepared here. There is ashaped building
and practice ritual music. The building is plain, with no angle rafters on the with a yard in the middle. The main hall consists of seven rooms at the front
roof. It has six rooms in the front and two rooms on the side. and two rooms to the side.Ondol(Korean floor heating system) is installed
The Eosuksil to the southeast of Jeongjeon is the preparation room in the wooden-floor rooms on both sides. The water for the rites was drawn
for the rites. Here, the king would purify himself and make other prepara- at a well, calledJejeong.There were walls on four sides, with a door to the
tions. To the east of Eosuksil is the Yejaesil where the participants to the rites south that consisted of pillars lined up with roofs on top of them. Subokbang
would stay and to the west is Yokcheong where the king and priests would was located to the north of Jeongjeons east gate. This was a place where the
bathe. To the east of Jidang, inside the main gate of Jongmyo, is Mangmyoru, officials in charge of the rites used to stay. It had a stereobate made up of two
Shrine of King Gongmin, and Hyangdaecheong. Hyangdaecheong is where stories of stone beams and four rooms at the front and a single room to the
the hyang (incense), chuk (written prayers), pyebaek (offerings), and other side with a counter-lifting roof.
various items used for the rites were stored. It also served as a waiting area Together with Sajikje, the rites at Jongmyo and Yeongnyeongjeon
for participants in the rites. The buildings are located to the east and west of were the most important rituals in the Joseon era and were classified as major
a long yard that lies north to south. Mangmyoru, which is located to the rites in the book of national rites. According to Confucian doctrine, during the
south of Hyangdaecheong, is where the king would stay during the rite and Joseon era, it was ideal to have a five-chamber rite for regional kings, and the
look upon Jeongjeon. principle was to commemorate Taejo and up to four generations in direct line.
The Shrine of King Gongmin, to the east of Mangmyoru, is said to However, the ancestral tablets of kings of great virtue, such as Taejong and
have been built as a detached building at the time of construction, but the Sejong, were not moved from Jeongjeon. They were kept there permanently
details of its origin are unknown. There the portraits of King Gongmin, the and commemorated. Moreover, in the later days of the Joseon Dynasty, the
thirty-first king of Goryeo, and Princess Noguk Daewang (King Gongmins number of kings commemorated in the Jeongjeon of Jongmyo expanded.
wife) are enshrined. Also, a Junmado (portrait of an excellent horse) hangs Therefore, the number of chambers where the ancestral tablets were
on the wall. The official name of the shrine is Goryeo Gongminwang enshrined increased to nineteen. Ancestral tablets that were older than
Yeongjeong Bonganjidang, which means the shrine where the portrait of four generations from the current king were moved within Jongmyo to
King Gongmin is enshrined. Although, there is no record of a rite being held Yeongnyeongjeon. Rites for these ancestral tablets were conducted twice a
previously, aKing Gongmin Commemoration Servicehas been held every year, in spring and autumn, in the same manner as the rites at Jeongjeon.
year since 1994. Rites at Jongmyo were held four times a year on the first month of
Jeonsacheong is located behind and to the east of Jeongjeons walls. each of the four seasons (January, March, July, and October), and on Nabil

Statues on the roof of Jeongjeon have the
symbolic meaning ofexorcising evil spirits.
(originally conducted on the third day of the dog after the winter solstice, but for the ancestral kings of the over 500-year-old Joseon Dynasty were held.
held on the third day of the lamb after the winter solstice in the Joseon era, Jeongjeon and Yeongnyeongjeon, as well as other buildings are preserved in
usually in December). As was the case with Sajikje, the king would usually their original state, as well as the lush forest, pond, and other surroundings.
lead the rite himself, and when the king could not do so, either the crown The ceremonies of the Royal Ancestral Rite and ritual music in Jongmyo
prince or the prime minister would take his place. More than 300 participants Shrine, including Ilmu (group dance), have been preserved in their original
would carry out the rite with the king including Aheongwan, Jongheongwan, form. All of these forms of cultural heritage have been passed down from
Daechukgwan, and Jiprye. times immemorial. Jongmyo has preserved the unique and elegant royal cul-
Ceremonies were held on the day before the rite, such as Jeonhyang- ture of the Joseon Dynasty in both tangible and intangible forms.
chugnye (conveying incense and written prayers), Jechanjinseol, Bunhyang, Jeongjeon in Jongmyo has the largest floor space amongst all the
and Bunchuk. The rite itself began in the first gak of the hour of the ox (1:15 single wooden structure buildings in the world before the modern era. It is
am). The rite was conducted in the order of Singwallye (also known as moderate and plain but demonstrates the essence of a Confucian style shrine.
Gangsillye), Jeonpyerye (offering food), Choheon, Aheon, Jongheon, Eumbok, Since they house so many ancestral tablets, Jeongjeon and Yeongnyeongjeon
Mangnyo, and so forth. The Botaepyeongjimu and Jeongdaeeopjimu dances possess a unique architectural style with a grand and horizontal face. Jeong-
were performed during Choheon. Jeongdaeeopjiak music and the Jeong- jeon is even unparalleled in China, where the Jongmyo system was created,
daeeopjimu dance were offered during Aheon and Jongheon. The rites for vas- and is a unique structure in world. Jongmyo is a shrine for rites but contains
sals of merit, enshrined in the Gongsindang, and the rituals of the Seven Rites profound, universal values reflected in the structures of the, buildings, as
were carried out together during the Jongmyo rites. The Seven Rites were also well as their functions and spatial aesthetics.
carried out in order of the seasons. On top of such permanent rites, whenever a Seouls Jongmyo has not lost its ritual utensils, facilities and equip-
particularly auspicious or inauspicious event occured in the country, a special ment, musical instruments, music, dance, ceremonial proceedings, ceremoni-
rite called a Goyuje was held. There were also seasonal Goyuje to offer al food, and so forthall have been passed down intact. This means that a
newly harvested fruits and grains that were called Cheonsinje. form of culture that was standardized in AD 1462 has been preserved almost
Today, the Jeonjuissi Daedong Jongyagwon conducts an annual rite in its entirety for more than 500 years. Such comprehensive preservation of
on the first Sunday of May), but altered its traditional form to meet the stan- the original form of a royal culture is an enormous rarity, and something that
dards of today. The Yeongnyeongjeon rite is held at 9 am, and the Jeongjeon Korea can be proud of.
rite is held at noon.
Jongmyo is a hall for ceremonies in which the commemorative rites

Complete view of Changdeok Palace Complex.
The two-story building at the center is
Injeongjeon, the main hall of the palace. The main
entrance, Donhwamun Gate, is visible at the
bottom.
CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX
Changdeok Palace is an important palace that was built in the early

days of the Joseon era. Though it was originally a secondary palace,
it served as the main one for over 300 years following the sixteenth-
century Japanese invasion. Changdeok Palace was built in 1405 (the
fifth year of the reign of King Taejong), ten years after Gyeongbok
Palace, and was destroyed in 1592 (the twenty-fifth year of the
reign of King Seonjo) during the invasion, but was rebuilt in 1610
(the second year of the reign of Gwanghaegun). Since Gyeongbok
Palace could not be rebuilt until the last years of the Joseon era,
Changdeok Palace served as the main palace. Changdeok Palace
was referred to asDonggwol(east palace) since it was located to
the east of Gyeongbok Palace, together with Changgyeong Palace.
For over 300 years during the second half of the Joseon Dynasty,
the kings of Joseon managed state affairs from Changdeok Palace
and it became the central palace of the Joseon era. Changdeok
Palace endured many fires but was restored and repaired after each
one, always maintaining its original size and form. arious palace
buildings, annexes, and back gardens are preserved largely in their
original form. They demonstrate the scale of the states government
and the royal lifestyle.
Geumcheongyo Bridge. The stone bridge of
Changdeok Palace Complex can be found inside
the courtyard through the Donhwamun Gate.
I ncluding its back gardens, Changdeok Palace covers an area of 434,877

(approximately 130,000 pyeong) and is located in Waryong-dong,
Jongno-gu, Seoul. It was designated as Historic Site Number 122 in 1963
rest and relaxation. However, after King Seongjong ascended the throne he
frequently managed state affairs at Changdeok Palace since his son,
Yeonsangun, resided in Changdeok Palace. Changdeok Palace has a magnifi-
and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in December 1997. cent natural environment, with many comfortable gazebos, and was a com-
Injeongjeon, the main hall, was designated National Treasure Number 225, fortable place for the everyday lives of the kings. It was also suitable for
Donhwamun Treasure Number 383, and Injeongmun Treasure Number 813. receiving foreign delegations and holding banquets.
Pyeonjeon, the kings office, was designated Treasure Number 814, Hui- Changdeok Palace was destroyed in 1592 (the twenty-fifth year of
jeongdang Treasure Number 815, Daejojeon, the inner courtroom where the the reign of King Seonjo) during the Japanese invasion. Restoration began in
queens resided, Treasure Number 816, and Guseonwonjeon Treasure 1607 (the fortieth year of the reign of Seonjo) and was completed in 1610
Number 817. There is also a seven-hundred-year-old juniper tree and a six- (the second year of the reign of Gwanghaegun). Changgyeong Palace was
hundred-year-old gooseberry tree that are designated Natural Monuments restored after Changdeok Palace, but Gyeongbok Palace was neglected.
Number 194 and Number 251 respectively. Apart from Injeongjeon, most palace buildings were burned in the March
The construction of Changdeok Palace started in 1404 (the fourth 1623 reform but were restored in 1647 (the twenty-fifth year of the reign of
year of the reign of King Taejong) at Hyanggyo-dong, Hanseong and was King Injo). Many fires, large and small, followed. In 1917, when most palace
completed the next year and given the name it still bears. As it lacked the buildings of the inner court around Daejojeon were destroyed, many build-
proper facilities of a palace, additional buildings and back gardens were con- ings from Gyeongbok Palace were dismantled and moved to Changdeok
structed throughout the reign of King Taejong. Towers were built, ponds Palace, including Gyotaejeon, Gangnyeongjeon, and the east and west ser-
were created within the palace, and a stone bridge (Geumcheongyo) was vantsquarters. At that time, some buildings were remodeled with Western-
constructed as well. Donhwamun, the front gate of the palace, was finally style interiors. Subsequently, the inner court of Changdeok Palace became
built in 1412. After Seojos ascension, Injeongjeon, the main hall, was the living space for the last royal families of the Korean Empire, including
rebuilt. Then Seonjeongjeon, Sodeokjeon, Bingyeongdang, Yeoiljeon, Emperor Sunjong, his wife Empress Sunjonghyo, as well as King Yeongchin,
Jeongwoljeon, Okwadang, and many other palace buildings were construct- the crown prince, and his wife Princess Bangja.
ed. Consequently, Changdeok Palace came to have the appearance of a royal After they had occupied Korea by force in 1910, Japan opened
palace. Changgyeong Palace, Injeongjeon, and the back gardens of Changdeok
In the early years of the Joseon era, kings mostly used Gyeongbok Palace to the public in 1912. After the 1945 liberation, all of Changdeok
Palace to attend to state affairs, with Changdeok Palace acting as a place of Palace was opened to the public. In 1980, the damages to the facilities of the
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 52 53 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

palace that Japan had inflicted were repaired, landscape gardening was car- scattered in between the feet of the hills, in harmony with nature, which
ried out, and visits by the general public were restricted in an effort to pre- makes for a sentimental and quiet atmosphere. There were many, gate tow-
serve the original form of the old royal palace. ers, servants quarters, gazebos, offices, and other such buildings in
Unlike Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace is not built on a wide Changdeok Palace and Changgyeong Palace that came to have their current
patch of flatland. Changdeok Palaces palace buildings and back garden form after being destroyed and rebuilt after fires. In particular, after the
gazebos are located on the foot of a hill. The hill is a minor vein of Joseon Dynasty ceased to exist in 1910 and Korea fell under Japanese con-
Samgaksan, which leads southeast from Samcheong park through the back trol, the grounds were open to the public as a park, and many buildings were
gardens and then all the way to Jongmyo. The northeastern part of the hill demolished, greatly damaging the original layout. However, efforts are being
area forms the back gardens. The southwestern foot is Changdeok Palace, made to restore its original form.
and the southern foot is Jongmyo. Therefore, there are many high and low Changdeok Palace can basically be divided into three sectors, the
hills that stretch from the northeast to the south of Changdeok Palace. The outer court, including the main gate, main hall (Injeongjeon), kings office
construction of Changdeok Palace and Changgyeong Palace utilized this (Seonjeongjeon), East Palace, various other offices, and so on. Then there is
topography to their advantage. arious palace buildings are dispersed pro- the inner court (consisting of Daejojeon), the inner courtroom where the
portionately to the east and west of the hills. Changdeok Palace was con- queens resided, and many surrounding buildings. Finally, there is the vast
structed in such a difficult environment. Also, only parts of what currently garden behind the buildings. The back garden is usually referred to as
stand were planned in the beginning, as ad hoc additions and expansions Geumwon or Biwon.
were added over hundreds of years to complete the palace. Gyeongungung
(Deoksugung), which was expanded during the time of the Korean Empire Outer Court Buildings
(1897 to 1910), was also completed in such a manner. The outer court was where the king and his officials met for morning assem-
Gyeongbok Palace, the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty has inner blies. They discussed affairs of state and determined policies. It was also a
and outer courts that are placed to the front and back of the palace. The front space for the kings and scholars to give lectures. A large building was con-
gate, main hall, kings office, and inner court are all symmetrically aligned structed where all the government officials could gather. The members of the
on an axis that runs north to south. However, the buildings in Changdeok kings office, as well as secretaries and guards and others who served the
Palace, Changgyeong Palace, and Gyeongungung are not symmetrically king gathered in that building. The external court was the only place on pal-
located on a central axis but are freely and irregularly placed according to the ace grounds where the civil and military officials were allowed to enter,
natural lay of the land. Many palace buildings and gazebos in the gardens are unlike the other sectors, which were reserved for the private use of the king

Front yard of Injeongjon of the Changdeok Palace
Complex
and his household.

Donhwamun is the front gate of Changdeok Palace and is located at
the southwestern corner of the palace. The gate faces south. Jinseonmun, the
center gate, is located past Donhwamun and behind Geumcheonyo to the
right. Injeongmun, the front gate of the main hall, is past Jinseonmun to the
left. From there, the main passage stretches east to west past the East Palace
to Changgyeong Palace. The key buildings and offices are to the north of the
main passage and are lined up side by side. The layout of Changdeok Palace
Palace is therefore highly unconventional and is due to the natural topogra-
phy of the area.
Built in 1412 (the twelfth year of the reign of King Taejong),
Donhwamun is the oldest building in Changdeok Palace. It was destroyed in
1592 when Japan invaded Korea, and rebuilt during the reign of King
Gwanghaegun. It is a two-floor Dapo-style building with five rooms in the
front and two rooms on the side. It has a stylobate and stairs made up of
long, narrow rows of stones. Topography is one of the reasons why Donhwa-
mun, the front gate, is located in the southwest corner of the palace, placed
there for the kings convenience.
Injeongjeon and Injeongmun

Injeongjeon is Changdeok Palaces main hall and is an area for assemblies
and ceremonies, including coronation ceremonies, reception of foreign dele-
gations, large-scale assemblies and banquets, exams for civil servants, and
many others. While King Yeonsangun was coronated in Injeongjeon,
Hyojong, Hyeonjong, Yeongjo, Sukjong, Yeongjong, Sunjo, Cheoljong, and
Gojong were all crowned at Injeongmun. Though situated towards the south-

Interior of Jeongak at Chandeok Palace Complex:
Chandeliers and tables are representative of the
western influence introduced into court life
during the Daehan Empire Period (1897-1910).
west of the palace, it is the central building of Changdeok Palace. It was built of King Injo. Seonjeongjeon was designated National Treasure Number 814.
in a grand manner on top of a high embankment. The current building was The building has a single-story gable roof of blue tiles and contains servants
restored in 1804 (the fourth year of the reign of King Sunjo) and repaired at a rooms on its four sides.
later date. It was designated as National Treasure Number 225 in 1985. Seonjeongjeon was the kings office where he met with his officials,
The building is built on top of two levels of stone steps and has a discussed affairs of state, and made decisions. After the death of King
multistoried gable roof. To the left and right are the thirty-six eastern ser- Jeongjo (1800), it was used as a Honjeon, and his ancestral tablet was stored
vantsquarters, and the thirty-eight western servantsquarters. Inside, there is there for three years. It was also used for that purpose by some later kings
a royal throne, behind which is a folding screen that has a picture of the sun, such as Sunjo, Heonjong, and Cheoljong. Because of this, servantsquarters
moon, and five famous mountains of Korea. There is a cover above the royal were setup in the center of the front side to the south gate, forming a
throne, and a phoenix is sculpted into the middle of the ceiling. The southern shape. Since Seonjeongjeon was used as a Honjeon from Jeongjos time, it
center of the stone steps, called dapdo, serves as the foundation of the build- lost its original purpose as the kings office and Huijeongdang, located in the
ing. A pair of phoenixes is sculpted into the flagstone in the middle of the inner court, was used instead.
dapdo. The broad garden of the building is tiled with wide, thin stones, at the Since Seonjeongjeon was the king s office it faced to the south, and
center of which is installed the samdo that leads to Injeongmun. Aligned to in front of it were positioned various offices that were in charge of communi-
the left and right of the samdo are two rows of pumgyeseok. cating the king s orders, providing assistance, recording daily events, and
The eastern and western servants quarters of Injeongjeon were guarding the king. Right in front of Seonjeongjeon was Seonjeong Wan-
where the key offices of the palace were located. Hyangsil and Geumgun- cheong (royal guards and messengers), and Jangbang (eunuch aides quar-
naesamcheong were located in the western servants quarters. Akgigo, ters). To its south, connected to the eastern servants quarters of Injeongjeon,
Yukseollu, Seobangsaek, and other offices were located in the eastern ser- were the Usa (historians quarters), and Danghu (office of Seongjeongwon
vants quarters. Gwangwangcheong was located in the northern servants Juseo), as well as a book storehouse in the garden. All the events surrounding
quarters and was used to prepare for special events. the king were recorded at the Usa and Danghu daily to create the historical
records known as the Sijeonggi and Seungjeongwon Ilgi. Seungjeongwon is
Seonjeongjeon and Various Palace Offices located to the south of Danghu, which was also called Eundae and Sang-
Seonjeongjeon is located to the east of Injeongjeon and is where Pyeonjeon seoseong, was the main hall where the officials of Saganwon and Saheonbu
(the kings office) is located. Originally built in 1405, it was destroyed many held meetings. On the west side of Seungjeongwon were located the eastern
times. The current building was rebuilt in the twenty-fifth year of the reign servants quarters of Injeongjeon, a tower known as Yukseollu, and musical

instrument storage. Around it were located various offices, including Gun- mother lived in Gyeonghungak and Jipsangjeon. Huijeongdang was original-
gbang (armory), Juwon (royal kitchen), Gongsang-cheong (supplies), ly a part of the inner court but because it was used as the kings office and as
Seoribang, Jeongjeong (human resources office for civil and military offi- meeting place with vassals to discuss affairs of state beginning in the reign
cials), Deungchokbang, Saalbang (eunuch office), Sojubang, and Naeban- of Sunjo, it became a part of the outer court. Behind Huijeongdang is a
won (eunuch department). Seungjeongwon, the king s office, used to be sur- flower garden that was created by piling a number of long and narrow
rounded by various government offices, but they have all been dismantled, stones on a slope. Seongjeonggak and other annexes were located to the east
and only an empty lot remains. of Huijeongdang. Further to the east, over a wall, was Donggung, which
Some offices were located to the west and south of Injeongjeon as served as the living quarters of the crown prince. The crown prince would
well. Across from Injeongmun, at the southern servants quarters was the also stay at Changgyeong Palace.
Naebyeongjo (office of the Ministry of War), Howicheong, and Sangseowon.
Injeongmun was to the east of Bincheong and was the meeting room for min- Huijeongdang and Seongjeonggak
isters at the Bibyeonsa. Additionally Naeuiwon, Hongmungwan, and Naegak After Sungmundang was destroyed in 1496 (the second year of the reign of
were all east of Injeongmun. Behind Injeongmun was Seonwonjeon, where King Yeonsangun), it was rebuilt and renamed Huijeongdang. It was destro-
the portraits of previous kings were preserved. Gyujanggak functioned as yed again when Japan invaded Korea in 1592, and restored in the first year
both the royal library and as a policy advisory body. It was located in of Gwanghaeguns reign. It was burned down again in the 1623 reform, and
Juhapru and was a part of the back garden. Sejasigyeongwon, where the some buildings at Ingyeonggung were dismantled and moved there to repla-
crown prince was educated and where secretarial records were storied, was ce those that were lost. It was again destroyed in 1833 (the thirty-third year
in Changgyeong Palace. of the reign of Sunjo) and rebuilt the next year. When a fire burned it down
in 1917, Gangnyeongjeon was dismantled and removed from Gyeongbok Pa-
Inner Court Buildings lace. The building has been designated National Treasure Number 815. Since
The inner court was the living space for the royal family and was located the reign of King Sunjo, Seonjeongjeon (the kings office) was used as the
east of Changdeok Palace. It was also connected to Changgyeong Palace. Honjeon for new kings and Huijeongdang became the kings office.
Entrance into this area was forbidden to outsiders and only the children of Seongjeonggak is located to the east of Huijeongdang and is pre-
the king, royal concubines, court ladies, and eunuchs were allowed access. sumed to have been repaired during the reign of King Jeongjo. Seongjeong-
To the east of Seonjeongjeon was Huijeongdang, a detached house where the gak was once used as the Donggung for the crown prince, but when the
king lived. Behind it was Daejojeon, where the queens resided. The kings Donggung was moved to Changgyeong Palace, Seongjeonggak became an

Juhamnu of the Huwon Garden in Changdeok
Palace where lotus flowers were planted in stone
water holders
annex to Huijeongdang. Towards the end of the Joseon era, Naeuiwon, origi-
nally located to the west of Injeongjeon, was moved there, and the place
came to be known as Naeuiwon. The building has a plaque with the words
Bohoseonggung and Johwaoeyak which are said to have been written by
King Jeongjo himself. Also, there is a stone mortar in the garden that was
used to make medicine.
The Daejojeon Area

Daejojeon was located in the inner court and was where the queen resided. It
also contained the bedroom for the king and queen. arious princes were
born there, including Ikjong, who later became crown prince Sunjo. Many
kings took their last breaths there, including Seongjong, Injo, Hyojong, and
Sunjong. When it was rebuilt during the reign of King Injo, Daejojeon con-
sisted of forty-five rooms. Currently, it possesses thirty-six rooms, nine in
the front and four on the side. The three front and two side rooms have been
opened up to create a main hall. The two front and two side rooms, on both
the east and west side, were used as the bedroom for the king and queen. The
floor to the front of the main hall was reached by a flight of stone steps, and
the floor to the back was accessible through the back garden. Small rooms
were located to the side and back of each of the bedrooms and served as the
attendantsquarters.
Daejojeon had wide front and back gardens. Its stone steps were
high and broad, with green wooden screens below decorated elaborately on
three sides. This prevented the activities of the queen from being visible to
those outside. Jinggwangnu was located in the wide back garden, and was
created by piling a number of long, narrow stones on a slope. Jipsangjeon

was located to the right and was where the kings mother resided. The build- Biwon. Serving as the back garden to both Changdeok Palace and Chang-
ing was rebuilt in 1647 (the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Injo) after gyeong Palace, it conveys the essence of landscape gardening of the palace
the previous one was destroyed in the 1623 reform. Subsequently, the build- during the Joseon era. The back garden was first created when King Taejong
ing was destroyed and rebuilt many times. Some of these rebuilt buildings founded Changdeok Palace. When it was restored early in the reign of King
were dismantled and moved to Gyeongbok Palace in 1920 to create the cur- Gwanghaegun, after it was ruined during the 1592 invasion by Japan, new
rent buildings. Gyeongbok Palaces Gangnyeongjeon became Huijeongdang, buildings and ponds were added. King Injo built numerous gazebos and
Gyotaejeon became Daejojeon, Geonsungak became Hongbokheon, and buildings there to create its wonderful scenery and it served as a beautiful
Mangyeongjeon became Gyeonghungak. Since the inner court served as the place where the kings could come to read or rest. The area still maintains
living quarters for the royal family, fires were frequent. most of its original form from the Joseon era. There, natural valleys, ponds,
and gazebos harmonize with nature and its lush wooded-area contains over
Nakseonjae Area 100 types of trees and shrubs, including gigantic trees that are over 300 years
The group of buildings to the southeast of Changdeok Palace, leading to old. The back garden of Changdeok Palace is not a Western style artificial
Changgyeong Palace, including Nakseonjae, Seokbokyeon, and Sugangjae, garden, nor does it have oddly shaped rocks and stones or exotic flowers and
are collectively called Nakseonjae. They used to be part of Changgyeong plants. The scenery is that of nature itself. Ponds and gazebos are tastefully
Palace, but now they are part of Changdeok Palace. In this area were some placed to create a quiet and serene environment.
simple buildings constructed during the reign of Sukjong and Jeongjo, but
the complex was reorganized in 1847 (the thirteenth year of the reign of Buyongji Area
King Heonjong) to make a comfortable living space for the royal family. In a flat area, behind the hill at the back of Daejojeon is Buyongji, a square
Nakseonjae departs from the symmetrical norm of royal buildings, and ondol pond. To the west of the pond is the beautiful Buyongjeong, to the north is
and wooden floors were used liberally to fit the needs and lifestyle of its Juhapru, and to the east is Yeonghwadang. At the center of Buyongji is a
royal inhabitants. The various buildings, the styles of windows and doors, round island, symbolizing heaven. The square pond and the round pond are
and the stepped flowerbeds are must-sees. The king resided in Nakseonjae, based upon the traditional theory of the earth being square and the sky being
the queen in Seokbokyeon, and the kings mother in Sugangjae. Sunjongs round and represent an example of ponds from the Joseon era. Buyongjeong
wife, Empress Sunjonghyo, lived the remainder of her life there, and lady was built in 1792 and is a unique polygonal-shaped gazebo.
Lee Bangja, the wife of Yeongchinwang, lived here until 1989 as well. Though Buyongji is a part of the back garden, it was also part of the
The back garden of Changdeok Palace is called Geumwon or outer court and therefore government officials could enter it. Juhapru was a

two-story tower, with the lower floor being used to store books and the upper gazebo was built in 1644 (the twenty-second year of the reign of King Injo),
floor serving as a reading room. It was the central building of Gyujanggak, and was originally called Yungmyeonjeong, though the name was later
the royal library and policy research center. King Jeongjo himself handwrote changed to Jondeokjeong. In Jondeokjeong, there is a signboard, handwritten
Juhaprus plaque. Yeonghwadang was reconstructed in 1692 (the eighteenth by King Jeongjo, with the wordsMancheon myeongwol juinongjaseo.
year of the reign of King Sukjong) and rests on a high embankment with five Aeryeonji is located to the west of Yeongyeongdang and Seonhyang-
front rooms and three side rooms. It has a gable roof. This was the royal rest- jae. They were built in 1828 (the twenty-eighth year of the reign of Sunjo).
ing area. Chundangdae, the front garden to the east, was where the civil and At this time, Crown Prince Hyomyeong built the 120-room civilian-style
military exams that were personally overseen by the king were held. Yeongjo house out of his yearning for the simple and honest noblemen s life. The
himself handwrote the plaque of Yeonghwadang. building is divided into the detached house for the man of the house and the
inner building for the lady of the house. Seonhyangjae was a building that
Aeryeonji, Gwallamji, and Yeongyeongdang Areas served as a library.
There is another area of the inner court back gardens to the east of Buyongji.
From Bullomun, through Aeryeonji, to Yeongyeongdang many ponds and Ongnyucheon and Soyoam
gazebos can be found. Bullomun is a gate made by one large stone and sym- Ongnyucheon is a deep stream that flows in the northern part of the north-
bolizes the wishes for a long and healthy life for the royal family. The square eastern back garden of Changdeok Palace. In 1636 (the fourteenth year of the
shaped Aeryeonji and the Aeryeonjeong that sits on the top were created in reign of King Injo), a round groove was cut into Soyoam, a huge rock, and
1692 (the eighteenth year of the reign of King Sukjong). Giohyeon and crystal clear water was made to flow around the rock and tumble down like a
Uiduhap are on one side and are plain buildings that were constructed by waterfall. There, the king and his officials would relax, float cups of wine on
Crown Prince Hyomyeong. Since they are meant to help scholars focus their the water, write poetry, and relax in the tasteful atmosphere. Throughout this
undivided attention on learning, they are not colorfully decorated. area are beautiful gazebos, including Soyojeong, Taegeukjeong, and Cheong-
Gwallamji is a naturally created curved pond behind Aeryeonji. uijeong.is engraved on Soyoam in the handwriting of King Injo and
Gwallamji has a unique gazebo called Gwallamjeong, the roof and floor of a quatrain poem by King Sukjong can also be found there.
which are shaped like a fan. The nameGwallammeans to watch the anchor Changdeok Palace served as the political center of the Joseon Dyna-
cable of the boat and refers to sailing and having fun on a boat. To the north sty and the center of royal life. Unlike the main palace Gyeongbok Palace,
of Gwallamji is a pond called Banwolji, and to the south, Jondeokjeong, a Changdeok Palace has a unique spatial makeup. It follows the natural envi-
hexagonal-shaped gazebo with a multi-layered roof, overhangs the pond. The ronment to freely place buildings. Its construction began in the middle of the

Aeryeonjeong
Manwolmun Gate of the East Wall and the Flower

Wall
Joseon era and continued until modern times, and the buildings display many
varied appearances. The outer court, including Injeongjeon, was constructed
in an elaborate manner to display the authority of the king and to serve as a
place where state affairs were managed. The inner court was built large
enough for the royal family to live in comfortably. The back garden was built
to act as a suitable resting area for the royal family and for banquets, and
illustrates the form of the traditional Korean style of garden. Nature is brou-
ght into the house, harmonizing with manmade items. Changdeok Palace is
the model of royal palace construction from the middle of the Joseon era and
exhibits the essence of royal culture.
The origin, transformation, and the overall shape of Changdeok
Palace can be seen in various historical records, including theGunggwolji,
which was compiled in 1695 (the twenty-first year of the reign of King
Sukjong), and in theDonggwoldo,which was written in 1830. Also,The
Annals of the Joseon DynastyandSeungjeongwon Ilgicontain records of
the many historic events that took place in Changdeok Palace. In addition to
revealing the history and culture of the royal palace, the information con-
tained in these materials also makes possible the restoration of damaged
buildings to their original form.

Changyongmun Gate on the eastern portion of
Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
HWASEONG FORTRESS
Suwons Hwaseong Fortress is an Eupseong (a castle surrounding a

city) that lies across both Jangan-gu and Paldal-gu in Suwon City,
Gyeonggi Province. It is referred to as Suwonseong (Suwon Castle).
Construction on it began in January 1794 (the eighteenth year of the
reign of King Jeongjo) and ended in September 1796 (the twentieth
year of the reign of King Jeongjo). The circumference of the castle
is 5,544m (4,600 bo), and the area inside it is around 130ha.
(1,300,000). It was designated as Historical Site Number 3 in
1963 and registered with UNESCO World Heritage in December
1997.
Hwahongmun Gate-a water gate built above Suwoncheon Stream that runs down the eastern portion of
Hwaseong
Bongdon (a beacon mound) visible from the front of the Hwaseong Haenggung (temporary palace). It was made
so that the king could see the signal from the palace. A guard at this Bongdon could be informed of emergencies
by a signal communicated through light and smoke.
The southernmost of the five beacon lights was used in peacetime.
W hen King Jeongjo (1752-1800), the twenty-second king of Joseon,

moved Suwon-eup to its current location under Paldalsan Mountain and
started building the castle, he changed the name of the area to Hwaseong. The
apart from Naknamheon, a part of Haenggung, most of Hwaryeongjeon and
Hyanggyo were destroyed. Only recently were a majority of the facilities
restored.
name combines the meaning ofHwain chukseong(: a story in which The old Suwon castle was in the area of Annyeongdong, Hwaseong-
a person from the Hwa () region in China blessed King Yo (Yao) with long si, which is about 10km south from current-day Suwon, of which there are
life, wealth, and many sons), and the pronunciation of Hwasan (: moun- still some remains. When Hwaseong Fortress was moved to its present-day
tain behind Hyeollyungwon). location, so too was the grave of Sadoseja (later promoted to Jangheonseja),
Most of the castle lies on the ridge of Paldalsan (altitude 128m) that the father of King Jeongjo, and Hyeollyungwon (later promoted to Yung-
runs north to south. It also encompasses the slopes and flat lands to the east. neung) created to commemorate him. This was because no civilian houses or
Overall, it has a bent pentagonal shape. The structure of Hwaseong Fortress other graves could be located inside the premise of a royal graveyard. Yeon-
is modeled after Pyeongsanseong (semi-hill fort), being half hillfort and half guwon, the original gravesite, was in Baebongsan Mountain (present-day
flatland fort. This is because Hwaseong Fortress was built for both military Hwigyeongdong, Seoul) in Yangju. However, due to the bad feng shui in the
defense as well as to carry out urban functions. There are a total of forty- area it was subsequently moved to Hwasan, the area of old Suwon, in Octo-
eight key facilities in the castle. They include the four gate towers of ber 1789 (the thirteenth year of the reign of King Jeongjo). This made it nec-
Janganmun (north gate), the front gate, Paldalmun (south gate), essary to move all the government offices and civilian houses around the
Changnyongmun (east gate), Hwaseomun (west gate), two sluice gates graveyard to a different location, which then became the current Hwaseong
(including Hwahongmun), three Gongsimdon (archer holes), two jangdae Fortress and Haenggung.
(platforms for generals) on the east and west, and two Nodae (archer The transfer of the grave from Yeonguwon came at the suggestion of
mounds). It also includes five covered walls, five batteries, four corner tow- Park Myeong-won, the Geumseongwi, on July 11, 1789 (the thirteenth year
ers (including Banhwasuryujeong), five hidden doors, one fire beacon, one of the reign of King Jeongjo). King Jeongjo immediately accepted the idea
outlook post, nine walls, and two covered entrances. Although, most of the and designated the mountain behind the government office in Suwon as the
facilities have been lost, a few do remain, such as the gate towers, sluice new burial spot. In fact, King Jeongjo had resolved to move his fathers grave
gates, archer holes, and jangdae. right after he ascended the throne, and had Hwaseong in mind for the spot.
Within the center of castle were located the Haenggung (temporary The area was a famous propitious location since ancient times and had long
palace), government offices, Hwaryeongjeon (where the portrait of King been designated as a spot for a royal tomb. However, building a royal tomb
Jeongjo was kept), and Hyanggyo (Confucian temple and school). However, there was not easy, since Suwon was an important military fortress and
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 72 73 HWASEONG FORTRESS

because it would require the relocation of the whole county, which had a Jeongjo encouraged merchants and civilians to move there. For this purpose,
large population. However, for the sake of his father who had died so tragi- civil and military examinations were held there, tax cuts were provided, and
cally, King Jeongjo was determined to move the grave. He had already subsidies were paid to those who moved there. After four years, around
thought through ways to move the county, as well as the need to compensate January 1793, there were about one thousand households around Haenggung.
those who had to move. A new city was born.
King Jeongjo appointed Seo Yu-bang as the governor of Gyeonggi A castle had to be built in Suwon not only for the defense of Haeng-
Province and Jo Sim-tae as his deputy in Suwon to oversee the work. 200,000 gung, but also because Suwon was a strategic military location. For this pur-
nyang of money was set aside for the purpose of creating the gravesite, mov- pose, in January 1793, King Jeongjo changed the name of Suwonbu to
ing the county, and for compensating the people. At the time, there were Hwaseongbu and promoted the sixth-grade Busa (deputy) to the third-grade
around two hundred civilian households in Suwon. The new county of Yusu (deputy) so he could serve as both Jangyongoesa (military official) and
Suwon was set at the bottom of Paldalsan Mountain, which at the time was Haenggung Jeongnisa (official in charge of the upkeep of Haenggung). He
called Yucheon (currently Suwoncheon), and had only around ten house- also appointed Chae Jaegong, a former Jwauijeong (second highest official),
holds. Across from Yucheon was Gwangjubu, and two myeon (towns), inclu- as the first Yusu of Suwon to supervise the work on the castle. Chae Jaehong
ding Ilyongmyeon. This led Hwaseong Fortress to be referred to as Yucheon- was promoted to Yeonguijeong (prime minister) and had to leave the post in
seong in the early days of its construction. May the same year. While carrying out his duties as prime minister, he con-
The moving of Suwon Town and the pulling down of civilian houses tinued to supervise the work of the castle until it was finished. The discus-
began on July 15, 1789. Most government offices used timber and roof tiles sion of the construction of the castle started in November of that year. King
from the old buildings so the move was carried out swiftly. Fifty-one rooms Jeongjo appointed Jo Sim-tae, a Hullyeondaejang (fourth-grade official),
of Hyanggyo were completed on September 13. Twenty-seven rooms of who had previously been the Busa of Suwon, as the Gamdong Dangsang,
Haenggung, thirty-four rooms of Naea, twenty guest rooms, nineteen-and-a- and added the position of Suwon Yusu to supervise the field operations.
half rooms for the armory, and sixty rooms of Changsa were completed by King Jeongjo went to Paldalsan himself and confirmed the site of
the end of September. Other facilities were added on later. the castle in January 1794 (the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeongjo).
King Jeongjo himself oversaw the moving of Hyeollyungwon on Construction began on January 7 with the gathering of stones and excavation
October 7 of that year, which was completed on October 16. Starting with of the foundation. In February, construction on the Janganmun (north gate),
the first visit the following February, Jeongjo made one or two visits every Paldalmun (south gate), Hwahongmun (north sluice gate), and the south
year to the gravesite. In order to make the new Suwon into a major city, King sluice gate began. Dredging on the north and south streams started in March

The map of Hwaseong Haenggung
and were completed in April. Work was suspended in July due to the heat, year advanced payment of Jeongbeonjeon, the fee for exemption from mili-
and continued again in August. Janganmun, Paldalmun, and the northeastern tary service as soldiers at Geumwiyeong and Eoyeongcheong. The rest was
batteries were completed by September. In October, the annex buildings of made up from the reserve funds of various provinces. Key materials used
Haenggung and Banghwasuryujeong were completed. In January of 1795, were 201,400 stones, 695,000 loads of bricks, 26,200 loads of lumber,
Hwahongmun and the north Okseong were completed. In February the north 559,000 geun (around 335,400kg) of metal, 2,900 geun (1,740kg) of metal
battery, south hidden door, north outer castle, and Jeokdae (square platforms sheet door decorations, 69,000 seok (12,420,000 liters) of charcoal, 530,000
on the sides of castle gates) were completed. In August, the Hyanggyo, cere- loads of various roof tiles, and 86,000 seok (15,480,000 liters) of lime. There
monial altar, and east platform for generals was finished. In October, were also around 430 supervisors and foremen and soldiers, 642 masons, 335
Changnyongmun and south Gongsimdon were completed. In January 1796, carpenters, 295 plasterers, and 11,820 engineers in total working on the cas-
Hwaseomun (west gate) was completed. In March, the south sluice gate wad tle. As was the case in building Hyeollyungwon, citizens were not forced to
finished and in April so too was the northeast archer mound. May and June build the castle, and every worker was paid.
saw work finish on the the northeast and west batteries and the fire beacon The details of the Hwaseong Fortress construction are recorded in
respectively. In July, the south battery, north corner tower, east battery, north- the Hwaseong Seongyeokuigwe (Manual of Hwaseong Fortress), which
east Gongsimdon, Hwayangnu, and dredging of the south stream were com- consists of ten volumes and nine books. The writing began in September
pleted. In August, the east and west outer castles were finished, and in 1796, after the construction of the castle was completed, and was finished in
September, so too were a number government offices and the walls of vari- November. It was published in 1801 (the first year of the reign of King
ous buildings, including Jeongnidaecheong. All the construction work was Sunjo) with copper printing plates. The manual includes plans and drawings
completed on September 10, 1796. The grand construction of Hwaseong for castle construction, the utilization of manpower, sources and usage of
Fortress was originally planned to take four years, but was completed in just materials, budget and salary calculations, construction equipment, processing
two years and nine months. During this period, construction only ceased dur- of materials, diary of construction, and other details.
ing the hottest summer month of July and the coldest winter month of Haenggung is located in the middle of Hwaseong Fortress, and the
November, otherwise moving at a rapid pace. This was possible due to the palace and government buildings contained more than six hundred rooms. It
strong determination of King Jeongjo, sufficient finances, and the support of was where the king would stay on his trips to his fathers grave, as well as the
competent bureaucrats. area where the administrative and military institutions of Suwon Yusubu
The cost to construct Hwaseong Fortress was 870,000 nyang and were located. King Jeongjo paid thirteen visits over twelve years from the
15,000 tons of various grains. Most of that cost was raised by obtaning a ten- time Hyeollyungwon was moved in October 1789 (the thirteenth year of the

Paldalmun Gate in the northern part of Suwon
Hwaseong Fortress
reign of King Jeongjo). Since he planned on living there after he abdicated,

the Hwaseong Haenggung had special importance. After King Jeongjo
passed away in 1800, Hwaryeongjeon was built, next to Haenggung, to
house the portrait of King Jeongjo and is regarded as a part of Haenggung.
In the beginning, there was not a separate plan for Hwaseong
Haenggung, but it was added after the process began of moving the town of
Suwonbu to Paldalsan and during the construction of Hyeollyungwon in
1789. The moving of Suwonbu started in July of that year and was complet-
ed around the end of September. At the time, a total of 278 rooms were com-
pleted. These included including twenty-seven rooms of Haenggung, includ-
ing Jangnamheon, five rooms of Sammun, nine rooms of Jwabyeoningnang,
six rooms of Ubyeoningnang, five rooms of Seobyeonhaenggak, ten rooms
of Seosanggo, five rooms of jungmun (center gate), thirty-four rooms of
naea, and twenty rooms of gaeksa (guest rooms). Additionally, fifty-one
rooms of the hyanggyo (Confucian temple and school), nineteen-and-a-half
rooms of the gunsugo (armory), seven rooms of gongsu, five rooms of gwan-
cheong (government office), sixty rooms of changgo (warehouse), and other
various offices were completed. Expansion of facilities continued, and in
early May of the next year (1790), more than eighty rooms were added,
including nine rooms of Deukjungjeong, six rooms of Jinnamnu, sixteen
rooms of Gangmudang, fifteen-and-a-half rooms of Wahoheon, and eight
rooms of Ingnang. Later five rooms of Bijangcheong, nineteen rooms of
Hyangcheong, forty-two rooms of Gosa, six-and-a-half rooms of Gwan-
cheongdaecheong, eighteen rooms of Gosa, ten rooms of Eoseungmamagu,
six rooms of Gungidaecheong and Migo, and six rooms of Gungichongge-
omgo were added.

Facilities in Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. Banghwa Suryujeong Pavilion. General view of
Outward teeth (Chi) from the fortress wall Banghwa Suryujeong from outside the fortress.
allowed the army to attack enemies from The pavilion is known as the most beautiful in the
multiple sides. Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
Hwaseong Haenggung took its current form during the construction any holes. In flat areas, trenches were dug to create moats. Hwaseong
of Hwaseong Fortress (1793 to 1795). During that time over 420 rooms, Fortress has many defensive facilities, including the outer castle, outlook
including Nangnamheon, Bongsudang, Namgakdo, Bukaenggak, Gangmu- posts, archer mounds, covered walls, batteries, and archer holes. In particu-
dang, Huhaenggak, Munseonwangmyo, Sajikdan Sinsil, Jeonsacheong, and lar, the Chinese-style archer holes were the first to be constructed in Korea.
Yeonghwajeong were built to create a grand Haenggung of 576 rooms. Some The key tactical consideration in building the Hwaseong Fortress was the use
of these were buildings that were renamed after being repaired or restored. of, and defense from, firearms, and all facilities were built with that purpose
The palace buildings and government buildings form a rectangle, in mind.
and were built facing east at the foot of Paldalsan. In the middle is Unlike the castles in Seoul or other towns, Hwaseong Fortress used
Sinpungnu, Jwaingmun, and Bongsudang (the old Jangnamheon and the north gate (Janganmun) as its main gate, and most of its facilities are cen-
Jangnakdang), which was the main court of Haenggung, and was located tered on the northern wall of the castle. This is because the king came from
beyond Jungyangmun. There were many government buildings to the left Seoul and entered the castle through the north gate, and since that area was
and right of the central axis, starting with Namgunnyeong and Bukgun- low, more defensive fortifications were required there. This also tells us that,
nyeong, and also including Seoricheong, Bijangcheong, Jipsacheong, and in the case of an invasion or a rebellion, the north was considered to be the
Oejeongniso. This indicates that Hwaseong Haenggung had the amenities of direction from which the enemy would come. There the Hwaseomun, north-
a small-scale palace, where is appropriate as it is where King Jeongjo west archer hole, four batteries, two outlook posts, janganmun, Hwahongmun,
planned to live after his retirement. northeast corner tower, east platform for generals, and northeast archer hole
Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was built with rational and practical are positioned in an almost straight line.
planning as well as scientific technology, and is considered the epitome of In constructing the castle, equipment devised by Jeong Yak-yong
eighteenth-century East Asian castle-building technology. The fortress was was used, including a cable lifting system, potters wheels, pulleys, and big
built using both traditional Korean and Chinese and Western techniques. The and small wheels. Also, various materials were used, such as stones and
new castle-building theories and technologies suggested by Yu Hyeong-won bricks. They were standardized to reduce both the construction time and the
and Jeong Yak-yong were utilized, as well. In order to strengthen the founda- budget significantly. The castle wall was mostly made of granite, but bricks
tions of the walls, rocks and sand were hardened, and stone walls were built were mixed in to form part of the upper structure, batteries, archer holes,
only on the outside in protruded forms. The inside was filled with earth from archer mounds, and outlook posts. Granite was mostly quarried from nearby
the area. Additionally, Chinese-style walls were added at regular intervals. Sukjisan and Yeogisan, as well as some other locations.
The mountain was made firmer by cutting away raised areas and filling in The entire town was moved in the second half of the Joseon era to

Recreation of Hwaseong Fortress events with King Jeongjo
create Suwon Hwaseong out King Jeongjo s devotion to creating Hyeol- together merchants and craftsmen and held markets to promote commercial
lyungwon so he could pay homage to his father. The moving of Suwon Town development. He also developed garrison farms on the outskirts of Hwa-
and the building of Hwaseong Fortress was completed in a very short period seong Fortress to nurture the economic basis of the city. He created Man-
of time. Despite the amount of workers required to finish the job, King seokgeo (current Uiwang Reservoir), Seoho, and other reservoirs for agricul-
Jeongjo did not mobilize a single unpaid forced-laborer, nor did he use a sin- ture. This was the foundation for the development of modern farming in
gle nyang of the state s regular budget. All work was done as paid labor, and Korea.
all costs were supplied from the royal purse and special non-tax funds. This Japanese colonization did much damage to Suwon Hwaseong For-
demonstrates the determination of King Jeongjo not to harm the people or tress, as did the course of modernization. However, the castle mostly retains
the state in completing this project to commemorate his father. its original form. Suwoncheon, which runs north to south, as well as the net-
The construction of Hwaseong Fortress was also influenced by King work of streets that intersect Suwoncheon are key structures of the city
Jeongjos political ambition to root out factionalism in politics and balance today. The geographical conditions andHwaseong Seongyeok Uigwemade
the political parties. Seoul had become an area filled with people of vested it possible to restore Hwaseong Fortress to its current form and since the
interests who were complacent with tradition and older customs. In turn, 1970s, continuous repairs have been made to the fortress.
King Jeongjo wanted to move away from Seoul and test his new politics in a
place, with the Gyujanggak and Jang Yong-yeong as its centerpiece. Though
Hwaseong Fortress could not become the testing grounds for new politics
due to the untimely demise of King Jeongjo, it became a key military fortress
and strategic point for defending the south of Seoul. Afterwards, together
with Gaeseong, Ganghwa, and Gwangju, Suwon became the Yusubu, the
military outpost charged with protecting the southern part of Gyeonggi prov-
ince. Additionally, King Jeongjo nurtured the area with great passion and
was a driving force behinds it growth into a national, large-scale city.
Hwaseong Fortress was not a military city centered on defense facil-
ities, rather it had the looks of a pleasant and lively modern commercial city.
Inside the city walls were roads and other urban infrastructure, and people
were encouraged to move there and build houses. King Jeongjo gathered

Namsan of Gyeongju
GYEONGJU HISTORIC AREAS
The Gyeongju Historic Areas contain many vestiges and relics of

the history and culture of Gyeongju, the thousand-year old city of
the ancient Korean state known as Silla (57 BC to AD 935). This
area is divided into five sections according to the characteristics of
the relics: the Namsan treasure house of Buddhist art; the Wolseong
palace site; the Daeneungwon site of ancient tombs, including those
of the Silla kings; the Hwangnyongsa area, which contains the
essence of Silla Buddhism; and the Sanseong area, which holds the
core remains of the defensive works of the royal city. Fifty-two sites
containing designated cultural properties are included in the World
Heritage areas.
Three-storied stone pagoda of Yongjangsa Temple
in the Namsan Mountain area of Gyeongju
Poseokjeong Pavilion in the Namsan Mountain

area was used for banquets and entertainment by
the kings and aristocrats of Silla.
S illa was one of the ancient states of Korea, centered round Gyeongju in
the southeast part of the Korean Peninsula. According to its foundation
legend, the chiefs of the Six illages welcomed Park Hyeokgeose as their
The three-state unification achieved by Silla was incomplete, as only
the southern parts of the Korean Peninsula were included. However, in the
course of expelling the Tang army after the war had ended, a unified con-
king after he descended from heaven. It is known that after the fall of Old sciousness formed among the refugees from Goguryeo and Baekje, and this
Joseon, a large group of refugees moved to the southern part of the Korean provided the impetus for the formation of a new nation. In other words, the
Peninsula; Park Hyeokgeose is also thought to belong to this group. three-state unification laid the foundations for a nation-state comprising one
The Park Hyeokgeose group established a small country called single national community on the Korean peninsula for the first time. As
Saroguk in union with the chiefs of the Six illages in the Gyeongju area. Silla unified the three states, this epoch came to be known as Unified Silla
Saroguk developed by uniting with or conquering its smaller neighboring (676-935), which coincided with the Northern and Southern Kingdom
states, and became embroiled in a rivalry with the older and more established Period, with Balhae in the northern part of the peninsula.
Goguryeo and Baekje kingdoms. This era is known as the Three Kingdoms Namsan Mountain in Gyeongju possesses a large concentration of
Period, when Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla vied for control of the peninsula. cultural properties and is worthy of the title outdoor museum. It includes
Silla fell behind Goguryeo and Baekje initially, but began to develop Geumosan Mountain to the north, as well as mountains and valleys joining
rapidly in the late fourth century. It named itself Silla at the dawn of the sixth the two peaks of Gowisan Mountain to the south. Namsan is one of the four
century and changed the name of its ruler from the original Maripgan to the most sacred Silla domains. It has been venerated as a sacred mountain and
Chinese term Wang (king). It also promulgated basic administrative stat- dwelling place of the Buddha since the early sixth century when Buddhism
utes and officially recognized Buddhism in order to secure ideological unity. received official approval. Namsan Mountain contains numerous Buddhist
Buddhism also contributed to the sanctification of its king and served to relics such as Najeong Well, sometimes referred to as the birthplace of Park
strengthen royal authority. Hyeokgeose, with Poseokjeong Pavilion and Seokbulsang (stone Buddhist
Silla strengthened its national power through internal development images) scattered around the area.
and, in an alliance with Tang, crushed both Baekje and Goguryeo in the late The memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms indicate that the national
seventh century. Tang then attempted to absorb Silla after Goguryeo fell, but affairs discussed on Namsan Mountain were successful. Among the relics in
Silla fought to drive back its former ally and finally secured the land south of Namsan Mountain, 37 pieces were designated by UNESCO as part of the
the Daedonggang River from Tang occupation. Meanwhile, in the old territo- World Heritage, while over 460 items, including pagodas and Buddhist
ry of Goguryeo, Dae Jo-yeong, a Goguryeo general, established Balhae (AD images, some 150 temple sites, and many other cultural properties including
698-926). royal tombs, are also located in this area.
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 86 87 GYEONGJU HISTORIC AREAS

Night view of Anapji in Imhaejeonji where the Silla dynasty royal palace was built. Anapji is an
artificial pond made based on Taoist ideas of immortality.
Complete view of Daeneungwon. There are some 250 tombs in this site located in downtown
Gyeongju.

Stone-brick pagoda of Bunwhangsa Temple in the
Hwangnyoungsa Temple area of Gyeongju. Only three
stories remain of what is presumed to have originally
been a seven- or nine-story pagoda.
Three-story stone pagodas of the Gameunsa Temple

site.
The Wolseong area includes: Wolseong itself, where the Silla Palace
once stood; Gyerim where Kim Al-ji, the founder of the Silla Kim Dynasty,
was born; the Imhae Jeonji, built during the Unified Silla era; and the
Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in the Orient. Wolseong,
a royal castle of the Silla Dynasty built in the early second century, is also
known as Banwolseong or thehalf-moon fortress.A part of the fortress walls
that were constructed with mixed earth and stone has survived to the present
day, but there are building sites within the fortress as well. Recent excavations
have shown that there was a moat for defense around the outside of the fortress
walls. Imhaejeonji, a detached portion of the Silla royal palace, was used as
Donggung Palace by the Silla princes. Anapji, an artificial pond attached to it,
was built according to the Immortal Principles of Taoism.
In the Daeneungwon area, many tombs of Sillas ruling class, includ-
ing kings, their wives, and the aristocracy, are still with us today. They are
known as the Complex of Hwangnam-ri Tombs, Complex of Nodong-ri
Tombs, and Complex of Noseo-ri Tombs. During the excavations of the
tombs, precious relics such as the gold crown (the essence of Silla culture),
pictures of the heavenly horse, glasses, and various earthenware pieces have
been found, providing invaluable information about life during those times.
In particular, many burial accessories from the ancient tombs of pre-unifica-
tion Silla have been extremely well preserved, as the tombs were constructed
in a manner that made them very difficult to loot.
In the Hwangnyongsa Temple area can be found Hwangnyongsaji
and Bunhwangsa Temples, illustrative examples of the state protection tem-
ples of the early Silla era. Hwangnyongsa was destroyed by fire during the
Mongol invasion of the thirteenth, but excavations have shown that it was a

Night view of Cheomseongdae, the worlds oldest
astronomical observatory, which stands 9.17m tall
and is located in the Wolseong area of Gyeongju.
large, imposing temple. Hwangnyongsa, the largest of the Silla temples,

measures 288m from east to west, 281m from north to south, and covers an
area of 80,000. Moreover, about 40,000 excavated items are currently
being used as valuable source materials in the study of Sillas history.
Hwangnyongsa Temple, another temple burned down during the Mongol
invasion, also featured a nine-story wooden pagoda some 80m in height
(completed in the mid-seventh century).
The Bunhwangsa Temple located in front of Hwangnyongsa Temple
retains a part of the Stone-brick Pagoda. It originally had nine stories, though
only three stories remain, and stands 9.3m tall. It was probably built in the
mid-seventh century when Bunhwangsa Temple was established. It was
repaired by the Japanese in 1915, having been seriously damaged during the
Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, but was not restored to its original form.
The Sanseong area features Myeonghwal Sanseong Fortress, which is
believed to have been built before the fifth century and has a perimeter covering
some 6km. Myeonghwal Sanseong Fortress served as a defensive bastion for
Gyeongju and was representative of fortresses of the early Silla period when raw
stone was used as building material. The exact date of construction has not been
ascertained, though it is clear that its origins predate the early fifth century, as
records state that the Japanese attacked the fortress at that time.
The Gyeongju Historic Areas is a comprehensive historic district
peppered with diverse relics and cultural remains where visitors can enjoy
the history and culture of the Silla Dynasty. Furthermore, Buddhist relics and
royal capitol relics are well preserved there, and are considered to have sur-
passed those of Kyoto and Nara that were registered as World Heritage in
December 2000 in terms of amount and diversity.

The largest KoreanNorthern Typedolmen on
Ganghwado Island is located at the northern foot of
Goryesan Mountain. It is 7.1m long and 2.6m tall.
GOCHANG, HWASUN AND GANGHWA

DOLMEN SITES
In December 2000, the World Committee of UNESCO (Cairns,

Australia) announced it would officially register the Gochang,
Hwasun, and the Ganghwa dolmen sites as World Heritage sites.
The English word dolmen is derived from Celtic languages, in
whichdolmeans table andmenmeans stone. So when translated
into English from Celtic,dolmenmeanstable stone.The Korean
word for dolmen is goindol, which means pooled stone, or
stone prop,and refers to a tomb or prehistoric cemetery built with
massive stones. A typical dolmen tomb would have three to four
sturdy flagstones as stone props to create a stone room that was then
covered with a gigantic flat stone as a roof. These dolmen tombs
were called stone shelves in Chinese because they resembled a
shelf from afar. In Korea and Japan they were called stone prop
tombs as they supported large stones. It is understood that this
expression emphasizes the use of a wide capstone. Dolmens size
and weight were of an unimaginable scale and reminded people of
altars. When multiple dolmens appear in a field or on a mountains,
they produce a distinctive scene, making the landscape appear to be
full of large tables or to be laid out like a board for playing go.
Winter view of theNorthern Typedolmen in
Dosan-ri of Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province,
which is 3.4m long and 1.9m tall
D olmen sites are common in many areas around the world, including the
Eurasian continent, Indonesia, and Northeast Asia. However, the
majority of dolmens can be found in the Northeast Asian region, and the
Korean Peninsula has the highest density of dolmens amongst any areas
where they have been discovered. There are about 15,000 dolmens in North
Korea, and around 26,000 dolmens in South Korea. With over 40,000 dol-
mens between the two Koreas, the Korean Peninsula boasts an amazing den-
sity of dolmens, accounting for around 40 of all dolmens around the world.
The dolmen sites on the Korean Peninsula were built during the
Bronze Age between the tenth and fifteenth centuries BC. The use of bronze
during this time made production of stronger farming tools and weapons pos-
sible, which enabled the growing productivity of these agrarian societies,
which in turn led to a population increase. The wards reorganized local soci-
eties, which gave birth to a class of rulers, known as patriarchs. They ruled a
broader area and monopolized wealth and power. It is thought that these
patriarchs built large stone tombs, and dolmen memorial services were often
used during this period in an effort to expand their influence. On top of being
the tombs of the ruling class, these hulking dolmens are thought to have had
the functions of landmark stones to mark the borders of community groups
or altars for offerings during group ceremonies, such as ancestral rites.
If one divides Korean history into various eras, the Bronze Age falls
into the Old Joseon era. Old Joseon is considered to be the first Korean state
with divisions between classes. There are two opposing theories regarding
the birthplace of Old Joseon. The first theory maintains that Old Joseon orig-
inated in the basin of the Daedonggang River, in the northern part of the
Korean Peninsula and then expanded its territory into the Yodong Peninsula
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 96 97 GOCHANG, HWASUN AND GANGHWA DOLMEN SITES
Southern Typedolmens in Suncheon
Artifacts excavated from dolmens
(in Chinese, the Liaodung Peninsula). In contrast, the second theory believes are laid around it. Then a gigantic stumpy rock is placed on top of the foot-
that Old Joseons growth centered on Yodong and spread its influence into stones so that the tomb resembles a go board. The Southern type is called the
the Korean Peninsula. Both theories seek to trace the historical background base style, or the go-board style, and is sub-classified into those with foot-
of the well-developed dolmen memorial services in the Korean Peninsula stones and those without footstones. Those with only the capstone and no
and the Yodong Peninsula to Old Joseon. In turn, there are three theories footstones are called the Capstone Type, meaning they only have a roof on
regarding the origins and early history of Old Joseon. The first is the Dangun top. In the Capstone-Type dolmen, the capstone is put directly on top of the
Joseon theory, which states that Dangun, the first tribal leader on the Korean underground burial chamber. This type of dolmen can be found on the
Peninsula, established the state in 2333 BC. The second theory is that Gija, Korean Peninsula, the Yodong Peninsula, and in the Kyushu region of Japan.
the teacher of King Mu of the Chinese hou Kingdom, established Gija For convenience, dolmens are classified into Northern and Southern Types
Joseon. The third theory is that Wiman Joseon began to rule Old Joseon from according to what region they are concentrated in. However, Northern Types
the basin of the Daedonggang River around the second century BC. The have been found in the south and vice versa.
existing old Joseon groups in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula were The World Committee of UNESCO had registered approximately
therefore pushed south by the iron culture wielded by Wiman Joseon and 1,122 Korean dolmen sites, around 442 in Gochang, 560 in Hwasun, and 120
subsequently established the state of Jin. in Ganghwa as a part of World Heritage. Prior to that, the Ganghwa Dolmen
The dolmen memorial service is classified into two different types; was designated as a National Cultural Asset (Historic Site 137) in July 1964.
the Northern Type (Table Type), and the Southern Type (Go-Board Type). The Gochang Dolmen Sites were designated as Historic Site 391 in
The two types are classified according to their shapes. The Northern Type December 1994, and the dolmens sites at Hyosan-ri and Daesin-ri of Hwasun
uses either three well-polished flagstones (in ashape) or four (in a were designated as Historic Site 410 in September 1998.
shape) as stone props to create a ground-level stone room for the burial If we look at the characteristics of these regions, many of the
chamber. Either dozens of tons of natural stones or a massive flat-cut cap- Hwasun dolmens along the Yeongsangang River basin weigh more than 100
stone is placed on top of the stone props so that the edifice resembles a high tons. One dolmen, named thePingmae Rockweighs around 280 tons, mak-
table. This type of dolmen can be found mostly in the northern parts of the ing it the largest in the world. There have been many cases in which grave
Korean peninsula, from north of the Hangang River to the Yodong Peninsula. goods from the stone rooms of the Hwasun dolmens have been unearthed,
The Southern Type can be found mostly in the southern parts of the Korean showing that the dolmens were highly valued when they were built. uarries
Peninsula, such as Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces. In this type, the stone where dolmens capstones were quarried from were found together with the
room of the tomb is placed underground, and four to eight smaller footstones dolmens, providing insight into how the dolmen tombs were built in prehis-
Dolmens in Gochang
toric times.
Gochang dolmens are the most densely grouped dolmens throughout
the world. The area of dolmens from Jungni-ri, Gochang-eup to Sanggap-ri,
Asan-myeon is the largest group colony in the world. The largest collection
of dolmens can be found in Maesan illage of Gochang-eup, where 442
large and small dolmens, both Northern Type and Southern Type, fill the
plains and bases near mountains in an area that is 1,764m wide, east to west.
Dolmens in Hwasun and Gochang are mostly of the base style while
Southern type dolmens possess footstones. Their capstones tend to be multi-
dimensional or megalithic.
There are around 120 Ganghwa Dolmens along the foot of Goreyo
Mountain, spanning Bugeun-ri, Samgeo-ri, and Osang-ri of Ganghwa-gun.
There are approximately seventy-two Table Types and forty-eight Capstone
Types, with a good mix of Northern and Southern Types, making it stand out
as the meeting point of the Northern and Southern cultures. The model of the
Table Type of Northern Type dolmens is the Bugeunri Dolmen. The largest
in Korea, it has a capstone that is 7.1m long and 5.5m in width, and though it
weights around 80 tons, it was placed 2.6m above the ground. The shape of
the dolmen is light and refined, as if it is read to fly into the sky, making it
the highlight of dolmen art.
There are also dolmens on the Korean Peninsula that are not regis-
tered with World Heritage. In fact, registered dolmens make up only a frac-
tion of those found in Korea. A 1999 investigation by the Cultural Heritage
Administration of Korea found an estimated total of 26,420 dolmens in
South Korea, with 19,000 in South Jeolla Province, 1,660 in North Jeolla
Province, 2,800 in North Gyeongsang Province, 1,240 in South Gyeongsang
Distant view of dolmens in Hwasun
Northern Typedolmens in Yeonggwang
Province, 500 in Gyeonggi Province, 500 in South Chungcheong Province,

380 in Gangwon Province, and 140 in Jeju Province. If we add the 15,000
dolmens in North Korea, the total surpasses 40,000, which is an astronomical
number of historical remains. The dolmen culture historical remains from the
early times of the Korean Peninsula have been preserved intact over thou-
sands of years and came to be registered as a cultural heritage of the world.
We sincerely hope that the dolmen culture becomes well known and will be
loved by many.
Cheongnyongdo (painting of a blue dragon) on the east
wall of a burial chamber in the Gangseodaemyo. It is a
part of the tombs painting of the Four Sacred Animals.
The painting is representative of Goguryeo wall paintings.
GOGURYEO TOMB COMPLEX
Koreans recognize Goguryeo as a mighty state that occupied the

broadest territory in the history of Korea. Though ultimately falling,
Goguryeo had steadfastly defended itself from both the Sui and
Tang dynasties, which boasted the greatest military might in ancient
China, for seventy years (598-668), and was a key state and
dynamic pioneer of ancient Korean history and culture. Goguryeo
existed for 705 years (37 BC to AD 668). For the first 465 years of
its history, Goguryeos activities were geographically centered in the
Manchurian plains at the far eastern end of the Eurasian continent.
It moved its political and economic center to the rich plains of the
Daedonggang River basin, on the northwestern part of the Korean
Peninsula, for the last 241 years of its existence. During these shifts,
Goguryeo changed its capital three times. Holbon (currently
Hwanin), located above the Amnokgang River, served as its first
capital for 40 years (37 BC to AD 3). Gungnaeseong (currently
Jian) along the Amnokgang River acted as its second capital for 424
years (AD 3-427). Pyeongyang in the basin of the Daedonggang
River, in North Korea, served as its third capital for 241 years (427
to 668).
Overview of the Tomb Complex from the
Hwangdo Mountain city of Jian, the old capital of
Goguryeo, located in present-day China
A ll the historic Goguryeo sites that were registered as UNESCO World

Heritage sites during the twenty-eighth session of the World Heritage
Committee held in Suzhou, China on July 1, 2004 are spread around these
Goguryeo plays a central role in the historical lineage that flows from
Goguryeo to Goryeo, and then to Korea, clearly states the importance of the
influence of Goguryeo in Korean history.
three capitals of Goguryeo. However, since the territory of Goguryeo ranges The World Heritage List from the North Korean side includes sixty
across both North Korea and China, both countries applied for listing on the three tombs in five regions, including the Tomb of King Dongmyeong, the
World Heritage, and both applications were accepted at the same time. The founder of Goguryeo. Amongst the tombs, there are many large stone burial
North Korean list includes sixty-three tombs in five regions and is called chamber tombs that are categorized as royal tombs on account of their size,
the The Complex of the Goguryeo Tombs. While the Chinese list was as well as sixteen with well-preserved murals. The distribution of the tombs
called theCapital Cities, Imperial Tombs, and NoblesTombs of Goguryeo. across the regions is as follows; (1) Yeokpo region of Pyeongyang (fifteen
The fact that both countries used the contemporary Korean pronun- Jinpa-ri tombs), (2) Samseok region of Pyeongyang (thirty-four tombs in
ciation of Goguryeo as the official name for registering Goguryeo is worthy Honam-ri and Topo-ri), (3) Daedong region of Pyeongan Province (three
of attention. This is consistent with the records in the history book Deokwa-ri tombs), (4) the complex in Nampo, South Pyeongan Province (six
The Goguryobongi (Historical Accounts of the Kings of Goguryeo), which in Gangseo and Yonggang Regions), and (5) the Anak region of South
is a part of The Samguksagi (The Histories of the Three Kingdoms), the Hwanghae Province (3 Anak Tombs). The World Heritage sites registered by
official historical record of the three ancient kingdoms of Korea. In Korean China include the early capitals of Goguryeo including; (1) Onyeo Mountain
history, after Silla unified the three kingdoms to create unified Silla, it was Fortress (Holbon Castle), Gungnae Castle, Hwando Mountain Castle, and the
succeeded by Goryeo, which declared that it had inherited the spirit of Stele of King Gwanggaeto, (2) Taewangneung, Janggunchong, twenty-six
Goguryos history. Goryeo lasted for 495 years (918 to 1392) and integrated noblestombs (including seventeen tomb murals), the Ssireum Tomb, and the
the cultures of Silla (the southern part of the Korean Peninsula) with Baekje Chum Tomb.
(the northern part of the Korean Peninsula) into a single cultural body. In Tombs with murals make up a significant portion of the tombs, with
addition, Goryeo continuously strived to recover the old territories of thirty-two of them included in the lists of registered World Heritage sites
Goguryeo. This can be clearly seen when the Khitans in Yoseo established from North Korea and China. There are sixteen tomb murals in the North
the Liao state and tried to invade Goryeo and Goryeo argued that it was Korean areas number one, four, and ten of the Jinpa-ri Tombs (Tomb of King
indeed the rightful heir to Goguryeo, causing them to leave. The contempo- Dongmyeong), the Tomb of Four Divinities in Honam-ri, numbers one and
rary English name of Korea was based on how Goryeo was known in two of Deokwa-ri, the big and medium tombs of Gangseo, the Deokeung-ri
Europe through Arabian merchants who traded with Goryeo. The fact that Tomb, the Yaksu-ri Tomb, the Susan-ri Tomb, the Yonggang Large Tomb, the
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 106 107 GOGURYEO TOMB COMPLEX
Overview of the Tomb Complex from the
Hwangdo Mountain city of Jian, the old capital of
Goguryeo, located in present-day China. The
tombs house deceased members of the Goguryeo
ruling class.
Overview of a tomb presumed to be that of

Jangsuwang in Jian, China
Current List of Registered Goguryeo World Heritage Sites
A. World Heritage Goguryeo Tombs in North Korea
Complexes Name of Tomb No Mural Tomb
1 Yeokpo region of Pyeongyang Jinpa-ri tombs 1-15 15 3 (Jinpa-ri 1, 4, 10)

Tomb of Dongmyeongwang Jinpa-ri Tombs Tomb of Dongmyeongwang
Jinpa-ri 10
2 Samseok region of Pyeongyang Tomb of Four Divinities, 34 1 (Honam-ri Tomb of Four Divinities)
Tomb of Four Divinities in Honam-ri and Honam-ri tombs 1-16, Geumsil tomb,
other tombs in the region Topo-ri large tomb, Topo-ri tomb 1-15
3 Daedong region of Pyeongan-do Deokw-ri tombs 1, 2, 3 3 2 (Deokwa-ri tombs 1, 2)
4 Tombs in Nampo, South Gangseo Region Gangseo small tombs, Deokeung-ri tomb, 6 5 (not including the small tomb at
Pyeongan Provincee Yaksu-ri tomb, Susan-ri tomb Gangseo)
Yonggang Region Yonggang large tomb, Ssanggidung tomb 2 2
5 Anak region of South Hwanghae Province Anak tombs 1, 2, 3 3 3
Total 5 regions 63 (16)
B. Capital of Goguryeo Stela of King Gwanggaeto
Name Period Location Scale Remains
1 Onyeo Mountain Fortress First capital, Hwanin, North-South 600m, Castle site, residential area, barracks,
(Holbon Castle) BC 37-AD 3 Liaoning Province East-West 200m guard posts, palace site, wells
2 Gungnae Castle Second capital Jian city, East wall 555m, west wall 665m,
3-427 Jilin Province south wall 750m,
north wall 715m
total circumference 2,686m
3 Hwando Mountain Castle One-time capital Jian city, Circumference 6,951m

Jilin Province
4 Stela of Gwanggaetowang Established in 414 Jian city, Height 6.39m 1,775 characters
Jilin Province
(Ref.) Anhak Palace, Pyeongyang 427-586 Pyeongyang city One side 622m, size 380,000 Built together with Daeseong
Mountain Fortress in 427
Jangan Castle, Pyeongyang 586-668 Pyeongyang city Circumference 23km, size 1,186 Started in 552 and completed in 586
(28th year of Pyeongwonwang)
Overview of the Tomb of King Dongmyeong. The
tomb of King Dongmyeong (Junmong), the founder
of Goguryeo, was transferred from the Tonggu area
when the capital of Goguryeo was moved to
Pyeongyang in the early fourth century.
Ssanggidung Tomb, and numbers one, two and three of the Anak Tombs. The
other sixteen on the Chinese side are the Ssireum Tomb, Chum Tomb,
Manger Tomb, Shaped Tomb, Ring Shaped Tomb, Moduru Tomb,
Sanyeonhwa Tomb, numbers one, two, and four of the Changcheon Tombs,
Number 3319 tomb of Wusan, numbers four and five of the Five Tombs, the
Tonnggusasin Tomb, the Bent Ceiling Tomb, and the Turtle Shell Tomb.
By 2009, 117 Goguryeo mural tombs had been identified. Of the
117, there were 38 in China and 79 in North Korea. 30 of the mural tombs
are registered with World Heritage. Historically, Goguryeo mural tombs are
concentrated in a period of 300 years spanning between AD 400 to 700 AD,
and they are valuable in the history of world arts for the splendor of their
dynamic pictures, as can be seen in the depiction of four gods in the
Gangseodaemyo. On the four walls surrounding the burial chamber are pic-
tures portraying the daily lives and culture of the people of Koguryo at the
time. The ceiling contains images of the heavens, and colorfully depicts the
C. Goguryeo Royal Tombs in China (13)
constellations of the night sky, as well as the world of astronomical myths.
There are a total of twenty-five astronomical mural tombs that contain con- No. Name Designation Size Tomb Type Murals
stellation pictures that are linked by two or three lines. Fourteen of them are Royal Tombs 1 Maseongu tomb 626 MM 0626 40407m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
registered as constellation tombs with World Heritage: including tomb num- 2 Cheonchu Tomb MM 1000 60609m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
ber four in Jinpa-ri, tomb numbers one and two in Deokwa-ri, the Deokeung- 3 Seodae Tomb MM 0500 55557m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
ri tomb, the Yaksu-ri tomb, the Ssanggidung tomb, tomb numbers one and 4 Maseongu tomb 2100 MM 2100 39396m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
three in Anak, the Ssireum tomb, the Chum tomb, the Jangcheon tomb num- 5 Maseongu tomb 2378 MM 2378 50222.5m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
ber one, tomb numbers four and five of the Five Tombs, the Tonggusasin
6 Chilseongsan tomb 0211 M 0211 716110m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
tombs including Jinpa-ri no. four, and the Deokeung-ri tombs.
7 Chilseongsan tomb 0871 M 0871 35355.5m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
Holbon Castle, Gungnaeseong, and the Hwando Hill Fort served as
8 Taewangneung YM 0541 666614.8m Extra-large stair type stone chamber with stone pile
political centers during the first half of Goguryeo. They are registered as
9 Imgang tomb YM 0043 70604.5m Extra-large stair type stone chamber with stone pile
10 Wusan tomb 2110 YM 2110 66387m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
11 Wusan tomb 992 YM 0992 38386m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
12 Janggunchong YM 0001 313012m Extra-large stair type stone chamber with stone pile
13 Janggunchong annex tomb YM 0002 10103.5m Extra-large stair type stone pit with stone pile
Twin octagonal pillars at the entrance to the main chamber of Ssangyeong-chong Tomb, which was
made in the late fifth century and, along with Muyong-chong (Tomb of the Dancers), is representative
of Goguryeo tombs. The two pillars located between the front and main chambers give the tomb the
name Ssangyeong-chong tomb (twin-pillar tomb). It is located at Nampo-si in South Pyeongan
Province.
D. Goguryeo NoblesTombs in China (26. Including 16 with murals) World Heritage sites for the vastness of the cities themselves, demonstrating
No. Name Designation Size Tomb Type Murals the global value of the spaces in which the people of Goguryeo lived. The
NoblesTombs 1 Ssireum Tomb YM 0457 15135m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 1 earthly and heavenly murals in which the lives, thoughts, and philosophies of
2 Chum Tomb YM 0458 13135m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 2 the people of Goguryeo are depicted are also masterpieces in the worlds cul-
3 Manger Tomb YM 1894 16168m Large earthen mound storied stone chamber mural tomb Mural 3
tural history for their outstanding artistic value.
4 Shaped Tomb SM 0332 16164.2m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 4
5 Ring Shaped Tomb M 0033 16165m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 5
6 Moduru Tomb YM 0001 18165m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 6
7 Sanyeonhwa Tomb YM 0211 772m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 7
8 Changcheon Tomb 2 JCM 002 Circumference 1436m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 8
9 Changcheon Tomb 4 JCM 004 Circumference 603m Earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 9
10 Changcheon Tomb 1 JCM 001 15135m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 10
11 Wusan Tomb 3319 YM 3319 20201.5m Large stair type stone chamber mural tomb with stone pile Mural 11
12 Five Tombs 1 YM 2101 25258m Extra-large earthen mound stone chamber tomb
15 Five Tombs 4 YM 2104 303010m Extra-large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 12
16 Five Tombs 5 YM 2105 25258m Extra-large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 13
17 Tonggusasin Tomb YM 2113 25258m Extra-large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 14
18 Four Tombs 1 YM 2106 25258m Extra-large earthen mound stone chamber tomb
22 Wusan Tomb 2112 YM 2112 15151m Stair type stone pit with stone pile
23 Bent Ceiling Tomb SM 1298 20206.5m Large stair type stone chamber mural tomb with stone pile Mural 15
24 Big Brother Tomb SM 0635 18185.6m Large stair type stone pit with stone pile
25 Little Brother Tomb SM 0636 20205.7m Large stair type stone pit with stone pile
26 Turtle Shell Tomb SM 1304 18187m Large earthen mound stone burial chamber mural tomb Mural 16
The Joseon Dynasty began after the end of the Goryeo
Dynasty in 1392 and lasted for over five hundred years.
TheRoyal Tombs of Joseonrefer to the tombs of twenty-
seven kings and queens, as well as the tombs of kings and
queens who were posthumously promoted during the
Joseon Dynasty era.
ROYAL TOMBS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY
Royal tombsare the sacred territory of ancestral gods, and the foci
of the afterlife of kings and queens. There are also a holy place where
the succeeding kings fulfilled their filial duties as an expression of the
continuation of the dynasty and the royal bloodline. Joseon Dynasty
in particular placed special meaning on the creation of royal tombs,
elevating it to the level of a standardized ritual.
Current Royal Tombs of Joseon
Region Area No Posthumous Name of King Tomb Location
Seoul Jeongneung 1 1st - Jeongneung of Taejos ueen ( ueen Sindeok) Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu
Hongsalmun at the Royal Tombs of Joseon
Seoul Heonilleung 2 3rd - Heolleung of Taejong Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu
23rd - Illeung of Sunjo
Seoul Seonjeongneung 2 9th - Seolleung of Seongjong Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu
T he Joseon Dynasty began after the end of the Goryeo Dynasty in 1392 and
lasted for over 500 years. TheRoyal Tombs of Joseonrefer to the tombs
of twenty-seven kings and queens, as well as the tombs of kings and queens who
Seoul Taegangneung 2
11th - Jeongneung of Jungjong
11th - Taereung of Jungjongs ueen ( ueen Munjeong)

13th - Gangneung of Myeongjong
Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu
were posthumously promoted during the Joseon Dynasty era. The cultural heri- Seoul Uireung 1 20th - Uireung of Gyeongjong Seokgwan-dong, Seongbuk-gu
tage of theRoyal Tombs of Joseonclearly demonstrate the Confucian tradition Gyeonggido Donggureung 9 1st - Geonwolleung of Taejo Inchang-dong, Guri-si
8th - Hyelleung of Munjong
in Korean culture. During the Joseon era, the Confucian concept of ancestor 14th - Mongneung of Seonjo
16th - Hwireung of Injos ueen ( ueen Jangnyeol)
worshipwas developed. Kings were the highest authority of the land, so a tradi- 18th - Sungneung of Hyeonjong
20th - Hyereung of Gyeongjongs ueen ( ueen Danui)
tion of deifying the tombs of the kings was formed. Creating a grand tomb for 21st - Wolleung of Yeongjo
24th - Gyeongneung of Heonjong
the dead king and worshipping there was not only a way of venerating the dead Sureung of posthumously promoted Munjo
king, but also strengthened the authority of the current king. (father of Heonjong, the 24th king)
Apart from the two in North Korea, forty of the forty-two Royal Tombs Gyeonggido Hongyureung 2 26th - Hongneung of Gojong Geumgok-dong, Namyangju-si
27th - Yureung of Sunjong
from the Joseon era in South Korea have been registered as World Heritage sites. The
Gyeonggido Gwangneung 1 7th - Gwangneung of Sejo Jinjeon-eup, Namyangju-si
tombs of the two dethroned kings (Yeonsangun, the tenth king and Gwanghaegun,
Gyeonggido Sareung 1 6th - Sareung of Danjongs ueen ( ueen Jeongsun) Jingeon-eup, Namyangju-si
the fifteenth king) were not included in the forty-two Royal Tombs of Joseon.
Gyeonggido Yeongnyeongneung 2 4th - Yeongneung of Sejong Neungseo-myeon, Yeoju-gun
The Royal Tombs of Joseon can be categorized intoneung,won, 17th - Yeongneung of Hyojong
andmyo.Neungrefers to the tombs of kings and queens, including those
Gyeonggido Seooreung 5 8th - Changneung of Yejong Yongdu-dong, Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si
who were posthumously promoted. Won refers to the tombs of crown Gyeongneung of posthumously promoted Deokjong
(father of Seongjong, the 9th king)
princes and crown princesses, as well as kingsfathers (royal ancestors who 19th - Myeongneung of Sukjong
19th - Ingneung of Sukjongs ueen ( ueen Ingyeong)
were not kings themselves). Myo refers to the tombs of such people as 21st - Hongneung of Yeongjos ueen ( ueen Jeongseong)
kings sons and daughters by queens, sons and daughters of kings concu- Gyeonggido Seosamneung 3 11th - Huireung of Jungjongs ueen ( ueen Janggyeong) Wondang-dong, Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si
12th - Hyoreung of Injong
bines, royal concubines, and noblemen. 25th - Yereung of Cheongjong
Confucian principles were applied in selecting the locations for the Royal
Gyeonggido Olleung 1 11th - Olleung of Jungjongs ueen ( ueen Dangyeong) Jangheung-myeon, Yangju-gun
Tombs of Joseon. It was also used in selecting locations for tombs, sacred grounds for
Gyeonggido Paju Samneung 3 8th - Gongneung of Yejongs ueen ( ueen Jangsun) Jori-eup, Paju-si
rituals, spaces where the sacred and secular worlds met, and areas of purely secular 9th - Sulleung of Seongjongs ueen ( ueen Gonghye)
Yeongneung of posthumously promoted Jinjong
concerns. There are six types of shapes of royal tombs. They are categorized by the (stepfather of Jeongjo, the 22nd king)
shape of the burial mounds (Dalleung, Ssangneung, Samyeolleung, Dong- Gyeonggido Paju Jangneung 1 16th - Jangneung of Injo Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si
Gyeonggido Gimpo Jangneung 1 Jangneung of posthumously promoted Wonjong Pungmu-dong, Gimpo-si

(father of Injo, the 16th king)
Gyeonggido Yungeolleung 2 Yungneung of Crown Prince Sado Taean-eup, Hwaseong-si

(father of Jeongjo, the 22nd king)
22nd - Geolleung of Jeongjo
Gangwondo Jangneung 1 6th - Danjong Yeongwol-eup, Yeongwol-gun
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 116 117 ROYAL TOMBS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY
Gyeongneung of Heonjong (winter view)
Locations of the Royal Tombs of Joseon

1. Donggureung
2. Hongyureung
3. Gwangneung
4. Sareung
5. Yeongnyeongneung
6. Jangneung wonigangneung, Dongwonsanghabongneung, and Hapjangneung).
7. Seonjeongneung
8. Heonilleung
9. Taegangneung Locations of the Royal Tombs of Joseon
10. Jeongneung
A look at the spread of the Royal Tombs of Joseon shows that they are locat-
11. Uireung
12. Seooreung ed in downtown Seoul and to the east and west of Seoul. The laws at the time
13. Seosamneung
stipulated that royal tombs should be built 4 to 40 kilometers away from the
14. Olleung
15. Paju Samneung center of Hanyang, the capital at the time. The locations were specifically
16. Paju Jangneung
chosen in accordance with feng shui, which was developed to harmonize
17. Gimpo Jangneung
18. Yungeolleung tombs with nature. Today, these sites are precious areas where people can
Structure and Spaces of enjoy natural, historical sites within downtown Seoul.
the Royal Tombs of Joseon The thirty-third World Heritage Committee meeting recognized all
1. gokjang (wall)
2. mounds forty Royal Tombs of Joseon as UNESCO World Heritage sites (cultural
3. sheep stone heritage) on June 30, 2009, in Seville, Spain. The Royal Tombs of Joseon
4. tiger stone
5. honyu stone were evaluated as an important stage in the development of memorial servic-
6. mangju stone es in East Asia and praised for their feng shui-doctrine-based construction.
7. jangmyeongdeung
8. munseokin The committee praised how the inner space was created according to strict
9. horse stone guidelines, and that the sacred area mixes well with the surrounding scenery.
10. stone warriors
11. sansin stone The tombs all display great harmony in their burial mounds, sculptures, and
12. yegam architecture. Additionally, they are highly regarded as unique spaces of living
13. a monument house
14. T-shaped house tradition where ceremonial rites have been conducted for over six hundred
15. sojeondae years from the Joseon era to this day.
16. holy street
17. subokbang TheRoyal Tombs of Joseondemonstrate the funeral culture of the
18. suragan (a royal kitchen) Joseon Dynasty very well. The Royal Tombs of Joseon were developed in a
19. baewi
20. hongsalmun (a red gate with spiked top) way that differentiates them from royal tombs in other Confucian societies,
21. geumcheongyo (bridge) as they were based on the Joseon-Dynasty outlook of the world, religion, and
nature. In addition, theRoyal Tombs of Joseonclearly represent the archi-
Uireung of Gyeongjong
tectural style of the Joseon Dynasty, as well as the philosophy, political histo-
ry, and artistic creativity of that era. Lastly, there are the ancestral rituals that
have been held at the royal tombs for centuries. Even after the fall of the
Joseon Dynasty in 1910, the Jeonjuissi Daedong Jongyagwon (Society of the
Royal Family of the Joseon Dynasty) has continued performing royal tomb
ceremonies to this day. Therefore, theRoyal Tombs of Joseonplay a very
important role in continuing the traditional culture of ancestor worship that
was heavily emphasized during the Joseon era.
It is a rare case for a dynasty to have lasted more than five centuries and for
the tombs of all the kings and queens of a dynasty to survive. These spaces represent
a funeral culture that reflects the Korean view of the world, including its understand-
ing of such ideas as Confucianism and feng shui. These tombs were all formed
together and help to shed light upon the funeral culture and ancestral rites of the royal
family, making them extremely valuable as a cultural asset. Their historic value is
recognized today and will continue to be recognized by future generations.
Structure and Spaces of the Royal Tombs of Joseon

In addition to universal values, there is a unique, one-of-a-kind value to
the Royal Tombs of Joseon,which can be found in the overall structure and
artistic expression of their stone figures. The particulars of burial mound struc-
tures, installation of fences, and locations of various stone figures are unique and
cannot be found in other countries. This is evident when they are compared to
the royal tombs of China and Japan. In particular, the stone sculptures of civil
and military vassals, tigers, and guardrails are powerful representations of the
unique level of formative arts reached by the Joseon Dynasty.
In building the royal tombs, theSalleung Dogam Uigwewas com-
Olleung of Jungjongs ueen ( ueen Dangyeong)
Ancestor Worship Ceremony of King Sejong
piled to record the arrangements of stone figures, the process of construct-

ing a T-shaped house for sacrifice before the royal tombs were built, and
even the names of day laborers who carried soil to build the royal tomb.
The Salleung Dogam Uigwe records every detail of the building of the
royal tombs. If a part of the royal tombs were damaged, or lost its original
shape, the Uigwe will be the key to restoring it.
TheRoyal Tombs of Joseonwere registered with UNESCO World
Heritage because they met three out of the ten standards that the World
Heritage Convention required for registration.
First, the Royal Tombs meet the requirement that a sitebears a uni-
que or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which
is living or which has disappeared.Compared to royal tombs in other Con-
fucian societies, the Royal Tombs of Joseon demonstrate a unique, environ-
mentally friendly funeral culture. The culture is based on the Joseon Dynastys
understanding of the world, religion, and nature.
Second, they meet the requirement that a site is an outstanding
example of a type of building, architectural, or technological ensemble or
landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history.TheRoyal
Tombs of Joseon were built over a period lasting more than five hundred
years, and the philosophy, political history, and artistic view of those times
are reflected in them. The artistic creativity of such elements as the layout of
space, architecture, and stone figures are also outstanding.
Third, a site should bedirectly or tangibly associated with events or living
traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding
universal significance.Jongmyo was created as a space for enshrining the ancestral
tablets of kings and conducting ancestral rituals, rites that continue to this day.
The villages of Hahoe and Yangdong offer a rare
view into Korean clan villages and their
traditions, retain a number of their original
residential and Confucian buildings, and are home
to important centuries-old records.
HISTORIC VILLAGES OF KOREA:

HAHOE AND YANGDONG
For over six hundred years, two small villages in Korea have stood
the test of time. The newest Korean properties to be inscribed on the
UNESCO World Heritage List, Hahoe and Yangdong, are situated
in a traditional and auspicious way: near a river with forested
mountains as a backdrop and open paddies and fields nearby. Not
only are the houses and other buildings of Hahoe and Yangdong
villages laid out in harmony with their natural surroundings, they
represent the dedication of their inhabitants to pass on the traditions
of their ancestors.
Wall in Hahoe illage
Morning in Yangdong village
T hese South Korean villages are located in North Gyeongsang Province.

Hahoe illage is part of Andong City and Yangdong illage belongs to
Gyeongju City. While both cities have many historical relics within their bound-
deity) and has been held regularly in recent years.
The Hahoe Byeolsingut was practiced until 1928, during the
Japanese occupation of Korea (1910 45), when it was discontinued under
aries, the latter is home to remnants of the ancient Silla kingdom (57 BC AD Japans Cultural Policy. After Koreas independence, efforts to revive and
935) that form another World Heritage Site, the Gyeongju Historic Areas. obtain government recognition for the Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori proved dif-
The villages of Hahoe and Yangdong offer a rare view into Korean ficult. Even though many Hahoe residents had personally witnessed this
clan villages and their traditions, retain a number of their original residential mask-dance drama, it could not be designated as an Intangible Cultural
and Confucian buildings, and are home to important centuries-old records. Property until someone who had actually performed in it could be found.
Finally in 1977, Yi Chang-hui (1913 96), who had played a part in the 1928
Inhabitants and Traditions performance, recounted all he could of the play, and in 1980 it was designat-
The villages are two of the most intact examples of aristocratic Confucian ed as Important Intangible Cultural Property Number 69. The masks them-
settlements of Joseon Korea (1392 1910), which were centered on aclan, selves, which may date back to the middle of the Goryeo period (918 1392),
in this case defined by anthropologists as a group of people sharing the same were made from lacquered Korean alder wood. They were collectively desig-
patrilineage and surname. Yangdong illage is home to the Wolseong Son nated National Treasure Number 121 in 1964 and are in the collection of the
and Yeogang Yi clans. Hahoe illage is the hometown for the Pungsan Ryu National Museum of Korea in Seoul.
clan as well as the Heo and An families. Also predating the Joseon period in Hahoe illage is the presence of
Members of the Heo family are known for having made the original the Ryu family. Toward the end of the Goryeo period, a man named Ryu
masks used in the Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori. A Byeolsingut may be translated Jong-hye moved from Pungsan (in present-day Andong) to Hahoe illage
as aritual to serve a spirit in a special wayand has shamanistic origins. The where the Heo and An families were already living. Legend has it that Ryu
Hahoe Byeolsinguts stages consist of (1) gangsin, orwelcoming a spirit,(2) Jong-hye tried to build a home in Hahoe, but the structure collapsed three
osin, orentertaining the spirit,and (3) songsin, orsending the spirit away. times. One night, a spirit appeared in his dream and told him that if he want-
The tallori, literallymask game,forms the second stage. In this part, performed a house there, he would need to help a myriad of less fortunate individuals
ers wear masks, act, and dance. Historically, the ritual brought people together, for three years. He set up a hut nearby and gave out food and straw shoes to
regardless of their position in society, and served as an educational tool to passersby and then he grew yellow muskmelons and shared them with his
teach villagers about human vices. The Hahoe Byeolsingut was performed neighbors. Only after performing these deeds was he able to secure land in
once every three to ten years at the request of the villages seonang (tutelary Hahoe illage.
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 126 127 HISTORIC VILLAGES OF KOREA: HAHOE AND YANGDONG
Oksanseowon Confucian Academy: Oksanseowon Confucian Academy is located some 8 km to the
west of Yangdong illage (just south of Dongnakdang House). The compound is divided into the four
areas of entrance, study, rites, and auxiliary facilities. The academy boasts the ownership of the
greatest number of documents and books amongst national Confucian academies (of which forty-
eight survive). It was built in 1572 by Yi Je-min, a magistrate of Gyeongju, in response to the desires
of the local literati. There is no visual link to the village.
While Hahoe represents a village in which the principal clan traces its
origin to a male ancestor who moved there, Yangdong illage includes two clans
that were formed when men from outside the area married into families already
residing in the village. Son So (1433-1484) married and moved from Wolseong
(in present-day Gyeongju) to his wifes home in Yangdong, and descendants of
the Wolseong Son Clan have lived in Yangdong for centuries. One of Son Sos
daughters married Yi Beon (1463-1500), and he moved to Yangdong to live with
his wifes family and carried on the Yeogang Yi clan traditions.
Central to clan village traditions was Neo-Confucianism, the state
ideology of the Joseon Dynasty, and it had a tremendous influence on practic-
es carried out by the clans. Neo-Confucian scholars in Korea followed closely
the writings of hu i (1130-1200) of Song China in conducting family ritu-
als, including coming-of-age ceremonies, marriages, funerals, and memorial
ceremonies for ancestors. In Hahoe and Yangdong, the clan organizations still
perform these family rituals (Chinese, jiali; Korean, garye).
The family rituals that receive the most attention in Joseon Korea are
the memorial services for ancestors (jerye or jesa), which are held throughout
the year and can be classified into three main categories: gije (anniversary
memorial ceremonies), charye (seasonal memorial rites), and myoje (gravesite
memorial ceremonies). Gije are held each year on the anniversary of an ances-
tors death. The death anniversary of each ancestor of the previous four gener-
ations is remembered with an anniversary memorial ceremony. However, if an
ancestor had rendered exceptional service to the nation, that ancestor could be
designated with an immutable position (bulcheonwi) and thereafter would
be honored in perpetuity by the clan. Charye ceremonies are held on behalf of
the four previous generations of ancestors on important holidays and in each
Sije in the illage of Hahoe
Thanksgiving ceremony in the village of Hahoe
season of the year. Myoje rituals are performed for all graves that are a part of Commoners usually lived in small thatch-roofed dwellings (choga). Both
the clan once the fall harvest is complete. kinds of houses can be found in Hahoe and Yangdong. Tile-roofed houses,
The clans in Hahoe and Yangdong villages conduct regular memori- and even some thatched-roof ones, reflect Confucian principles in their very
al services for their ancestors throughout the year. Hahoe illage has six structure. Confucian teachings emphasize the distinction between men and
male Ryu ancestors with immutable positions and holds twelve memorial women, and accordingly these homes are designed with separate quarters for
services each year for them and their wives. Yangdong illage has one Son women, called the anchae, and for men, called the sarangchae. Furthermore,
ancestor and one Yi ancestor with immutable positions. Korean homes, regardless of their size, included heated ondol floors.
In Hahoe illage, the head family house, called Yangjindang, dates to
Buildings: Pungsu and Confucianism the mid-1500s. It has served as the main house for the Pungsan Ryu clan for cen-
The layout of these villages and their buildings reflect the influences of turies. In addition to the anchae and sarangchae, there are servantsquarters and
pungsu or feng shui (geomancy) and Confucianism, which are some of the two ancestral shrines. This house and another one called Chunghyodang in
significant forces that shaped traditional Korean culture. According to the Hahoe are designated Treasures, and five other dwellings are designated
principles of pungsu, a landscape has its own vital energy (Chinese, qi; Important Folklore Materials by South Koreas Cultural Heritage Administration.
Korean, gi) that is reflected in the shape of a mountain, the direction it faces, Yangdong illage has two head family houses: Seobaekdang of the
its proximity to water, the surrounding land, and so forth. Wolseong Son Clan and Mucheomdang of the Yeogang Yi Clan. In the
Hahoe illage is surrounded on the north, west, and south by the Seobaekdang anchae is a large main hall with a wooden floor (daecheong),
meandering Nakdong River and on the east by Mount Hwa. The picturesque which was used for ceremonial purposes. Usually the sarangchae is a separate
scene of the village has been the topic of many poems. Yangdong illage is building in traditional house complexes, but in Seobaekdang, it is attached to
situated along the ridges of Mount Seolchang, which functions as a rear the anchae, showing that the building dates back to the early Joseon period. It
guardian mountain (jusan), and looks out onto Seongju Peak, the front guard- is believed that Seobaekdang is one of the oldest houses surviving in Korea
ian mountain (ansan). To the east are two streams, Yangdong and Allak. A today. Seobaekdang and seven other dwellings are Important Folklore
visitor to these villages may notice how well the structures and their overall Materials, and Mucheomdang and three other houses are Treasures.
layout blend in with the topography and vegetation around them. Confucianism also emphasized the importance of education, and
The style of roof and the size of private houses in the villages tell a Confucian academies (seowon) were established throughout Korea. Hahoe
lot about a persons status in society. In Joseon Korea, the yangban class of has two academies associated with itByeongsan Seowon and Hwacheon
scholar-officials generally lived in large tile-roofed homes (waga). Seowon. Yangdong also has twoOksan Seowon and Donggang Seowon
Distant view of Hahoe illage
in addition to two village schools.
Records
Hahoe and Yangdong illages produced some of the most influential Joseon-
period scholars. Ryu Jung-yeong (1515-1573), Ryu Gyeong-sim (1516-
1571), Ryu Jung-eom (1538-1571), Ryu Ul-ryong (1539-1601), Ryu Seong-
ryong (1542-1607), and Ryu Jin (1582-1635) studied with top Neo-
Confucian scholars, passed state examinations, and or held government posi-
tions. All of them hailed from Hahoe. Ryu Seong-ryong of Hahoe illage
wrote the Jingbirok (Book of Corrections, 1647), chronicling the Japanese
invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598. From Yangdong came the scholars
Son So (1433-1484), Son Jung-don (1463-1529), Yi Eon-jeok (1491-1553),
Yi Jeon-in (1516-1568), Yi Ui-jam (1576-1635), Son Deok-seung (1659-
1725), and Yi Yeon-sang (1788-1846). Yangdong illage has manuscripts
written by Yi Eon-jeok, including hisJinsu Palgyu(Rules for Governing a
Monarchy), a letter calling for the king to be an example of benevolence to
his people.
Of special note is a document from Yangdong detailing Son Sos
equal division of his property among his five sons and two daughters in 1510.
Due to the increasing influence of Neo-Confucianism, such practices changed
over time in Joseon Korea, and by the late seventeenth century, daughters
were almost always barred from inheriting any of their fathers property.
In addition to these documents, both villages have preserved over the years
letters, memorials, ceremonial records, transaction receipts, lawsuit proceedings, and
so forth, which offer invaluable insights into daily life in a Joseon village.
Talchum (mask dance) of Hahoe illage
World Heritage
At the thirty-fourth World Heritage Committee session held in
Bras lia, Brazil, July-August 2010, the Historic illages of KoreaHahoe
and Yangdongwere added to the UNESCO World Heritage List along with
sites in Australia, India, Iran, the Marshall Islands, and Saudi Arabia.
The two characteristics that led to their inclusion were that Hahoe and
Yangdong are two of the best preserved and representative examples of clan vil-
lages, a type of settlement characterizing the early part of the Joseon Dynasty
and The village ensembles of Hahoe and Yangdong reflect the impact of the
Joseon Dynasty that profoundly influenced the development of the Korean pen-
insula over some five centuries.
Hahoe and Yangdong stand as monuments of an era gone by, and the
descendants of the village ancestors strive to maintain clan traditions.
isitors to the site have an opportunity to see how ancestors are venerated in
Korea, what it feels like to sit in a centuries-old home looking out on a hal-
lowed mountain, and imagine what day-to-day life was like for both yangban
and commoners in Joseon Korea.
THE ROYAL ANCESTRAL RITE AND RITUAL MUSIC IN JONGMYO SHRINE
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL THE PANSORI EPIC CHANT
HERITAGE
THE GANGNEUNG DANOJE FESTIVAL
Jongmyo Jerye was one of the five kinds of rites
performed by the Joseon Dynastys royal family.
THE ROYAL ANCESTRAL RITE AND RITUAL

MUSIC IN JONGMYO SHRINE
The Royal Ancestral Rite in the Jongmyo Shrine is a ceremony that

commemorated the past kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty,
and together with Sajikje, was the most important rite of the nation.
Jongmyo consisted of Jeongjeon, in which the formal rite was
conducted, and Yeongnyeongjeon, where the informal rite for the
ancestral tablets that had been transferred there was carried out. The
rite for Jeongjeon was conducted in the first months of the four
seasons (January, April, July, and October) and the Napil in Decem-
ber. The rites for Yeongnyeongjeon were conducted only in the
spring and autumn.
A s was the case with Sajikje, the king would usually lead the rite himself,
and when the king could not do so, either the crown prince or the prime
minister would take his place. Together with the kind, there were more than
reign of King Sejo), and has been preserved to this day. In the Jongmyo Rite,
eleven pieces each of Botaepyeong and Jeongdaeeop are played. The Ritual
Music in Jongmyo Shrine was performed in the rites until 1946, but after the
three-hundred participant who took part. They included such officials as the rites ceased, so too did the music. However, when this ritual music was
Aheongwan, Jongheongwan, Daechukgwan, Jiprye, and Akgong. brought back in 1971 following the revival of the Jongmyo Shrine Ritual in
Today, the rite is reenacted every year on the first Sunday of May. 1969 and has continued to this day.
However, the reenactment is not the original rite in its entirety, but rather a The Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine was passed down among the court
revised version to fit modern society. The Royal Ancestral Rite at Jongmyo musicians of Jangagwon until the end of the Joseon Dynasty. It was then pre-
during the Joseon dynasty included the whole of the government. It was con- served by the musicians of the Guhwanggungaakbu (Old Palace Court Music
ducted five times a year, began in the middle of the night (1:30 am), with Department) during the Japanese colonial era. After liberation, the music has
complex methods of arranging the food offerings and proceedings. However, been preserved by the musicians of the National Gugak Center. The Ritual Music
today the rite is supervised by a private organization (Jongmyo Rite in Jongmyo Shrine is the essence of palace music with a distinct style and beauty
Preservation Group) and is conducted once a year at noon, with simplified in which the performances of instrumental music, songs, and dances from the
food offerings and proceedings. Joseon era all come together to demonstrate the culture and tradition of Korea.
The Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine refers collectively to the music Both the Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine
and dances performed during the rite in Jongmyo. It was designated as the first were selected as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Human-
National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1964. In each performance of the ity by UNESCO on May 18, 2001.
Jongmyo Rite, eleven pieces of Botaepyeong and Jeongdaeeop are played in The rites at Jongmyo began in the era of the Three Kingdoms and
an ensemble of instrumental music. While the music was played, a song title were carried on during the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties. The Joseon
Akjang was sung to praise the virtuous deeds of the ancestors, and the Jongmyo rites started in 1392 when the dynasty was established. They con-
Botaepyeongjimu,Munmu of Ilmu,Jeongdaeeopjimu,and theMumu of tinued until 1910 when the Japanese annexation of Korea ended the dynasty.
Ilmu dances were performed. This order was developed during the reign of During the Japanese occupation, a formal rite could not be performed, but
King Sejong based on Gochwiak and Hyangak (types of Korean music). instead Iwangjik, an institution that managed the affairs of the former royal
The Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine was created in 1447 (the twen- family, supervised a simple offering of incense.
ty-ninth year of the reign of King Sejong) for use in royal court banquets. It After liberation in 1945, the Iwangjik was dissolved. From liberation
was revised to make it suitable for the rites in 1464 (the tenth year of the to the Korean War periods and immediately after, the tradition of the rite
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 140 141 THE ROYAL ANCESTRAL RITE AND RITUAL MUSIC IN JONGMYO SHRINE
ite officials and participants entering the Shrine for
the Royal Ancestral Rite. They are standing in a line
to ritually wash their hands.
came to an end and not even a simple incense offering was made. In May enshrines them on the Hyangancheong of Jongmyo.
1969 the Society of the Royal Family of the Joseon Dynasty revived and The Yeongnyeongjeon ritual is conducted at 9 am on the day of the
reenacted these ancient ceremonies. Since then, the Royal Ancestral Rite in rite, and then the Jeongjeon rite is conducted at noon. The rites are conducted
Jongmyo Shrine is held every year on the first Sunday of May. When the in the order of the segments of Singwallye (Gangsillye), Choheollye,
Grand Royal Ancestral Rite in Jongmyo Shrine was designated as the fifty- Aheollye, Jongheollye, Eumbongnye, and Mangnyo. The proceedings are
sixth National Intangible Cultural Asset in 1975, the Society of the Royal described individually below.
Family of the Joseon Dynasty formed a Grand Royal Ancestral Rite Commit- (1) Singwallye: The Choheongwan from each of the chambers wash
tee. The event is currently supervised by the Jongmyo Rite Preservation their hands in Gwansewi. They then go up the eastern stairs and stand on the
Group and is supported with government funding. Junso of the chamber. This is where the ancestral tablet is enshrined, and it is
The preparations, arrangement of food offering, order of ceremo- important to note that it faces the west. At this time, the Botaepyeongjiak
nies, and other aspects of the rites are described in detail in various historical music and Botaepyeongjimu dance are performed. The Choheongwan goes
records, including theGukjooryeui.Todays event is a slightly modernized in front of the ancestral tablet and kneels and offers incense in the incense
version, based on the historical study of such literature. The following is a burner three times. He then poursspiritson the ground, with the help of the
brief explanation of the proceedings. butler, to summon the gods from heaven. He then places the food offerings in
There are eight participants in the Royal Ancestral Rite in Jongmyo the middle of the inner side of the ceremonial table and solemnly takes the
Shrine from each of the Sinsi. They include Choheongwan, Aheongwan, Mohyeolban and places it in front of the ancestral tablet. Then the butler
Jongheongwan, Daechukgwan, Myosa (Ujeongwan), Naebonggwan, removes the paper that was covering the ceremonial cooked rice, and when
Oebonggwan, Jipjungwan and so forth. For each of the Jeons, there are Jiprye, the Cheonjogwan and Bongjogwan enter the front gate, the Punganjiak song
Gamjegwan, Cheonjogwan, Bongjogwan, Dangsang, Dangha, and Chanui. is played. After the music starts, the Cheonjogwan solemnly passes the
There are 163 participants in Jeongjeon, 137 participants in Yeongnyeongjeon, cooked-rice plate to the Daechukgwan, and the Bongjogwan solemnly passes
and 2 participants in Gongsindang, which makes 302 participants in all. the meat plate to the Daechukgwan. The Daechukgwan places them in front
Events were held on the day before the grand ceremony; they of the ancestral tablet. Finally, the first chamber Daechukgwan mixes Seo
include Jeonhyang Chungnye, Jechan Jinseol, Bunhyang, and Bunchuk. and Jik with oil and burns it in a charcoal fire. At this point, the music stops.
Jeonhyang Chungnye is the section of the ritual when the king (priest from (2) Choheollye: The Choheongwan from each of the chambers climb
the first room today) gives the grand priest, from the first room of Jeongjeon, up the eastern stairs and stand on the Junso of the chamber that faces west. At
the written prayers and incense. Then, the grand priest takes them and this time, the Botaepyeongjiak song and Botaepyeongjimu dance are per-
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 142 143 ROYAL ANCESTRAL RITE AND RITUAL MUSIC IN JONGMYO SHRINE
Rite official with the crown worn by the king for
the Royal Ancestral Rite.
formed. The Jipjungwan scoops up the alcohol and pours it into a wine cup and
hands it to the Choheongwan. The Choheongwan takes it and hands it to the
Daechukgwan, who places it on the wine-cup tray of the king, and another wine
cup is placed on the queens tray. The Heongwan, butler, and the Chambanwon
prostrate themselves and the music stops. The Daechukgwan then kneels to the
east and reads the written prayers. When the Chanui leads the Choheongwan
from each of the rooms to their original places, the music stops and then the
Botaepyeongjimu and Jeongdaeeopjimu dances are performed again.
(3) Aheollye: The order and procedure of offering alcohol is the
same as in the Choheollye. However, there is no Samsanghyang (offering of
incense), and no reading of the written prayer. The song performed is the
Jeongdaeeopjiak, and the dance performed is the Jeongdaeeopjimu.
(4) Jongheollye: The same as Aheollye.
(5) Eumbongnye: The Choheongwan of the first chamber moves
into position and bows down after receiving the wine cup and meat plate
(jo). After the Daechukgwan removes the ceremonial meat from in front of
the ancestral tablet, the Daechukgwan takes the wine cup. Then, the Nae-
bonggwan takes the meat plate and moves into position and stands facing no-
rth. Then the Choheongwan moves into position and sits facing west. He then
moves towards the Daechukgwan and the Choheongwan kneels down facing
north. The Daechukgwan hands the wine cup to the Choheongwan. The
Choheongwan takes it and drinks it. When the Daechukgwan faces north and
hands the meat plate to the Choheongwan, the Choheongwan takes it and
hands it to the butler. The butler then moves back to his place together with
the Daechukgwan, but only after the Choheongwan goes back to his place.
When the Heongwan, Cheonjogwan, Bongjogwan, and Gongsingeongwan
Rite officials and participants entering the Shrine
for the Royal Ancestral Rite
stand up after having prostrated themselves four times, the music stops. the Royal Ancestral Rite in Jongmyo Shrine. The King said that the Song
Finally, the Daechukgwan takes the ancestral tablet into the tabernacle. Dynastys music was not originally Korean music, and he ordered that the
(6) Mangnyo: The Choheongwan moves into the Mangnyo position. familiar Korean music be used during rites. He thought that it did not make
At this time, the Daechukgwan of the first chamber gathers the written sense for ancestors who had listened to Korean music while they were alive
prayers collected from all the chambers, and the Ujeongwan of the first to listen to Song Dynasty music after they had died.
chamber gathers the offerings collected from all the chambers. The Ujeong- After a lot of thought, King Sejong created new music, including
wan burns all the written prayers and offerings in the Mangnyowi. After the Jeongdaeeop,Botaepyeong,Balsang,andBongnaeui,that were based
Choheongwan moves back to his place, all the butlers kneel down and pros- on music that was played during the kings outings and other Korean music.
trate themselves four times. At this time, the ritual master announces the Jeongdaeeopconsisted of fifteen pieces, andBotaepyeongof eleven piec-
completion of the rite, ending the ceremony. es, to which were added movements that commemorated the royal ancestors.
The Jongmyo rites started in the Three Kingdoms era. However, it was In playing these pieces, musical instruments from the Song Dynasty, the
not until around the time of King Sukjong, early in the Goryeo era, that music Tang Dynasty, and Korea were all used together in the ensembles. The
was incorporated into the rite. Later on, the Song Dynastys Daeseongaak was Munmu and its dances were incorporate into the Ilmu dance, and while not
imported into Korea and utilized for the Royal Ancestral Rite in Jongmyo used in rites immediately, were performed at royal banquets for some time. In
Shrine starting in October of 1116 (the eleventh year of the reign of Yejong). 1460, King Sejo reorganizedJeongdaeeopandBotaepyeong, and ordered
The Daeseongaak was used until the early years of the Joseon era. that they be used in rites. After a minor revision, they were finally used as
In November of 1395 (the fourth year of the reign of Taejo), the the Ritual Music for the Jongmyo Shrine beginning in 1464. Of them,The
Joseon Dynasty reformed the old Goryeo system and changed the ritual Annals of King Sejong and The Annals of King Sejo are the scores that
movements of the Jongmyo rite. However, the same music was used. In have been passed down to this day.
1406, new instruments were brought in from China to replace the old ones During the reign of King Seonjo, the Royal Ancestral Rite and the
and were used from October of that year onwards. Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine ceased due to the Japanese invasion of
King Sejong organized and revised the Ritual Music in Jongmyo 1592, but were revived during the reign of King Gwanghaegun. In 1626 (the
Shrine and is credited with establishing this form of traditional music of fourth year of the reign of Injo), the newly created Junggwangjang move-
Korea. In 1425 (the seventh year of his reign), King Sejong criticized the fact ment was added after the Jeongmyeongjang movement in the Botaepyeong
that the music of the Song Dynasty was played in the Choheon and Aheon to commemorate King Seonjo as he had achieved the extraordinary feat of
sections, and Korean music was played only for the final Jongheon section of illuminating and reviving the nation.
Ritual utensils for the Royal Ancestral Rite
Istruments used in the performance of Ritual

Music in the Jongmyo Shrine
The movements of the Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine in the early

Joseon era were fixed verses in which four characters made up one phrase and
eight phrases made up one movement. Different movements were used for the
rites of each of the chambers. The reason Botaepyeong and Jeongdaeeop
are not in the form of Song Dynastys fixed verse is because King Sejong had
composed it as a movement for a banquet and not as music for a rite. Later on
King Sejo revised it into ritual music. However, the original Botaepyeong
andJeongdaeeophad to be cut short significantly since its lyrics were so long
that it could not be completed during a rite. For proceedings such as Jinchan,
Cheolbyeondu, Songsin, and others that did not have these musical move-
ments, Choi Hang created new ones as supplements.
Ilmu was a dance first used in the Royal Ancestral Rite in Jongmyo
Shrine in 1464 (the tenth year of the reign of Sejo). Ilmu consisted of
Munmu and Mumu. Munmu praised scholarly virtues and Mumu distin-
guished military service. The original Ilmu was Botaepyeongjimu and
Jeongdaeeopjimu,which was a 6 Ilmu dance performed by forty-eight peo-
ple (six lines of eight people). Botaepyeongjimu was a Munmu that was
performed for Yeongsin, Jeonpye, and Choheon. Thirty-six court musicians
out of a total of thirty-eight danced while holding a yak in their left hands
and a jeok in their right hands.Jeongdaeeopjimuwas a Mumu and was per-
formed during the Aheon and Jongheon portions the ritual. All seventy-one
court musicians held leather byeon, while thirty-six out of the seventy-one
that danced held swords, spears, and arrows. The remaining thirty-five held
ceremonial items and danced to the musical passages. The details of Ilmu
can be found inSiyongmubo.
Todays Ilmu has been put together from theSiyongmubo.Muwon is
The eight-line dance is a part of the Royal
Ancestral Rite and includes sixty-four dancers
dancing in an arrangement of eight lines of eight.
an 8 Ilmu of sixty people. In Munmu, a yak is held in the left hand, and a jeok is was played, and in Songsins order one piece ofJinchanwas played. At this
held in the right hand. In Mumu, the front four lines hold wooden swords and the time, Heongwan and all the participants to the rite would prostrate themselves
back four lines hold wooden spears while dancing. The dance costume for both four times. Then the music would stop and the rite would end.
Munmu and Mumu consist of Bokdu, Hongjuui, Namsadae, and Mokhwa. Today, the Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music in Jongmyo
When it was first created, the Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine had Shrine, including Ilmu, is reenacted in its original old formhaving been
eleven pieces ofBotaepyeongknown as Imjonggungpyeongjo, and fifteen performed for over 500 years in the history-rich grand royal palace of
pieces of Jeongdaeeop known as Namnyeogunggyemyeonjo. However, in Jongmyo. Though the rite is not performed exactly as it was in dynastic
1463, the number of bothJeongdaeeopandBotaepyeongwere reduced to times, the original form has been passed down relatively well and is an intan-
eleven, and the scores were made pentatonic. Later in 1625, in order to com- gible cultural asset for the people. In it, the distinct and wonderful royal cul-
memorate King Seonjos magnificent feat of illuminating and reviving the ture of the Joseon Dynasty is contained in its entirety.
nation, Yonggwang and Jeongmyeong were incorporated into Yeolgwang The Royal Ancestral Rite passed down an enormous treasury of lit-
Jeongmyeong, and Gwangjang was also added. Both Jeongdaeeop and erature (including the Gukjooryeui) musical scores, and dance choreogra-
Botaepyeong used the melodies of percussion instruments (Pyeonjong, phy, as well as utensils, costumes, ceremonial items, musical instruments,
Pyeonggyeong, and Banghyang) as its main melody. The melody-producing and other artifacts, as well. The people, who conducted the rite and per-
instruments (Dangpiri, Daegeum, Haegeum, Ajaeng) were used to add deco- formed the music have been active to the present. They are human assets
rative secondary melodies and strengthen the main melody, so the song had who have passed down their knowledge to the next generation of students.
movements of various tunes that overlapped. Thanks to all this, Korea was able to preserve the ceremony, music, dance,
The order of music in Jongmyo and Yeongnyeongjeon rites were the food, and all other aspects of the rite in its entirety. This means that the origi-
same. In Yeongsins order,Yeongsinhuimun9 Seong was played, and then nal form that was set in the fifteenth century has been passed down almost
the Munmu dance was performed in Ilmu. In Jeonpyes arrangement, unchanged for more than six-hundred years. Such preservation and transmis-
Jeonpyehuimunwas played and then Munmu was performed as Ilmu again. sion of the original form of royal culture is truly rare.
In Jinchans order, only the Akga played Jinchan, and there was no Ilmu. In The ceremonial pieces of the Royal Ancestral Rite in Jongmyo
Choheonllyes arrangement, the nine pieces of Botaepyeon were played, Shrine are the essence of royal culture and are serene, splendid, and beauti-
whileBotaepyeong,and the Mummu were performed in Ilmu. In the Aheons ful. The ritual music and Ilmu are also grand and full of life. This legacy is
and Jongheollyes order, the nine pieces of Heollyejang were played, and the heritage of mankind and the world and must be carefully preserved.
Mumu was performed. In Cheolbyeondus arrangement one piece ofJinchan
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A Pansori Performance
THE PANSORI EPIC CHANT
Pansori has been described as a solo opera in which song, narration,

and dance are all performed by one singer to the accompaniment of
a Gosu (drummer). Pansori made great advances together with the
development of popular art in the late Joseon era when new cultural
trends emerged in the wake of increased commerce and industry
and agricultural productivity. Moreover, as Seodang (private ele-
mentary schools) provided education services even to the children
of the common people, and as the economic status of commoners
rose, popular culture developed accordingly.
A Pansori Performance at Sin Jae-hyos birthplace
T he diffusion of literature was extended to the lower classes, leading to

the growing popularity of novels in Hangeul (Korean alphabet) and nar-
rative Sijo (the most popular and mnemonic poetic form for vernacular verse
songs and narrative structures that served as a vehicle for the direct and can-
did expression of emotion. Depending on the atmosphere, the performer
could supplement or remove parts of the story extemporaneously, while the
commonly composed of three lines) with high social content. The major audience could participate by marking the rhythm during the performance
themes of Hangeul novels were concerned with good deeds and the punish- and with exclamations and comments about the plot.
ment of evil, and are popular even today. Representative works include the Aside from pansori, mask dances, including Sandae mask dance,
Story of Chunhyang, the Story of Simcheong, and the Story of which was performed on a stage known as a sandae, also became popular
Heungbu. Outstanding features of these novels concerns their use of Han- during this period. Mask dance was performed as part of exorcisms in villag-
geul rather than Chinese characters and the fact that their authors began to es. The masked dramas captivated the audience by satirizing and criticizing
emerge from the lower classes, as opposed to the literati class. the corruption and hypocrisy of the ruling class and the Buddhist priests.
Sijo also revealed a marked tendency towards the sincere expression The term pansori is a combination ofpanandsori,the latter refer-
of the feelings of the common people. Previously, Sijo had largely reflected ring to themusicand the former toa place where a crowd of people assem-
the values of the literati class, such as integrity and intense patriotism, but bled or a situation and scene. Thus, the term may be rendered as songs
the new narrative Sijo broke from the established pattern with tales of the sung on a stage before a public gathering. Although the origins of pansori
love between men and women, as well as advancing critiques of social are difficult to determine with any precision, it is widely believed that it
reality. emerged in the middle of the eighteenth century along with the Song of
In the field of art, a new genre of painting known as pungsokhwa Chunhyang. Pansori came from pannoreum (folk entertainment in general)
developed. Painters most representative of this genre include Kim Hong-do attached to village exorcism, and became one of the various plays performed
and Sin Yun-bok. Kim Hong-do depicted the daily lives of the common peo- on such occasions. It subsequently it developed into a separate play of twelve
ple in his works, while Sin Yun-bok portrayed the illicit affairs between acts that was more popular than the other plays.
noblemen and common women and love between young men and women. Pansori developed as an indoor drama for the high class and existed
Anonymous folk paintings were also popular at this time, providing a as part of the festivities relating to a village exorcism for the common peo-
humorous expression of such themes as the sun and moon and animals and ple. It gradually came to assume a complex form as sophisticated and pro-
plants. found elements were added to the narration and music. Scholastic Chinese
However, the most characteristic popular culture in the late Joseon phrases were inserted into the narration and stressed sounds rather than aniri
era was the pansori. Pansori consisted of concrete stories represented in (whereby an actor speaks without singing; this was typically used when a
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 154 155 THE PANSORI EPIC CHANT
A Pansori singer practicing. Many singers from Korea
practiced under waterfalls to train their voices.
scene changed or explanations were required). Melodies enjoyed by the

nobility were incorporated into the pansori, along with a complex and
sophisticated sigimsae (expressions).
In the process of its development, works composed of popular satiri-
cal narratives, such as the Song of Gangneung-maehwa and Song of
Byeongangsoe,lost popularity, while works such as theSong of Chun-
hyang, Song of Simcheong, Song of the Underwater Palace, Song of
Heungbo, and Song of the Red Cliff, which exalted the values of the
Joseon nobilityloyalty, filial piety, integrity, and fidelitydeveloped into a
more artistic musical form consisting of five acts, ormadang.
Among the many members of the nobility who enjoyed Pansori,
some became patrons of the more famous singers. The best known of these
was Sin Jae-hyo (1812-1884). He taught pansori and invited talented singers
into his home, providing them with food, clothing, and shelter. It has been
said that there were no famous singers of the period who had not passed
through his door.
Pansori has been handed down from generation to generation in var-
ious regions including Chungcheong and Gyeonggi Provinces, though it
originated in Jeolla Province. The form developed into distinct styles
depending on their regional characteristics. Pansori from northeast Jeolla
Province are known as Dongpyeonje (the Eastern School), those from south-
west Jeolla Province as Seopyeonje (the Western School), and those from
Gyeonggi and Chungcheong Provinces as Junggoje (the Central School).
Dongpyeonje performances (Ujo (pentatonic sol mode with E flat as the cen-
tral tone), or Horyeongjo, was mainly used in masculine and heroic parts)
were characterized by a heavy deep voice and a short intonation, giving a
A still from Seopyeonje, a film about Pansori
A Pansori performance with a number of

different gestures made by the singers
deep and majestic feeling.

Seopyeonje, however, largely uses a style known as Gyemyeonjo (a
pentatonic la mode with E flat as the central tone, a sad tone mainly used in
tragic and feminine scenes); this was characterized by a light voice, while the
phrases were intoned with a more delicate feeling. Finally, Junggoje is closer
to the style of Dongpyeonje, with a simpler, smoother feeling.
The gosu (drummer) plays no less an important role than the actor
where pansori is concerned. The gosu serves as the accompanist, as well as
the conductor and partner of the actor. There is even a saying to the effect
that,first is the gosu and then the great singer.During the singers perfor-
mance, the gosu and audience utter exhortations known as chuimse, which
consist of phrases such as Jota (Good ) and Eolssigu, animating the
rhythm of the piece. In this respect, the gosus chuimsae served to raise the
mood, fill the gaps between the verses and phrases, mark pauses in the
rhythm, counterbalance the performance of the actor, and punctuate the
musical or dramatic effects of an actors utterances.
Pansori evoked vivid descriptions of the realities of the lives of the
oppressed class, provided a vehicle for public opinion, and represented hopes
for a better society. As a mode of artistic expression, pansori was welcomed
by all classes, and is particularly notable for the active part played by the
public in its performance.
Pansori, widely regarded as the essence of Korean culture for its
expression of the joys, anger, sorrows, and pleasure experienced by the
Korean people, has received international recognition for its originality and
elevated artistic qualities. UNESCO designated it as one of theMasterpieces
of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanityon November 7, 2003.
The mask dance of government slaves performed
at Gangneung Danoje is Koreas only traditional
mime in which local guardian deities are
personified, fully preserving the prototype of the
traditional Korean mask play.
THE GANGNEUNG DANOJE FESTIVAL
Gangneung Danoje is a village community festival held in Gang-

neung, a city located on the east side of the Taebaek Mountain
Range on the Korean Peninsula. This festival contains two charac-
teristics: one is a religious ritual in which the mountain deities and
gods and goddess are worshipped in order to pray for abundant life,
and the other is a traditional game that includes the performance of
farmerspercussion music and dance (Nong-ak), mimed mask play
of government slaves (Gwanno Gamyeonggeuk), swinging, ssireum
(Korean wrestling) and so on. Gangneung Danoje is a unique, arti-
stically original festival compared with the festivals held in other
regions. It is rooted in the Mucheon (dance to Heaven) and a form
of Heaven worship that was practiced in the ancient tribal state of
Dongye and has been handed down through the Goryeo and Joseon
dynasties to the present day.
G angneung Danoje takes as its center stage the Daegwallyeong Pass,
which connects the eastern and western regions of Gangwon Province
and in the past served as the only passage by which locals could travel to
spirits and to worship mountain deities. Then, the shamans climb up the moun-
tain to the divine maple tree which plays a crucial role in allowing the god to
descend to the world of humanity. While shamans pray for blessings, if the
Seoul. The festival is presented in such sacred spaces of folk religion as the arms of the person holding the divine tree tremble, then the god is believed to
Daegwallyeong mountain god shrine and sanctuary, as well as Gangneungs have descended to the sanctuary. The divine tree is then cut down and the par-
Gusan deity shrine, Haksan deity shrine, Guksa goddess shrine, Guksa god- ticipants descend the mountain to the playing of music.
desss residence, and the Dano Market of Namdaecheon Stream, which pass- Participants head down Daegwallyeong Pass toward the goddess
es directly through the city of Gangneung. shrine (Yeoseong Hwangsa) in Gangneung. After setting up the tablets of
Danoje begins on April 5 of the lunar calendar with the brewing of both the god and goddess and the divine tree, people hold a Confucian-style
divine wine. Around this time, the locals of Gangneung participate in donat- ritual and then a group of shamans perform shamanistic rituals to repel evil
ing rice and making wishes for the welfare of their homes. The collected rice spirits and worship the god and goddess at the shrine. The tablets and divine
is used to brew wine and make cakes for various rituals, and both the liquor tree are enshrined in the goddesss shrine until May 3 (by the lunar calendar),
and cakes are distributed to participants in the festival. at which point the festival begins in earnest. On that evening, ritual officials
On the full moon of the lunar month of April, locals would go to and shamans perform a tie to welcome the god (Yeongsinje), after which a
Daegwallyeong Pass to perform mountain deity rituals (sansinje). Historical procession carries the tablet of the god and the divine tree to an altar by the
records suggest that the original processions to worship the god (Guksa Namdaecheon Stream. With the tablet and divine tree in place, female sha-
Seonghwangsin) were marvelous. While troupes of musicians played ritual mans perform a dance of welcome, thereby concluding the procession.
music on their napal (trumpets), taepyeongso (oboes), drums, and janggo The Danoje Festival continues from May 4 to May 7. Danogut (sha-
(hourglass-shaped drums), dozens of government officials, government manistic ritual), the highlight of Danoje, continues from morning to night,
slaves, and shamans rode on horseback, followed by hundred of villagers with many local people in attendance. During the Danogut, shamans worship
carrying sacrificial offerings to the pass. By contrast, participants in the ritual various shamanistic gods for the welfare and prosperity of the inhabitants of
nowadays drive up to the pass in cars. the Yeongdong region (the east side of the Taebaek Mountain Range). An
The mountain deity rituals held on the summit of Daegwallyeong are array of shamanistic rituals such as Bujeonggut, a ritual to repel evil spirits,
performed in the Confucian style. The mayor of Gangneung officiates over the and Daegwallyeong Seonghwanggut, as well as Cheongjwagut, Hwahaed-
start of the Daegwallyeong god-worshiping ritual, with citizens worshiping at ongchamgut, Josanggut, Sejongut, Sansingut, Seongjugut, Chilseonggut,
the sanctuary. After the ritual, shamans perform shamanistic rites to repel evil Gunung jangsugut, Simcheonggut, Cheonwanggut, Sonnimgut, Jemyeongut,
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 162 163 THE GANGNEUNG DANOJE FESTIVAL
In Danoje, also known as Danogut, shamansritual performances are very important.
In traditional times, farmerspercussion music and
dance, farmerssongs, mask plays, folk games, and
shamanistic rituals were very popular. The Gangneung
Danoje Festival involves all of these elements.
Kkotnoraegut, and Baetnoraegut are all performed. Finally, the wood, paper,
and other items used in the rituals are burnt, bringing the Danoje Festival to
its conclusion.
The mask play, a mime that used to be performed by the slaves of
government agencies, perfectly embodying the characteristics of the Gang-
neung Danoje, features a nobleman and a bride, two playful dancers (sisittakt-
tagi), and two comic dancers (jangjamari), accompanied by ten musicians. The
nobleman holding a fan and the rouged bride symbolize the god and goddess,
respectively. The jangjamari, with seaweed and grain wrapped around their
bodies, represent the complex character of both the marine god and the earth
god, while the sisittakttagi, bearing a frightening visage on their colorful face
and holding red swords, symbolize gods repelling evil spirits. The mask play is
comprised of five distinct episodes, including that of the jangjamari, the love
affair between the nobleman and the bride, the sisittakttagisinterference, the
brides attempt to commit suicide to prove the purity of her love, and then the
conclusion in which all is reconciled.
The Gangneung Danoje Festival is held around Dano Day, one of
Koreas three biggest national holidays along with New Years Day and Chuseok
(Thanksgiving Day). During the Dano holiday, a variety of traditional games
such as swinging (for women) and ssireum (wrestling for men) are held. Locals
of Gangneung also participate in these games during the Gangneung Danoje.
The local Gangneung Danoje Festival has retained its original form
for over a thousand years and was consequently recognized as a masterpiece
of humanitys intangible property by UNESCO on November 25, 2005. The
Gangneung Danoje has seen its status upgraded from that of a local festival
to one of international standing.
HUNMINJEONGEUM MANUSCRIPT (KOREAN ALPHABET)
ANNALS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY
BAEGUN HWASANG CHOROK BULJO JIKJISIMCHEYOJEOL (JIKJI)
MEMORY OF THE WORLD SEUNGJEONGWON ILGI, THE DIARIES OF THE ROYAL SECRETARIAT
UIGWE: THE ROYAL PROTOCOLS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY
DONGUIBOGAM: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF EASTERN MEDICINE

Koreas official script is Hangeul, the unique
Korean Alphabet. This name, a compound of han,
meaningthe Korean peopleorgreatand geul,
meaningLetters,was given to it early in the
twentieth century.
HUNMINJEONGEUM MANUSCRIPT
(KOREAN ALPHABET)
The Hunminjeongeum (The Correct Proper Sounds for the Instruct-

ion of the People) is a book written in September 1446 (the twenty-
eighth year of the reign of King Sejong), and consists of the Yeuip-
yeon (examples of the new letters), and the Haeryepyeon, appended
by Jeong In-ji and other scholars, which provides additional explan-
ations to the Yeuipyeon. King Sejong, invented the writing system
described in this book in 1443 (the twenty-fifth year of the reign of
King Sejong). This woodblock-printed book consists of thirty-three
chapters, and is designated the seventieth National Treasure. Hun-
minjeongeum was registered with UNNESCO World Heritage in
October 1997.
This edition of the HunminjeongeumHaeryebon book was found in
Andong, Gyeongbuk Province in the 1940s. At the time, it was
possessed by Jeon Hyeong Pil and is currently preserved at the
Gansong Gallery. The volume was thought to be the only copy in
Korea, but a book that is thought to be from the same print (though
missing three pages) was found in Sangju in 2008. The finding of
the second book is still a causing of controversy.
A part from the twenty-eight letters of the Korean alphabet in the Hun-
minjeongeum and the letters used to demonstrate their usage, the rest
of the book (the version discovered in the 1940s) is all in Chinese characters.
form of when it was first invented by King Sejong.
The book consists of the Yeuipyeon (four pages), which is the main
text by King Sejong, and the Haeryepyeon (twenty-nine pages), which is the
This book includes an original copy of the Sejongeoje Hunminjeongeum explanation of the Yeuipyeong added on by Jeong In-ji and other scholars. In
(Eonhaebon), which is the Korean translation of only the Yeuipyeon, which the Yeuipyeon, the Eojeseomun (foreword personally written by the king)
forms the main text of the book (the book). The book is also called Hun- states the purpose of inventing Hunminjeongeum. This is followed by theYeui,
minjeongeum Haeryebon,orHunminjeongeum Wonbon,because it inclu- which explains the phonetic values and employment of the letters.
des the explanatory Haeryepyeon after the main text. The Haeryepyeon consists of six chapters. First, there is theJejahae,
Eight Jiphyeonjeon (Hall of Worthies) scholars are the authors of the which explains the principles and standards in creating the letters, the systems
book. They are Jeong In-ji, Sin Suk-ju, Seong Sam-mun, Choi Hang, Park of consonants and vowels, sound images, and so forth. Second, comes
Paeng-nyeon, Gang Hui-an, Lee Gae, and Lee Sun-ro. The date of the fore- theChoseonghae,which explains in detail what the initial letters are. The
word by Jeong In-ji was written during the first third of September of 1446 third chapter is Jungseonghae, which explains in detail what the middle
(the twenty-eighth year of the reign of King Sejong). vowel sounds are and give examples of using middle vowel letters together.
The book is 20 cm wide and 32.3 cm tall, and the outer edges of the Fourth, there isJongseonghae,which explains the essence of the last con-
frame that contains the text is 16.8 cm wide and 23.3 cm tall. Two pages were sonant, as well as the four tones, and so forth. The following chapter is the
printed and folded in half for binding. The Yeuipyeon is the first part with Hapjahae,which explains how to combine initial and final consonants with
seven lines on one page, and eleven characters to a line. Haeryepyeong, the middle vowels to create a sound and the intonations of the Korean language
second part, has eight lines to a page and thirteen characters to a line. At twelve at that time. Finally, there isYongjarye,which provides examples of word
characters per line, Jeong In-jis foreword has one less character per line. The formation using the letters. Following these six chapters is the foreword by Jeong
cover is the traditional Seonjangbon style with five holes for binding. In-ji, which states the purpose of inventing Hunminjeongeum, its inventor, the
When the book was found, the cover and its two front pages were superiority of Hunminjeongeum, information about the compiler of the book,
missing. It was later repaired, but in a way that caused it to deviate from the and the date, month, and year of the books compilation. The Haeryepyeong
original. An example is the misspelling ofas(the last character in the therefore includes important information that sheds light on the principles
forward of Sejongeoje). The title of the repaired page saysHunminjeongeum, behind the creation of Hunminjeongeum, the structure of the letters, its
however; the original would have beenSejongeoje Hunminjeongeum. inventor, and the reasons for its invention.
The Hunminjeongeum that is printed in the book shows the original The key contents of the Hunminjeong Haeryebon includes the
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 172 173 HUNMINJEONGEUM MANUSCRIPT (KOREAN ALPHABET)
Complete view of Sujeongjeon Hall in Geongbok
Palace. Records reveal that Sujeongjieon Hall was
built at the Jiphyeonjeon (Hall of Gathering the
Learned) site during the time of King Sejong.
Sejongeojeseomun, which explains the purpose of inventing Hunmin- When there are two or more sounds in the initial, middle, or last
jeongeum. An enormous amount of feeling was invested in Huninjeongeum sounds, all the letters are to be written laterally in the same spot.
because the general population was unable to use Chinese characters, which When the letters of the first and the middle sounds are used together
were very different from the Korean language, leading King Sejong to per- and, as well as letters containingare to be placed below the first
sonally invent Hunminjeongeum to allow the general population to express letter.and letters containingare to be located to the right of the first
themselves more easily. letter. This was a measure to group letters together so they formed a box and
After this explanation of the reason behind the creation of the alpha- therefore appeared similar to Chinese characters in shape.
bet is the description of the phonetic values of the twenty-eight Hunmin- According to Hunminjeongeum, a sound is created only when all three
jeongeum letters. It explains thatis a velar sound and is the same as the letters representing the first, middle, and last sounds come together. For that rea-
first sound (initial sound, initial consonant) of the character. When two son,was to be used as the last consonant for words that do not possess a final
are used side by side, they have the same as the first sound of thecharac- consonant today. A side dot was also used to mark the intonation of the sounds.
ter. This defines the sound of the letter by stating thatrepresents the first For example, a dot was put on the left for high sounds, no dot for low sounds,
sound of the Chinese characterand that when theletter is used side and two dots for sounds that started low and went up.
by side it becomes , which is defined as the first sound of the Chinese The Haeryepyeong, written by Jeong In-ji and other scholars, con-
character (today, the character is pronounced as , but at the time, sists of a foreword and six chapters entitled Jejahae, Choseonghae,
people pronounced it as ). In this manner, the sounds of the seventeen Jungseonghae, Jongseonghae, Hapjahae, and Yongjarye. Jejahae,
initial consonants (), and explains that there are seventeen initial consonants, in which,the velar
are explained. sound, is modeled after the root of the tongue blocking the throat.,the
This section goes on to describe how the eleven combinations of the lingual sound, is modeled after the tongue sticking to the upper gums.,
middle sound (middle vowel) as are the same as the middle the labial sound, is modeled after the shape of the mouth. , the dental
sound of thecharacter and that the letters from the initial consonants are sound, is modeled after the shape of the teeth.,the throat sound, is mod-
to be used for the last sounds (ultimate, final consonants). There is also an eled after the shape of the throat. The book states that the sound made by
explanation of how, except for the first twenty-three kinds of sounds, there touching the back of the tongue to the soft palate is called thevelar sound.
are other ways to use these sounds. The sound made by touching the end of the tongue to the gums is called the
Forlight labial sounds,the writer is instructed to useand lingual sound.The sound made by the lips is called thelabial sound.The
in a column, like. sound made when the air touches the end of the teeth is called the dental
Yongjarye explains how to write words using the newly invented letters
Yongbieocheonga
Hunmongjahoe
Worin Cheongang Jigok
sound.The sound made inside the throat is called thethroat sound.

Hunminjeongeum utilizes one letter to represent each of these five
sounds. The velar sound phonemes areof whichis the letter that is
used to write the basic sound following the shape of the tongue when it is
made. The lingual sound phonemes are,, ,of which thesound is
used to represent that basic sound in accordance with the same principle. The
labial sound phonemes are, , ,of whichis the letter used to rep-
resent the basic sound and is modeled after the shape of the lips. The teeth
sounds are, , ,of whichis the basic letter to represent this sound
and is modeled after a row of teeth. The throat sounds are, , ,and the
basic sound is represented by theletter, which is modeled after the circu-
lar shape of the throat. Hence, the five letterswere created, and
to which a stroke can be added when the pronunciation should be stronger,
creating nine more letters.

The three letters of are minor variations of . Tense
consonants were called Jeontak, and consonants were written side by side, as
seen in the letters().This was because these tense consonant
sounds were created when the sound was jumbled up at the roof of the mouth
(with the exception of). As a way of representing a light labial sound,
andwere written in a column to create.In such a way, the initial conso-
nants were created, and depending on where the letters were placed, they were
The Introduction of the Hunminjeongeum which
discusses the purpose of inventing
Hunminjeongeum
divided into the fivesoundsvelar, lingual, labial, dental, and guttural. The Yongjarye chapter provides examples of ninety words to demon-
The principle behind the vowels was taken from the three features of strate how to write using the new alphabet. There are two sample words for each
heaven, earth, and man that form the basis of oriental philosophy. The basics of the initial consonants of , , , , , and
of the vowel letters were three, for heaven, for earth, and for a . However, there are no examples of laterally attached letters, nor , but
standing man. The reason why these three letters were first created was Yongjarye does show the written usage of . For vowels, four examples of words
because there are three types of vowels. Other vowels were adapted from showing the usage of were given. For the final consonants,
these three letters. and have dots on their top and to the outside, four words for each of only the eight letters were provided.
respectively, because the two sounds are yang sounds that belong to heaven. In his foreword, Jeong In-ji explained the reasons behind the creation
andhave the dots below and inside because the two sounds are yin of Hunminjeongeum, citing the irrationality of borrowing Chinese characters
sounds that belong to the earth. The vowels that start withand have two to write words despite Koreans having their own language. He also enumerat-
dots are written that way to show that they are double vowels. ed the difficulty in understanding books written in Chinese characters, in com-
The twenty-eight letters of Hunminjeongeum are used together to create municating using Chinese characters, and the inconvenience of using Idu (a
single syllables, making them appear similar in shape to Chinese characters. Korean writing system borrowing the sounds and meanings of Chinese char-
The basis of creating Hunminjeongeum lies in the philosophy of Yin acters). It is also stated that King Sejong invented Hunminjeongeum in the
and Yang and the Five Elements, according to which there is a common winter of 1443 (the twenty-fifth year of his reign). Jeong went on to explain
ground in the flow of sounds and seasons and between sound and music. that the new alphabet was easy to learn and could be applied in a variety of
There are two explanations as to why the sounds of the Korean alphabet ways: writing the majority of sounds in Korea, allowing for the easier transla-
were connected to the Five Elements. One explanation is the location of tion of Chinese books, and enabling people to communicate more with each
where the five sounds originate. The throat, back teeth, tongue, front teeth, other. Jeong In-ji also stated that there were eight authors of the Haeryebon:
and lips, all have a similar character to the five elements of water, wood, fire, Jeong In-ji himself, Sin Suk-ju, Seong Sam-mun, Choi Hang, Park Paeng-
metal, and earth, respectively. Another explanation is that the sounds them- nyeon, Gang Hui-an, Lee Gae, and Lee Sun-ro. Jeong also states that the fore-
selves are similar in character to the five elements. Both theories regarding word was written during the first third of September in 1446 (the twenty-
the characters of the source of the five sounds, as well as that of the sounds eighth year of the reign of King Sejong).
themselves, demonstrate that the Hunminjeongeum does not stray from the The Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon has been designated National
Five Elements principle, in accordance with the philosophical idea of unify- Treasure Number 70 and is a very rare document in the cultural heritage of
ing all of the universes phenomena into a single principle. the world. It records the process of inventing a writing system, the principle
Original copy of Hunminjeongeum exhibited at
the Gansong Museum
behind its creation, its structure, and usage. People are able to know the pre-
cious and profound ideas contained in Hangeul through this book. This book
also provides a peek into the political ideology of the times when King
Sejong and the ruling class loved and valued the people, as well as the
national consciousness exhibited in their not following Chinese culture but
asserting a separate Korean culture.
In all this, one can also witness the desires of the government offi-
cials. They wanted to culturally vitalize and re-organize the civilization and
institutions of the nation following the overthrow of the previous dynasty. So
too can be seen the tenacity of King Sejong, who wanted to establish strict
standards in all fields, including the legal system, taxation, weights and mea-
sures, rituals, and music. Hunminjeongeum also illustrates the strength of
Neo-Confucian philosophical ideology, as well as the high-level of the print-
ing culture of that time.
Hunminjeongeum is a writing system that combines twenty-eight
consonants and vowels. Though only twenty-four of the original twenty-
eight letters are utilized today, they can be used to write the Korean language
perfectly and are extremely easy to learn and use. Hunminjeongeum, the
writing system, is an original creation that is unrelated to any other writing
system. Hangeul is very concise and scientifically systematized. It conforms
perfectly with modern-day computers and communication systems. The effi-
cacy and benefits of Hangeul are key factors in Korea leading the ubiquitous
era of the IT industry.
Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon is the key to solving the mysteries of
Hangeul and is why the UNESCO International Advisory Committee select-
ed Hunminjeongeum as aMemory of the Worldin January 1997.
Contents of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.
The open book displays a record from September
1627 (fifth year of King Injos reign)
ANNALS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY
The Annals of the Joseon Dynastyis a chronological collection of

historical books of the Joseon era. The annals were compiled after
the reign of a king had come to an end and were given the titleThe
Annals ofand the kings posthumous name, starting with theThe
Annals of Taejo Gangheon and ending with The Annals of King
Cheoljong.The Annals of the Joseon Dynastyrefers to the entire
collection of annals, and includes 28 sets of annals for 25 kings
from the Joseon era, consisting of 1,893 volumes of 888 books.
However, The Annals of King Gojong and The Annals of King
Seonjong were compiled under the initiatives of the Japanese
during the time of Japanese colonial period and are therefore not
included in the collection. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty is
not a compilation of history books that were purposefully and
consistently written by a group of people, but rather a collection of
successive history books that were compiled whenever a new king
took the throne.
T
he Annals of the Joseon Dynasty is also called the The Annals of the
Lee Dynasty, and is sometimes simply called the The Annals. Some
of are referred to as Diaries, such as The Diaries of King Yeonsangun
published them in a total of four hundred books.
The annals were history books that chronologically recorded in a
chronicle style the key incidents of the pre-modern dynastic state in chronolog-
and The Diaries of Gwanghaegun. However, they are no different from ical order, dating them by the day, month, and year, they occured. The origins
other annals in their structure or character. In most cases, one set of annals of this style can be traced back to the Annotations on Everyday Life pro-
exists for one king. However, revised or improved versions were compiled duced during the Han Dynasty of China. However, the word annals first
for The Annals of King Seonjo, The Annals of King Hyeonjong, and appeared inThe Annals of the Emperorthat was compiled in the mid-sixth
The Annals of King Gyeongjong. This gave those kings two sets of annals century, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty. Afterwards,
each. Also, for The Diaries of Gwanghaegun, there exist both the complet- the system was perfected during the Tang and Song dynasties. However,
ed Jeongcho version, which could not go into print, and the incomplete most of these books have been lost. The annals of more recent times have
Jungcho version. been passed down and 2,909 volumes ofThe Ming Annalsand 3,000 vol-
Most ofThe Annals of the Joseon Dynastywere published utiliz- umes ofThe Annals of ingdo exist, however, they are not as rich in con-
ing woodblock printing, but some early annals and the two sets of The tent asThe Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.
Diaries of King Gwanghaegun, that are a part of the Jeongjoksan version In Korea, the Office of History was established to compile the
remain as written transcriptions. A total of 2,077 volumes, including 1,181 annals from the early periods of the Goryeo dynasty (dates unknown). The
volumes of the Jeongjoksan version, 848 volumes of the Taebaeksan version, annals of the first seven kings of Goryeo, from King Taejo to King Mokjong,
27 volumes of the Odaesan version, and 21 volumes of the Sanyeop version were compiled in order but were lost during the invasion of the Khitans in
were collectively designated National Treasure Number 151. They were reg- 1011 (the second year of the reign of King Hyunjong). In the thirteenth year
istered as a Memory of the World property by UNESCO in October 1997. of his reign (1022), King Hyunjong ordered the restoration ofThe Annals of
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were originally compiled in Seven Generations. This project was completed in 1034 (the third year of
Chinese characters, but the King Sejong Commemoration Project and the the reign of King Deokjong), and the compilations of successive kings fol-
National Culture Promotion Association translated them into Korean from lowed. The Joseon Dynasty continued on the tradition of Goryeo, and in the
1968 to 1993, making them accessible to all Koreans. Also, from 1995, the seventh year of the reign of Taejo (1398), the annals of the last kings of
Korean version, as well as the original Chinese version were computerized Goryeo, starting from King Gongmin, were compiled. However, these annals
and are being distributed on CDROMs and are accessible on the Internet. were lost through various wars.
North Korea also translated the annals into Korean from 1975 to 1991 and The only annals that exist today are the annals of the Joseon
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 184 185 ANNALS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY
No Title ols Books Compiled
1 The Annals of King Taejo 15 3 1413 (Taejong 13)
2 The Annals of King Gongjeong 6 1 1426 (Sejong 8)
3 The Annals of King Taejong 36 16 1431 (Sejong 13)
Dynasty, includingThe Annals of King Taejo.The Office of History started 4 The Annals of King Sejong Jangheon 163 67 1454 (Danjong 2)
the compilation ofThe Annals of King Taejoin 1410 (the tenth year of the 5 The Annals of King Munjong 12 6 1455 (Sejo 1)
reign of King Taejong) after King Taejo passed away in 1408, and completed 6 The Annals of King Danjong 14 6 1469 (Yejong 1)
the work in 1413. During the reign of King Sejong, The Annals of King 7 The Annals of King Sejo Hyejang 49 18 1471 (Seongjong 2)
Taejong,andThe Annals of King Jeongjongwere compiled in the eighth 8 The Annals of King Yejong Yangdo 8 3 1472 (Seongjong 3)
(1426) and thirteenth year (1431) of the reign of King Sejong, respectively.
9 The Annals of King Seongjong 297 47 1499 (Yeonsangun 5)
However, there were some errors, and partial corrections were made in 1442
10 The Diaries of King Yeonsangun 63 17 1509 (Jungjong 4)
(twenty-fourth year of the reign of King Sejong) to that annal, along with
11 The Annals of King Jungjong 105 53 1550 (Myeongjong 5)
revisions to theThe Annals of King Taejo.
12 The Annals of King Injong 2 2 1550(Myeongjong 5)
Initially two copies of the annals were created and kept in the Office
of History, in Seoul, and the Chungju History Archive, respectively. However, 13 The Annals of King Myeongjong 34 21 1571(Seonjo 4)
due to fears that the books would be lost, two more copies were created in 14 The Annals of King Seonjo Sogyeong 221 116 1616 (Gwanghaegun 8)
1439 (twenty-first year of the reign of king Sejong), and enshrined in the The Revised Annals of King Seonjo Sogyeong 42 8 1657 (Hyojong 8)
newly established history archives in Jeonju and Seongju. These archives were 15 The Diaries of Gwanghaegun (Taebaeksan version) 187 64 1633 (Injo 11)
the Four Major History Archives in the early days of Joseon. Successive kings The Diaries of Gwanghaegun (Jeongjoksan version) 187 39 1653 (Hyojong 4)
of the Joseon Dynasty continued on with the tradition and compiled annals
16 The Annals of King Injo 50 50 1653(Hyojong 4)
over the generations and strictly managed them. Below is the basic information
17 The Annals of King Hyojong 21 22 1661(Hyunjong 2)
on the annals of the successive king of the Joseon Dynasty. For example, the
18 The Annals of King Hyeonjong 22 23 1677(Sukjong 3)
official name of The Annals of King Yeongjong is Yeong jong ji haeng
The Improved Annals of King Hyeonjong 28 29 1683(Sukjong 9)
sun deog yeong mo ui yeol jang ui hong nyun gwang in don hui che cheon
geon geuk seong gong sin hwa dae seong gwang un gae tae gi yeong yo my- 19 The Annals of King Sukjong 65 73 1728 (Yeongjo 4)
eong sun cheol geon geon gon nyeong ing mun seon mu hui gyeong hyeon 20 The Annals of King Gyeongjong 15 7 1732 (Yeongjo 8)
hyo dae wang sil lok. The Improved Annals of King Gyeongjong 5 3 1781 (Jeongjo 5)
21 The Annals of King Yeongjong 127 83 1781 (Jeongjo5)

The structure and format ofThe Annals of the Joseon Dynastyare 22 The Annals of King Jeongjong 54 56 1805 (Sunjo 5)
as follows: In most cases, a years worth of accounts were collected into one
23 The Annals of King Sunjo 34 36 1838 (Heonjong 4)
24 The Annals of King Heonjong 16 9 1851 (Cheoljong 2)
25 The Annals of King Cheoljong 15 9 1865 (Gojong 2)
Total 1893 887
Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbok Palace
Gyeongbok Palace
volume of the annals, but there are cases of six months, or two monthsworth letters. The comments of the historiographers usually began with In the
of accounts all being compiled into one volume. There is even a case of just words of the historian, written from the top down, character by character.
one months worth of accounts arranged into a book in The Annals of the There were many cases when the comments were recorded in detailed foot-
Joseon Dynasty.The annals usually start out with a relatively brief descrip- notes.
tion of the name, nickname, adopted name, parents, date of birth, growth and The annals ended with the kings death, and many biographical
education, investment as Crown Prince, and other personal information. materials are included, such as chronicles of the kings sayings and actions,
The annals texts the main bodies of the collection are compiled chronicles of the kings demeanor, incidents during the kings lifetime, con-
chronologically with the accounts and historical essays listed by date. The dolences for the kings death, and the kings epitaph.
annals contain not only historical facts, as in diaries and journals, but contain The contents of the annals varied greatly, and numerous types of
many critical comments from the recorders or the compilers.The Annals of information filled its pages. Just some of the items contained in the annals
King Sejong and The Annals of King Sejo have an attached Ji to its included information on the king and his vassals, diplomatic and military
chronological accounts. In, The Annals of King Danjong, a reference on relations, administrative discussions, procedures of ceremonies, records of
the restoration of the levels of government positions is attached as a supple- natural disasters, records of legislations and precedents, census statistics, tax-
ment. In compiling the main body of the texts, the volume number was ation, conscripted labor, regional information and conditions of the people,
recorded at the top of the first line of every volume in the phraseThe Annals local governors reports to the king, factual appeals, appeals, and the kings
of King olume Number,and the accounts were written down from the next answer to those appeals. Whenever an annal was written and edited, a stan-
line onwards. The days, months and years, were marked in the order of the dard for selecting material for inclusion was established, but it can be said
year of the kings reign (with the name of the reigning Chinese emperor that the annals include almost all information on the administration of the
recorded below in a detailed footnote), season, month, and day (in accor- government and trends of the society. In particular, the annals from the earli-
dance with the sexagenary cycle). Seasons were recorded in earlier annals, er days of the Joseon era contain much content that would not be included in
but mostly omitted in later ones. Every new day or account was marked with the stricter Confucian standards of later days, meaning that those annals tend
ato mark a new paragraph. The main text was written in large print with- to lean towards political content and lose the diversity and richness of their
out any spaces between characters. However, a space was placed in front of records.
terminology referring to the words or actions of the king or previous kings. The compilation of the annals for the Joseon era started after the
When further description was required, a detailed footnote was added in fine king passed away and the successor ascended the throne, meaning that
annals of the kings were created after their deaths. When the compilation of king, was allowed to view it. Even the historiographers themselves were
the annals begin, an extraordinary office known as the Office of Annals was severely punished should they reveal its contents.
created, to which were appointed government clerks from various depart- In the first step of compiling the annals the first, second, and third
ments with a high-ranking prime ministerial official as its head. The Office chambers selected pertinent facts from various materials, such as draft historical
of Annals usually consisted of a supervisory team under the ministerial offi- manuscripts and records of various government agencies, to create the initial
cial and the first, second, and third chambers. However, when the king had manuscript. In the second stage, the ministerial officials office revised the initial
reigned for an extensive time, leaving many records to be compiled, up to six manuscript to create the interim manuscript. In the third stage, the ministerial
chambers were established. Each of the chambers took turns compiling the official and the assistants revised errors in the interim manuscript while making
documents for one year of the kings reign. Assistants that were appointed to the structure and sentences of the annal consistent, creating the official manu-
the Office of Annals were incumbent public officials of exceptional academ- script, which immediately becomes the version for printing. The draft historical
ic and literary capabilities. manuscripts were strictly managed during the course of compiling the annals,
After setting up the Office of Annals, the Sacho (draft historical and the people who compiled them maintained confidentiality on the contents of
manuscripts) kept by the historiographers were collected, and various the draft historical manuscripts and the annals.
records of the government were transferred to that office and used as source Upon completion of the annals, records of various government agen-
materials for compilation. To this were added records of various government cies, draft historical manuscripts, as well as the initial and interim manu-
agencies such as the Office of History, Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Diary of the scripts of the annals, and other such materials, were destroyed to maintain
Royal Secretariat), and record of the State Council. Later on, daily newspa- confidentiality. This was calledsecho(washing the paper), from the prac-
pers, Bibyeonsa-deungnok (records of the military office), records of daily tice of washing the draft historical manuscripts in the stream outside of
reflections, and other materials were added as well. Personal diaries and lit- Jahamun Gate, where the paper factories were located, to recycle the paper.
erary works were also used. The most important resource material in compil- Paper factories became numerous in the later parts of the Joseon era, and the
ing the annals was the draft historical manuscripts of the historiographers. draft historical manuscripts were mostly incinerated.
These manuscripts were factual recordings of such things as the kings words Annals were thus compiled and transferred to history archives.
and actions, discussion and implementation of policies within the govern- These archives were specially built and maintained by the government to
ment, ups and downs in the matters of state, good and bad customs, and the preserve the annals. Once every three years, the annals that were preserved in
rights and wrongs of rural areas. The draft historical manuscripts were confi- these history archives were brought outside to be exposed to the sun and the
dential, and in order to safeguard the historiographers, nobody, including the wind to keep them free from moisture. These drying sessions were strictly
A portion of the annals of King Injo preserved at
the Jangseogak Royal Library
History of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty
controlled so that no content of the annals was revealed or leaked.

The annals of the Joseon era were secretly kept for an extended time
in high mountains and secluded valleys and no commoner could view them.
Nor could kings or ministers access them easily, either. They were used only
as a reference in affairs of the state. When a need to view the annals arose, a
historiographer was specially dispatched to the history archive. He would
make a copy of only the parts relevant to the matter at hand and return. The
annals contained the factual recordings of the rights and wrongs of the poli-
tics of the times, as well as the good sides and bad sides of the king and the
kings officials. They therefore had to be compiled and managed in this strict
manner.
The first annal produced in the Joseon era wasThe Annals of King
Taejo, which was compiled in 1413 (thirteenth year of the reign of King
Taejong) and followed byThe Annals of King JeongjongandThe Annals
of King Taejong, which were compiled in the eighth (1426) and thirteenth
year (1431) of the reign of King Sejong, respectively. Right after The
Annals of King Taejongwas compiled, the government became aware of the
importance of their preservation and sent them to be stored in the history
archive in Chungju, where the annals from the Goryeo era were kept.
However, located downtown, next to a residential area, there was a risk of
fire. Therefore in June 1439, at the suggestion of the Saheonbu (Admini-
strative Inspection Ministry), new history archives were constructed in
Jeonju and Seongju. Three more copies were created by November 1445.
The four copies were then stored in the history archives of Chungju, Jeonju,
and Seongju. From The Annals of King Sejong onwards, three type-print
1392 1413 1454 1592 1865 copies were made of the official manuscript, and the copies were stored in
Joseon founded Annals of Taejo Annals of Sejong. All annals except for Annals of Cheoljong
compiled to begin the He, the 4th King of the ones in Jeonju Sago compiled to put an end to
history of the Annals of Joseon, created burned and lost during the the history of the Annals
the Joseon Dynasty. Hunminjeongeum with Japanese Invasion of 1592. of the Joseon Dynasty.
Scholars from
Jiphyeonjeon.
each of the four history archives. Odaesan.
In 1592 (the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Seonjo), Japan Since then, five copies of annals were published. During Gwanghae-
invaded Korea and the annals in the Office of History and historical archives guns reign five copies ofThe Annals of King Seonjowere published, and
of Chungju and Seongju were all lost in fires. Fortunately, two scholars in one copy was kept at each of the five history archives. However, after all the
the Jeonju region An Ui and Sohn Hong Nok moved the annals of all 804 annals in the Seoul Office of History were burned in 1624 (second year of
volumes of the 13 kings fromThe Annals of King TaejotoThe Annals of King Injos reign), during Igwals rebellion, they were never restored, and
King Myeongjong,as well as other books in the Jeonju history archive, to since then annals were no longer stored there. Since King Injos reign, only
Naejangsan Mountain in Jeongeup in June 1592. They survived the war and four copies of annals were published, with one copy being stored at each of
passed down safely to future generations. the four history archives.
After quelling the Japanese invasion, the Joseon Dynasty started a proj- Of the four annals in the history archives, the one in Myohyangsan
ect to republish the annals, despite the destitute state of national finances, and the Mountain was moved to a newly constructed historical archive in Jeoksang-
lack of materials. In two years and nine months, from July 1603 to March 1606, san Mountain, Muju, Jeolla Province in 1633. The annals in the Manisan
804 volumes of 13 kings from The Annals of King Taejo to The Annals of Mountain history archive were substantially damaged by the ing military
King Myeongjong were printed and published. Together with the original during their invasion of Korea in 1636. However, they were thoroughly
annals from the Jeonju history archive and the revised version for republish- restored during King Hyeonjong s reign and were moved to a newly con-
ing, there were now five copies of the annals. One copy was kept at the structed history archive in Jeongjoksan Mountain in 1678 (fourth year of
Office of History in Seoul, as before, for the reference purposes of the state. king Sukjong s reign). Since then, until King Cheoljong s time, one copy of
Four new history archives were constructed, and the second copy of the the annals were safely kept in each of the four history archives on Jeong-
annals was housed on Manisan Mountain on Ganghwado Island. The third joksan Mountain, Taebaeksan Mountain, Jeoksangsan Mountain, and Odae-
copy was preserved on Taebaeksan Mountain, Bonghwa, Gyeongsang san Mountain until the end of Joseon in the early twentieth century.
Province. The fourth copy was kept at Myohyangsan Mountain, Yeongbyeon, After imperial Japan robbed Joseon of its sovereignty in 1910, the
Pyeongan Province. The fifth copy was stored on Odaesan Mountain, annals in the history archives in Jeongjoksan Mountain and Taebaeksan
Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The newly printed copies were preserved Mountain were transferred to the Office of the Japanese Government General
at the history archives in the Office of History and on Taebaeksan and of Korea, together with the books from the Gyujanggak Royal Library. The
Myohyangsan Mountains, while the original copy from the Jeonju history annals in the history archives at Jeoksangsan Mountain were transferred to
archive was stored on Manisan Mountain. The revised copy was kept at Jangseogak Royal Library at the old royal palace. The annals in the history
Jangseogak Royal Library at the Academy of Korean Studies. This building was originally
constructed inside Changgyeong Palace and was used for storing the annals of the Joseon Dynasty
from Jeoksangsan Library before the Korean War. The current Jangseogak Royal library building was
built in 1981.
History Archives of Odeasan
archives at Odaesan Mountain were taken out of the country to the Tokyo The description of history inThe Annals of the Joseon Dynastyis
Imperial University (the current Tokyo University), and the majority of it very realistic and convincing. Such fair depiction of history was possible
was lost during the Great Kanto Earthquake in Japan in 1923. The remaining only because the historiographers that were in charge of collecting the histor-
forty-seven books were returned in 2008. The copies from Jeongjoksan ical materials into the compilation of the annals were, academically and ethi-
Mountain and Taebaeksan Mountain were transferred to the Office of the cally, the elites at the time, and their activities and positions were guaranteed.
Japanese Government General of Korea and were later moved to Gyeongseong Their records were created independently, and confidentiality was main-
Imperial University in 1930, again together with the books from the Gyujang- tained, with even the king not being able to access the annals at will. The his-
gak Royal Library. toriographers also considered truthful depiction of historical events as their
After liberation from Japan in 1945, the copies from Jeongjoksan mission, and were faithful to it, which enabled a fair and fact-based descrip-
Mountain and Taebaeksan Mountain remained in the library of Seoul tion of history.
National University (the successor of Gyeongseong Imperial University). Only four to five copies ofThe Annals of the Joseon Dynastywere
Later, the 848 books from Jeongjoksan Mountain were transferred to the ever made, but all the copies were printed in type-print. This demonstrates
Busan branch of the National Archives of Korea. The Jeoksangsan Mountain the tradition and high level of Korean printing culture. In order to publish the
copy that had been stored in the Jangseogak Royal Library at the old royal annals that spanned around five hundred years, the government at that time
palace was taken by the North Korean side during the Korean War that broke strived to develop different forms of advanced printing technology. Against
out in 1950, and is currently known to be kept at Kim Il-Sung University. this backdrop, countless books were printed in type and disseminated to
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty is vast, consisting of 1,893 spread knowledge to the people.
volumes in 888 books that record the history of every single day of the 472 The existence of the annals were threatened when Japan invaded
years of the reigns of the 25 kings of the Joseon Dynasty. This is the longest Korea, but were soundly preserved until the end of the Joseon Dynasty. This
diary-style chronicle in the world and is also the most detailed collection of is because the people of those days safeguarded and thoroughly maintained
historical books in the world. The annals cover a diverse range of subject them. However, the majority of The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were
matters including politics, diplomacy, military affairs, institutions, law, eco- lost during the theft of Koreas sovereignty from 1910 to 1945 and the
nomics, industry, transportation, communications, society, customs, astrono- Korean War. Koreans must strive to preserve and utilize their precious cul-
my, geography, Yin Yang thought, science, medicine, literature, music, arts, tural heritage.
crafts, academics, philosophy, ethics, morality, and religion. In a way, the
The Annals of the Joseon Dynastyis like an encyclopedia.
Jikji Simche Yojeolis the oldest remaining
metal-type print in the world. The metal type no
longer exists and was recreated for the
photograph.
BAEGUN HWASANG CHOROK BULJO

JIKJISIMCHEYOJEOL (JIKJI)
Jikji Simche Yojeol(Jikji) was written by Baegun Hwasang (Priest

Baegun), a Goryeo priest who strove to understand the cardinal
points of Seon Buddhism (often known as en Buddhism in the
West) by studying the sermons of Buddha and the founders of the
various sects. Jikji was printed by his disciples with metal type in
1377, three years after Baegun died. It is the oldest example of
metal type printing in the world.
Semoving the complete metal type
The Cheongju Early Printing Museum
D uring the Goryeo era, Buddhism was so popular that Goryeo was often
referred to as a Buddhist state. Although Confucianism was the politi-
cal creed of the Goryeo state, Buddhism served as its spiritual guidance and
the center of their teaching, uncultivated military officials took a favorable
view of the supporters of the Seon School. In particular, the Seon Schools
reformist stance suited the inclination of the military regime, which had bro-
had a significant impact on the day-to-day lives of the people. Thus ken the social order established by the existing civil aristocracy.
Buddhism held the most important position among the cultures and belief However, Goryeo eventually adopted Neo-confucianism, a new
systems of the Goryeo period. It was natural that kings and aristocrats of form of Confucianism popular among the rising new literati elite in the late
Goryeo made Buddhism the state religion and supported it, as it helped Goryeo era. These were the new ranks of officials, culturally educated and
maintain national stability and their authority. skilled in politics, who appeared after the established aristocratic class had
The state itself built temples at enormous cost and provided land to been disbanded by the military regime. The domineering attitude of the old,
support them. Temple land fields, which increased due to donations by the powerful families, and the corrupt practices among Buddhist priests led the
royal family and aristocracy and the voluntary enslavement of farmers, were rising ruling class to seek a new administrative ideology, which they found in
exempt from taxation. In addition, priests were exempt from corvee labor, Neo-Confucianism (introduced from Yuan China in the late thirteenth centu-
thereby encouraging many people, particularly members of the royal family ry). Neo-Confucianism was a new form of Confucianism that focused on the
and the aristocracy, to enter the priesthood, which in turn conferred certain fundamental principles of the cosmos and the nature of human beings. The
aristocratic characteristics on Goryeo Buddhism. philosophy was successfully adopted by Yuan after the fall of Song, and was
This aristocratic form of Goryeo Buddhism underwent a process of in turn introduced to Goryeo. The prosperity of the Seon School, which val-
change after the revolt of military officials in 1170. The Buddhist circle led by the ued the attainment of spiritual enlightenment, laid the foundations for the
Textual School (a group of Buddhist sects that focused on the study of Buddhist later acceptance of Neo-confucianism.
writings) strongly protested against the military regime that had usurped royal The New Literati was divided into two groups, hardliners and mod-
authority and destroyed aristocratic politics. This protest led to the harsh oppres- erates, who disagreed over how to resolve the various problems in Goryeo
sion of the Textual School by the military regime, leading to its delince and the society. The hardliners came into power in union with the military, including
ascent of the Seon School (a Buddhist sect that focused on meditation). Lee Seong-gye. Ultimately, Lee would put an end to Goryeo in 1392 by
The Seon School had something in common with those military offi- forming the new Joseon dynasty, which took Neo-confucianism as its admin-
cials who were against the authoritative pro-royal Textual school. Since the istrative ideology.
Seon School rejected a complex theoretical approach to Buddhism based on Jikji Simche Yojeol,the worlds largest work using metal type, was
the scriptures, and instead made faith in Buddhism through Seon meditation printed in Heungdeoksa Temple in 1377. The main idea of this book is that
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 200 201 BAEGUN HWASANG CHOROK BULJO JIKJISIMCHEYOJEOL (JIKJI)
Metal type-setting process
anyone can look into the heart of a person through Seon meditation and
come to realize how that persons heart is equal to the Buddhas. This book is
a classic textbook for scholar-priests in Korea.
This book was a pioneer of more convenient and economical print-
ing and easier proofreading, and also contributed to the quick production of
books, as well as to the invention of of oil-based ink suitable for metal-type
printing. This practical metal-type printing technology developed in Korea
had a great effect on Eastern printing history and was introduced to European
countries.
According to a number of thirteenth century records, it would appear
that the metal type of Goryeo, which succeeded the wood printing blocks of
Silla, was invented in the early thirteenth century. Later, the state itself set up
the Publication Board to take charge of typecasting and printing. These tech-
niques were developed even further during the Joseon era, enabling the
widespread publication of books.
Jikji Simche Yojeol was produced using metal type cast in a
traditional beeswax foundry at a local temple rather than a central govern-
ment office. Accordingly, the size and shape of the printed characters are
uneven and the printing is a little coarse. Although this edition was produced
at an immature stage of printing technology, it is highly appreciated as the
only one of the many Goryeo type-printed literary works to have survived to
the present day.
The publication history recorded in the second volume of this two-
volume book specifies that it was printed in metal type at Heungdeoksa
Temple in Cheongju in the third year of King U of Goryeo in 1377, some
seventy years before the Gutenberg Bible was printed in Germany using
Cover and contents ofJikji Simche Yojeol. This
work is currently in the possession of the
Jangseogak Royal library of the Academy of
Korean Studies
metal type. Heungdeoksa Temple, the site of publication, can still be visited
in Cheongju City, North Chungcheong Province, at what is now the Cheong-
ju Early Printing Museum.
However, the book was removed from Korea by Collin de Plancy,
the French charg daffaires in Seoul during the time of the Korean Empire
(1897-1910). It was one of the numerous books that he collected and kept in
his private library, and which he in turn handed over to Henry ever, a col-
lector of antiques. The book was again transferred to the French national
library, la Biblioth que Nationale de France in 1950. Only the second vol-
ume of the book has survived to the present-day, and only thirty-eight of its
eighty-nine chapters have been preserved.
This book was earlier introduced in an appendix to La Biblio-
graphie Cor ennepublished by Courant of France in 1891, though it was lost
sometime afterwards. Fortunately, the book became available to the public at
a 1972 book exhibition during UNESCOsInternational Book Year,where
it gained official recognition as the oldest metal type-printed book in the
world.
Jikji Simche Yojeol was registered as part of the Memory of the
World by UNESCO in September 2001. Jikji Simche Yojeol, the oldest
metal type-printed book in the world, had a profound impact on the spread of
printing culture and human history. UNESCO recognized it as a documenta-
ry heritage, and took into account its rarity as the only book of its kind exist-
ing in the world.Jikji Simche Yojeoland the Gutenberg Bible are the two
oldest metal type-printed books to have been produced in the East and the
West, and constitute a great heritage that changed the culture of the human
race.
One of the book covers from the Seungjeongwon Ilgi
(the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat). The words
Cheongye Year Threeon the cover notes that the
particular volume consists of records from the lunar
calendar months of June to September of 1623. It
records incidents immediately after King Injos
Restoration of Rectitude.
SEUNGJEONGWON ILGI,
THE DIARIES OF THE ROYAL SECRETARIAT
Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Diary of the Royal Secretariat) is a chronicle-

style series of diaries kept by the Royal Secretariat officials
recording the activities of the Seungjeongwon, the kings secretariat
in the Joseon era. It includes various contents such as the communi-
cation of the kings orders, reporting of state affairs, national and
royal ceremonies, military activities, and the administration of Seung-
jeongwon itself. In all, there are 3,243 volumes, most of which are
manuscripts written in cursive and vary in size, being mostly 41.2
cm by 29.4 cm. The Seungjeongwon Ilgi was designated National
Treasure Number 303 and was registered with UNESCO World
Heritage in 2001. There is only one precious copy each of the
principal volumes, currently located in Seoul National Universitys
Gyujanggak Library.
Content of the Seungjeongwon Ilgi
T he Seungjeongwon Ilgi dates back to the early Joseon era. However, all
the volumes before the reign of King Injo were destroyed in various
conflicts, including the 1592 invasion by Japan and the 1624 rebellion by
the Joseon era.
Seungjeongwons regular staff consisted of six Seungji, including
the Doseungji, who were third grade officials, and two Juseo, who were sev-
Lee Gwal, and so are no longer extant. The volumes that currently exist are enth grade officials (the lower the grade, the higher the rank). However,
the records from March 1623 (the first year of the reign of Injo) to 1910 (the when there was too much work to handle, Gajuseo were assigned as well.
fourth year of the reign of Yunghui, also known as Sunjong). This volume is After the Japanese invasion in 1592, a Sabyeongga Juseo was created to
four times the volume ofThe Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. record matter related to the war, and later became a permanent institution in
This historical collection is referred to currently as Seungjeongwon charge of recording matters related to the military, as well as details of the
Ilgi, but the title has changed from time to time. The collection consists of interrogations of prisoners. Many Ajeon from Dongseoban were assigned
3,045 books of the Seungjeongwon Ilgi (1623 to the 1894 revolution), 4 too. Seungji were in charge of communicating the kings orders, and two
books of the Seungseonwon Ilgi, 5 books of the Gungnaebu Ilgi, 41 books of Juseo and Gajuseo were in charge of actually writing down the Seungjeong-
the Biseogam Ilgi (Diary of Chief Secretary), 115 books of Biseowon Ilgi won Ilgi.
(Diary of the Secretariat), and 33 books of Guyjanggak Ilgi (Diary of the Immediately after it was founded, five Seungji and two Danghug-
Royal Library). wan were assigned to the Jungchuwon to handle the communication of the
The books were compiled on a monthly basis. Each book starts with kings orders and its records. Seungjeongwon became an independent institu-
the records of monthly lectures on Confucian doctrine, discussions of politics tion in 1400 (the second year of the reign of Jeongjong). The following year,
between the king and the vassals, opening of state affairs, and the activities the Uiheungsamgunbu and Seungjeongwon were combined into the
of queens. To this were added the list of Seungji and Juseo of each day, as Seungchubu, and the staff ranked below the grade of Doseungji was called
well as the party executives amongst them and the status of their attendance. Jisinsa and Daeeon. In 1405 (the fifth year of the reign of Taejong), one more
Lastly, there is a detailed description of the status of Seungjeongwons opera- Daeeon was added to the staff, and the name of that position was changed to
tions, the state of the monarchy, lectures of kings, personnel of Seungjeong- Seungji the following year.
won, the ranks and influences of various officials, and other similar kinds of The basic function of the Seungjeongwon was thecommunication
information. In addition, the Seungjeongwon handled all of the kings daily of the kings orders.However, its functions were diverse. A summary of its
activities, instructions, orders, various departments reports, assorted meet- functions mentioned in texts such as the Yukjeonjorye, Eundaejorye,
ings and appeals, and so forth, all of which were recorded. This makes the andEundaepyeongowere as follows.
Seungjeongwon Ilgi the basis of researching the history of the later part of The Seungjeongwon oversaw communication with the king, sending
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 208 209 SEUNGJEONGWON ILGI, THE DIARIES OF THE ROYAL SECRETARIAT
Distant view of Gyujanggak Royal Library
down the kings orders and conveying the opinions of officials from various Many of the current Seungjeongwon Ilgi books are restored versions. In the
departments to the king. Seungjeongwon was a grade three office, but always 1744 fire, the books from 1592 to 1721 (the first year of the reign of King
served the king closely. It was a very powerful and important office because Gyeongjong) were lost, while the books from 1722 to 1744 survived.
the kings orders to all the departments were communicated through it In 1746, Yeongjo established the Ilgicheong (Office of Diaries), and
(including to and from the Uijeongbu, Bibyeongsa, Yukjo, Daegan, sought to restore the Seungjeongwon Ilgi. Every effort was made during the
Hongmungwan, and other such key offices). Together with the historiogra- restoration, and not only were various diaries and registrations of each of the
phers, Seungji attended the royal audience with officials and participated in offices (including Jobo) utilized, but so too were the diaries and other writ-
the discussion of key affairs of state. The writing of the Jobo, an official ings of officials. By the end of 1747, 548 books had been restored. However,
gazette of sorts, and the opening and closing of the palace gates, were also that was less than a third of the lost books. There was another fire in
the responsibilities of the Seungjeongwon. Seungjeongwon in 1888 (the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Gojong),
Seungji participated in national ceremonies related to the king. in which 361 books from 1851 (the second year of the reign of Cheoljong) to
These ceremonies included Jongmyo, Sajik, and royal court religious servic- 1888 were lost, though they were restored in 1890. In addition to two major
es, as well as royal visits and diplomatic events. They also participated in losses due to fires, minor damage was also inflicted on other occasions, but
royal lectures and took part in interrogating offenders. They participated to a the lost writings were restored successfully following each incident.
certain degree in the appointment and dismissal of officials, rewards and The diaries were written on a daily basis and then bound into a book
punishments, state recruitment examinations, and military affairs. In such a each month and submitted to the king for approval. The diaries were forbid-
manner, the Seungjeongwon played a key role in a vast range of government den from going outside before the king looked at them. In general, the docu-
affairs and ceremonies, which were all recorded in the Seungjeongwon Ilgi, ments for each month were bound into one volume. However, when too
making it an invaluable historical record. much documentation was produced for a given month, it was bound into two
The volumes of the Seungjeongwon Ilgi produced in the first half of volumes. Diaries from leap months were also bound into books.
the Joseon era were stored in Seungjeongwon, but were destroyed in the The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and Bibyeongsa Deungnok, as
1592 invasion by Japan (the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Seonjo). well as the Ilseongnok, are the basic historical data from the second half of
In addition, most of the books produced between the 1592 invasion and 1623 the Joseon era. However, because the Seungjeongwon Ilgi recorded matters
were lost during the Lee Gwal rebellion. The books produced after 1592 related to various state affairs on a daily basis, it is more valuable as a prima-
were restored during the reign of King Injo, but they were again lost in a fire ry source of historical data.
at the Seungjeongwon in 1744 (the twentieth year of the reign of Yeongjo). The original Seungjeongwon Ilgi books were written in cursive
Poswae (air drying). a technique used to protect
books and other documents from damage caused
by moisture and mold by drying the paper in the
sun and wind.
Chinese characters and are difficult to read. However, the National Institute and military affairs, it is essential for the study of Korean history in the latter
of Korean History transcribed it into printed characters and punctuated it, part of the Joseon era, and is all the more precious as there is only one origi-
making it easier to read. In addition, the Institute for the Translation of nal copy left.
Korean Classics has been translating the books into Hangeul since the 1980s. The Seungjeongwon Ilgi not only shows us the tide of history for a
Currently, parts of the original texts and the translated version are available period of three hundred years, from the seventeenth century to the early
over the Internet. twentieth century, it contains vast information on the history of such areas as
The Seungjeongwon Ilgi is a vast chronicle. The books comprise the the economy, society, Chinese characters, folklore, and astronomical meteo-
greatest volume of recorded annals in the world, consisting of a total of rology. In particular, the main book contains 288 years worth of weather
3,243 books with 242 million characters, far exceeding the 25 Histories information without omission and is a precious source of data for meteorolo-
(3,386 volumes with around 40 million characters) of China, and the Annals gy research. The Seungjeongwon Ilgi uses Susiryeok (a calendar devised
of the Joseon Dynasty (888 volumes, 54 million characters) in scale. Though during the Yuan Dynasty in China), together with the traditional sexagenari-
the records mainly focus on political and administrative matters reported to an cycle, and so provides the basic data needed for converting between dif-
the king, it represents a detailed recording of history that is unprecedented in ferent types of calendars. Additionally, the recordings of frequent suppres-
human culture. sion activities of Catholics in the nineteenth century are evidence of the vol-
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were secondary historical data untary acceptance of the religion by people from within a traditional
compiled by historiographers after the kings death. However, the Confucian society. At the same time, it is evidence of conflict within that
Seungjeongwon Ilgi is a primary source of historical data, in which the society. Together, with the responses from the political sector during that
affairs of the times were recorded as they occurred. The Seungjeongwon Ilgi time, the Seungjeongwon Ilgi provides intensely fascinating material for all
was also used as an important source for the compilation of the Annals of the people.
Joseon Dynasty. The contents of the diaries after 1895 (the thirty-first year of
the reign of King Gojong) were records of the court during the time of
Japanese interference, and record incidents that required approval from the
King of Joseon (emperor from 1897 to 1910). These incidents and other
secret stories of the court recorded in this compilation are the primary sourc-
es used in modern history research. Since the diary covers all the important
matters of that time, including politics, economy, society, diplomacy, culture,
A unique form of documentary heritage, the
Uigweis a genre of Royal Protocols of the over
five-hundred-year-long Joseon Dynasty (1392-
1910), that both records and describes through
prose and illustrations the major ceremonies and
rites of the royal family.
UIGWE: THE ROYAL PROTOCOLS OF

THE JOSEON DYNASTY
A Uigwe is a manual of protocols, which originally referred to

documents that recorded the procedures of ceremonies for key
events during the dynastic era. The genre dates back to the Goryeo
period and many new forms were created and used during the
development of Confucian national protocol during the Joseon era.
After the King Taejong-Sejong era, the Uiju (an annotated manual
of protocols) was created with standardized regulations for state
ceremonial procedures that were based on classical Confucianism in
order to organize the government and social systems, as well as the
culture, of the dynasty. The grand compilation of these works is the
Gukjooryeui. Since that time, the term Uigwe developed to refer
to a book that recorded the whole process of a royal ceremony or a
state event after it was over.
A Uigwe is document made up of words and drawings of state events
during the Joseon Dynasty. It was considered a mirror for 10,000
years, and was intended to be used as a standard for future generations.
However, microfilm copies of them have been supplied to Korea. Other
Uigwe were integrated into Gyujanggak during the Japanese colonial period
of the first half of the twentieth century, and some were sent to Jangseogak,
Uigwe describe in detail various aspects of ceremonies, including the discus- under the authority of the Iwangjik (Imperial Household Agency of Joseon),
sions, preparations, supervising bodys structure and personnel, procedures of while others were sent to the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. Seoul
the ceremony, required materials and costs, drawings of the scene of the National Universitys Gyujanggak houses 2,940 books of 546 types, the
event and key items, and rewards for people of merit. Descriptions of the Academy of Korean StudiesJangseogak houses 490 books of 287 types, the
four ceremonial occasions (coming of age, wedding, funeral, and ancestral French national library houses 297 books of 191 types, the Imperial
rites of the royal family) make up most of the Uigwe. Uigwe also recorded Household Agency of Japans library houses 167 books of 81 types, and
matters related to state projects, including the construction of palaces and small collections are housed in various libraries throughout Korea. Overall,
castles, building and mending royal tombs, production of war ships and over 3,900 books of 600 types exist to this day, of which many are copies of
weapons, and the compilation of annals and royal genealogy. the same book. In August 2007, the Eighth UNESCO Memory of the World
Like other documents from the Joseon era, Uigwe was written using International Advisory Committee listed the Uigwe of the Joseon Dynasty as
Chinese characters. However, some portions, like theJagyeongjeonjinjakjeongnye a Memory of the World property.
Uigwewere translated into Korean. Early on in the Joseon era, the titles of The first records of creating a Uigwe go back to the Han Dynasty in
ceremonies were used as titles for Uigwe, such as the Taejogangheon- China, and the termUigwewas used to refer to various ceremonies and standards
daewangsangjang Uigwe.However, later in the Joseon era, the names of the related to Buddhism. Some examples are the Yeombul Uigwe, Bangsaeng
supervising bodies were mostly used for Uigwe, such'RJDP8LJZH Uigwe,Gongyang Uigwe,andSuryuk Beopoe Uigwe.There is also aChiljung
Dogam Docheong Uigwe,and'RJDP,OEDQJ8LJZH Sugye Uigwein Gyujanggak. In KoreaUigwewas used to refer to docu-
All the Uigwe that have been passed down today are ones that have mentary records of procedures for state ceremonies since the Goryeo era.
been created since the Japanese invasion in 1592. They were stored in the There is a record of burying various historical records and Jehyang Uigwe
royal library of Gyujanggak, the Oegyujanggak on Ganghwado Island, (records of religious services) underground. They were later recovered when
Uijeongbu, Yejo, and regional historical archives. The Uigwe for royal Gaeseong fell to the Red Turban Rebels from China and the government had
inspection that were stored in Oegyujanggak on Ganghwado Island (297 vol- to evacuate to Andong in 1361 (the tenth year of the reign of King
umes of 191 types) were seized by the French military when they raided the Gongmin).
island in 1866, and currently, they are stored in the national library of France. The Joseon Dynasty, which placed much importance on Confucian
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 216 217 UIGWE: THE ROYAL PROTOCOLS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY
Cover of an Uigwe
formalities, widely recorded and used Uigwe. Early in the Joseon era, Uigwe some names of Uigwe, such as Seongjong Daewang Bumyo Uigwe,
were made in advance (as rules for ceremonies) for state funerals, royal mar- Wangsejagarye Uigwe, and Seja Yeongchik Uigwe. However, most Uigwe
riages, and other major events. When the event was over, the whole process that were compiled during the first half of the Joseon era were lost during the
was recorded and made into a book, which was also referred to as a Uigwe. Japanese invasion that began in 1592, and are no longer extant.
Uigwe were made not only for ceremonies and rites, but there are detailed The oldest surviving Uigwe today are theBinjeon Honjeon Dogam
recordings of the processes and technical aspects in the building of palaces, UigweandSalleung Dogam Uigwethat were created in 1600 (the thirty-
creation of royal tombs, and construction of warships. As time passed, standard third year of the reign of King Seonjo), after the war with Japan. Afterwards,
documents of procedural rules of ceremonies were called Uiju, and were whenever there was a major ceremony (such as the four ceremonial occa-
included in theGukjooryeui,and only books that recorded the various facts sions of coming of age, wedding, funeral, and ancestral rites of the royal
after the event were called8LJZH family or other key state events) temporary offices or departments were
During the reign of King Taejong, the etiquette for offering Korean setup to supervise the event and record it, creating a registry and Uigwe.
cherries at Jongmyo Shrine (Royal Ancestral Shrine of the Joseon Dynasty) Over 3,900 books and 600 types of Uigwe were made in this way.
was included in a Uigwe. Then, there were Uigwe for state funerals for royal The majority of Uigwe are records of marriages of the crown prince
families and ministers. After the state funeral of Lee Seong-gye (King Taejo), and the king, state funerals and royal funerals, operations of the funeral par-
in 1408, theTaejo Gangheon Daewang Sangjang Uigwewas compiled. After lor and the spiritual parlor, construction of royal tombs, enshrining of the
the state funeral of King Jeongjong in 1419 (the nineteenth year of the reign of ancestral tablets in Jongmyo Shrine, and eulogistic posthumous titles for
King Taejong), the Gongjeong Daewang Sangjang Uigwe was compiled. kings and queens. Other records include details on the construction and
Also, at the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty, the Gyeongbokgung Joseong remodeling of palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, rewards handed out to vassals,
Uigwe was compiled, as was the Jereung Jedo Uigwe that defined the portraits of kings, royal plowing and royal silk making, reception of envoys,
rules and standards of royal tombs. utensils, and musical instruments used at Jongmyo Shrine.
There is a record of the compilation of three copies of the Sangjang In holding such state events, temporary bodies called Dogam or
Uigwefor King Taejong Gongjeong Daewang and ueen Wongyeong Wanghu Cheong were created to supervise them. Dogam had differing names
in 1425 (the seventh year of the reign of King Sejong). A copy was stored in according to the name of the event, such as Chaengnye Dogam, Garyo
Yejo, the history archive in Chungju, and Gagakgo of the Chunchugwan (Office Dogam, Gukjang Dogam, Salleung Dogam, Bumyo Dogam, Jonsung
of History). After the state funeral of King Sejong, the Sangje Uigwe Dogam, Yeonggun Dogam, Nokhun Dogam, Jegi Dogam, Yeongjeop
andSangdam Uigwewere compiled. In the annals from the sixteenth century, Dogam, and Geumbogaejo Dogam. The organization of a typical Dogam
would include the following officials: one Dojaejo of Uijeong grade, three to History Archive. There were cases of making two copies, for the kings view-
four Jejo who were also Panseo grades, two to three Docheong of various ing and reference by Yejo. There were also cases of remaking, or re-binding
Danghagwan, four to eight Nangcheong, and five to six Gamjogwan. Below a Uigwe book due to missing pages.
them would be the working-level personnel of Sanwon, Noksa, Seori, Seosa, Most Uigwe for the kings viewing are currently in the French
Gojik, and Saryeong. In the case of Garyedogam, one each of the Jeongsa national museum in Paris, with some in Gyujanggak and Jangseogak. Copies
(highest ranking official), Busa (third highest ranking official), and from Chunchugwan, Odaesan, Taebaeksan, Jeongjoksan, Uijeongbu,
Jeongyogwan (Seungji) was added. In the case of Yeongjeop Dogam, which Ganghwabu, and Yejo (which houses partial copies) were transferred to
was set up to greet the royal messengers from China, there would be Gyujanggak, where they are currently stored. Copies from Jeoksangsan
Dangsang, such as Wonjeopsa, and Gwanban from the ministerial level at the History Archive and a portion of the Yejo copies have been transferred to
supervising body. Additionally, two or three Nangcheong from each of the Jangseogak and are stored there. The copy for the kings viewing was larger
departments would be utilized. in size and had a fancy cover. High-quality silk was used for the cover and
Each Dogam would create a registry that recorded the whole process the title. Brass rings and needles were used to bind the book. Print-style writ-
of the event from start to finish ordered by day. It would then categorize the ing was used, and red lines were drawn in between lines of writing. Each
information according to different themes and create a Uigwe for the purpose page was a separate sheet, and there were no marking seals. The copies for
of using it as a manual or a reference in the future. Uigwe would normally have storage in various offices and history archives have red textile covers and
detailed records of the kings orders, reports submitted to the king, various offi- refined iron rings and needles were used to bind them together. Semi-cursive
cial documents (Yimun, Naegwan, and Gamgyeol), work responsibilities of the styles of writing were used for the main text, and two page sheets, with spac-
Dogam, procurement, and the allocation of personnel and materials. It also es between the lines, were mass printed in black.
included income and expenditure of expenses, construction of buildings, Descriptions of the four ceremonial occasions of coming of age, wed-
designs of objects and various drawings of procedures, and records of rewards ding, funeral, and ancestral rites of the royal family make up most of the
for merit bestowed after the event was completed. Uigwe that currently exist. Uigwe also record matters related to state projects,
Since Uigwe were not distributed in great numbers, most of them including the construction of palaces and castles, building and mending royal
were transcribed rather than printed. One copy was made for the kings view- tombs, production of war ships and weapons, ceremonial utensils, musical
ing, and eight to nine copies were made to store, with one copy each going to instruments, and the compilation of annals and royal genealogy.
Uijeongbu, Yejo, Chunchugwan, Ganghwabu, Taebaeksan History Archive, The majority of Uigwe contents are records of Sangsi, Sangho, and
Odaesan History Archive, Jeoksangsan History Archive, and Jeongjoksan Seonsi events, in which kings, queens, crown princes, and crown princesses,
Distant view of the Myeongjeongjeon in the
Changgyeong Palace
Map of Myeongjeongjeon in a Uigwe
both living and dead, were given titles. This was also called Jonsungnye or
Chusungnye. Eulogistic titles were given on special occasions, such as the
sixtieth or seventieth birthdays. Posthumous titles were given on most occa-
sions, but eulogistic titles were sometimes given, as well. When titles or
eulogistic titles were given, a jade book and a golden seal were produced as a
certificate, and a large feast was held. Sangho Dogam, Jonsung Dogam, and
Seonsi Dogam were setup to prepare and carry out the ceremonies. The
Jangnyeorinseonwanghujonsung Dogam Uigwe, compiled in 1661, is an
excellent record of the formalities. Also, a Jinyeon Dogam was setup to han-
dle the feast for the event, and the Jinyeon Uigwe, which records the
events, makes for a volume of significant length. TheJinyeon Uigwecom-
piled in 1719 (the forty-fifth year of the reign of Sukjong) is a recording of
an unusual feast that was held to celebrate King Sukjong entering Giroso.
Compiled in 1827 (the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Sunjo),
Jagyeong Jeonjin Jakjeongnye Uigwe is a Jinyeon Uigwe that was pub-
lished in Korean letters.
The next largest type of Uigwe in terms of volume are those related
to royal funerals for kings, queens, crown princes, and crown princesses.
When there was a state funeral, the three dogam of Gukjang Dogam,
Salleung Dogam, and Binjeon Dogam were established. After the funeral, a
Honjeon Dogam was setup and following three years of mourning, the
ancestral tablet was enshrined in Jongmyo Shrine and a Bumyo Dogam was
established. This all resulted in a great number of Uigwe for various events.
Numerous Uigwe have been passed on, includingBinjeon Honjeon Dogam
Uigwe and Salleung Dogam Uigwe for ueen Uiin in 1600 (the thirty-
third year of the reign of King Seonjo), as well as Injo Daewang Gukyul
Cover of a Uigwe. The exquisite value of the
Uigwe lies within their rarity as documents that
capture so many details of so many different
aspects of the life of the royal family.
Deungnok,compiled in 1649. When a royal tomb was moved, Cheolleung Gyeongmogung Uigwe,compiled during the reign of King Jeongjo are good
Dogam and Cheonbong Dogam were setup, while Sugae Dogam was estab- examples. However, they were created by Jongmyo, Sajikseo, and other offic-
lished for repairing the royal tombs. Many Uigwe from these events are still es in charge of the event, not Dogam. Hwangdan Jonghyang Uigwe, com-
extant. Also, though uncommon, there are Uigwe on the creation and repair piled in 1822 (the twenty-second year of the reign of King Sunjo), is a record
of the umbilical cord room, in which the umbilical cords of princes and of the enshrinement Ming Dynasty officials such as Seodal and Iyeosong on a
princesses were kept after their birth. Hwangdan that was installed inside Changdeok Palace.
Ceremonies in which princes were installed as crown princes, as Most Uigwe on diplomatic formalities are for greeting the envoys of
well as ceremonies in which crown princesses were installed as queens, were the Ming and ing Dynasties of China that had been sent to Joseon. The
called Chaengnye. Many Uigwe record these types of events. TheMyeong- ones that have been preserved include Yeongjeop Dogma Docheong
seong Wanghu Chaengnye Dogam Uigwe that was compiled in 1661 is a Uigwe,compiled in 1610 (the second year of the reign of King Gwanghae-
prime example. The emperors of China installed the kings of Joseon, but gun),Yeongjeop Dogam Gunsaeg Uigwe,compiled in 1637 (the fifteenth
there are no records of any ceremonies. Most Uigwe of royal installations year of the reign of King Injo), andYeongjeop Dogam Jammulsaeg Uigwe,
and festive occasions come with drawings of the procedures. There are many compiled in 1643 (the twenty-first year of the reign of King Injo). However,
recordings of festive occasions (coming of age, marriages, and state festi- all the currently existing Uigwe about greeting envoys are from the
vals), but the only Garye Uigwe that has been preserved is of the marriages Gwanghaegun-Injo era, with none extant following King Hyojongs era. In
of kings and crown princes, including Hyeonjong Myeongseong Wanghu the second half of the Joseon era, there are no records of the greeting of ing
Garye Dogam Uigwe, compiled in 1651. There are also Nokhun Uigwe Dynasty envoys, a strong sign of anti- ing sentiment.
(records of rewarding officials), of which Somu Yeongsanokun Dogam Construction of castles, palaces, and Jongmyo were not a part of
Uigwe, compiled in 1628, (the sixth year of the reign of King Injo) and formalities, but were large scale state projects, and Uigwe were made to
Bunmunokun Dogam Uigwe,compiled in 1729, (the fifth year of the reign record the details and background to the project, as well as the financial,
of King Yeongjo) are excellent examples. material, and personnel resources used for the project. The records include
There are not many Uigwe dedicated to ancestral rituals. This is repairs of Yeongnyeongjeon in Jongmyo, as well as repairs of Changdeok
because the ancestral rituals were not large-scale events and were carried out Palace and Changgyeong Palace. There are also records regarding the con-
routinely so no Dogam were setup for them. Jongmyo Uigwe, compiled in struction of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.Jongmyosuri Dogam Uigwe,com-
1697 (the twenty-third year of the reign of King Sukjong),Sajikseo Uigwe, piled in 1636 (the fourteenth year of the reign of King Injo), andHwaseong
compiled in 1783 (the seventh year of the reign of King Jeongjo), and Seongyeog Uigwe,published in type, in 1801 (the first year of the reign of
Content of the Uigwe, which document not only the records of all the procedures, protocols,
formalities, and requirements needed to conduct important ceremonies such as weddings, funerals,
banquets, and receiving foreign missions, but also include details on the construction of royal
buildings and tombs as well as other various cultural activities of the royal family.
King Sunjo), are outstanding examples. In particular, the latter Uiwge is a portrait in 1713 (the thirty-ninth year of the reign of King Sukjong). There is
massive work of nine books and ten volumes, and is a crucial record that also the Wonhaeng Eulmyo Jeongni Uigwe, which was compiled in 1795
demonstrates the castle building technologies of the day. There are also (the nineteenth year of the reign of King Jeongjo), and is a record of the king
Uigwe for the manufacture of firearms, ceremonial utensils, and musical paying respect to the grave of his father, Crown Prince Sado in Suwon and
instruments.Hwagi Dogma Uigwecompiled in 1614 (the sixth year of the holding a feast for his mother, Lady Hyegyeong. There is also the
reign of King Gwanghaegun), Jegiakgi Dogam Uigwe, compiled in 1624 Chingyeong Uigwe, compiled in 1739 (the fifteenth year of the reign of
(the second year of the reign of King Injo), andBoinso Uigwe,compiled in King Yeongjo) and theChuswae Dogam Uigwe,which records the hunting
1876 (the thirteenth year of the reign of King Gojong) are prime examples. down of escaped slaves and their return to their owners. The Daesarye
These Uigwe include many explanatory drawings. Uigwe, compiled in 1743 (the nineteenth year of the reign of King
Records of compiling and publishing key royal documents, such as Yeongjo), and the Chillimjeongbusi Uigwe is a Uigwe compiled in 1865
the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, or the royal family tree, are recorded in (the second year of the reign of King Gojong).
Uigwe. There are around ten Uigwe covering the compilation of the annals, There are over 3,000 copies of 600 types of Uigwe from the Joseon
includingInjodaewang Sillok Chansucheong Uigwe,compiled in 1653 (the Dynasty. They are detailed recordings of royal formalities and various state
fourth year of the reign of King Hyojong), and Hyojong Daewang Sillok events. Through these Uigwe, we are able to learn of the glorious culture of
Chansucheong Uigwe, compiled in 1661 (the second year of the reign of the Joseon Dynasty that lasted for more than five hundred years and are also
King Hyeonjong). There are a great number of Uigwe onSeonwollokand able to re-create it. In particular, various pictures and explanatory drawings
Seonwon Boryak, which recorded information on the royal genealogies. give us a lifelike perspective of the time.
Seonwollok Gyojeongcheong Uigwe, compiled in 1681 (the fifth year of The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and Seungjeong Ilgi are
the reign of King Sukjong), andSeonwon Boryak Gyojeongcheong Uigwe, records of history, and their main focus was politics. However, Uigwe are
compiled in 1702 (the second year of the reign of King Sukjong) are prime comprehensive recordings of state and royal formalities, music, art, architec-
examples. Other examples include theGukjo Bogam Gamincheong Uigwe, ture, sculpture, crafts, and publishing and are therefore precious jewels of
compiled in 1783 (the seventh year of the reign of King Jeongjo), and cultural history. Such massive amounts of records are very difficult to find in
Cheonui Sogam Chansucheong Uigwe, compiled in 1755 (the thirty-first any pre-modern society in the East or the West, and are an invaluable part of
year of the reign of King Yeongjo). world heritage.
There are other interesting Uigwe as well. One example is the
Eoyongdosa Dogam Uigwe,which is a record of the drawing of the kings
TheDongui Bogamliterally meaning
Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine,is
an encyclopedic bible of medical knowledge and
treatment techniques compiled in Korea in 1613.
It was edited by Heo Jun with the collective
support of medical experts and literati by royal
command.
DONGUIBOGAM: PRINCIPLES AND

PRACTICE OF EASTERN MEDICINE
Dongui Bogam (Mirror of Eastern Medicine) is a medical book

written by the royal doctor Heo Jun (1546-1615). King Seonjo
ordered the writing of the book in 1597 (the thirtieth year his reign)
and Heo Jun subsequently began to compile the medical books of
China and Korea into a single work. The task was completed in
1610 (the second year of the reign of Gwanghaegun) and the work
was published in 1613 (the fifth year of the reign of Gwanghaegun).
This work consists of a total of twenty-five volumes in twenty-five
books, of which two volumes of two books are a list of contents.
The other twenty-three volumes in twenty-three books are the main
text. Naeuiwon (literally the Royal Clinic), the chief medical
institution of the Joseon era, published it using wooden type.
T he two Japanese invasions during the reign of King Seonjo devastated
Korea, inflicting massive social, political, and economic damage. On
top of this, consecutive droughts and epidemics that followed in the wake of
Heo Jun worked on compiling various materials, together with the doctor and
Confucian scholar Jeong Jak, royal doctors Lee Myeong-won, Yang Rye-su,
Kim Eung-nak, and Jeong Rye-nam. However, war broke out again, and as the
war impoverished the people. All of this exhausted the national treasury, doctors all scattered everywhere, work had to be stopped. After the war, there
brought the Neo-Confucian order to the brink of collapse, and shook the was still a need to compile a comprehensive medical book. However, higher
foundations of the government, creating further social confusion. In addition, priority order was given to emergency medical books to save people from war,
when the king fled the capital, an angry mob burned down Jangyewon and famine, and epidemics. This led to the compilation of the obstetrics and gyne-
Hyeongjo. These institutions contained the records of slaves. All the palaces cology book entitled Taesanjip, the epidemic treatment book Changjinjip,
were burned down. Precious records, such as previous Jangseocheo, books and the emergency medical book Gugeupbang. After compilation, these
stored in Hongmungwan, annals, journals stored in Chunchugwan, and other works were translated into Korean and published as Eonhae Taesan Jibyo,
works were all burned. Many surviving documents and books were plun- Eonhae Gugeupbang,andEonhae Duchang Jibyo.When work on the initial
dered by the Japanese military so that there were not sufficient books to refer Korean language version of medical books was complete, King Seonjo ordered
to when carrying out state affairs. The situation was so dire that precedents Heo Jun to compile the comprehensive medical book by himself by referring to
had to be searched for in the annals when needed. five hundred Naejang Bangseo books. Through great effort, Heo managed to
Publication of books was a high priority to help overcome this des- finish the project. Unfortunately, King Seonjo passed away without witnessing
perate situation, as well as to rectify the Confucian order in the post-war its completion, and though Heo Jun was exiled for political reasons (between
state. There were not even enough books to hold civil service exams to the years 1608 and 1609, he was exiled and reinstated many times), he complet-
recruit talented people, so books had to be published for that purpose. Under ed the compilation ofDongui Bogam.
these circumstances, books on history and Confucianism, references for state When Heo Jun finished the compilation and submitted it to the king,
affairs, as well as medical books, military books, and various other types of Gwanghaegun expressed his satisfaction at finally seeing the completion of
books were obtained from China.Dongui Bogamwas a medical book com- that project. After he had succeeded to the throne, he bestowed a special
piled in these dire times and published on a massive scale. horse on Seo in appreciation of his hard work. Immediately afterwards, the
Our knowledge of the compilation and publication process of the first king ordered the Naeuiwon to set up an office, publish the book, and distrib-
edition ofDongui Bogam,are based mostly on information found in theThe ute it throughout the country. However, the situation at the time did not allow
Annals of the Joseon Dynastyand theDongui Bogamitself. The compilation for the swift publication of this work. It was divided and sent to the three
of Dongui Bogam began in 1596 on the order of King Seonjo. At the time, southern provinces (Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and Chungcheong), on November 21,
EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 230 231 DONGUIBOGAM: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF EASTERN MEDICINE
Traditional medicine
1611, where wood printing blocks were to be made. However, this effort was money. As a method of becoming self-sufficient, the Hullyeon Dogam was
unsuccessful because the massive volume of books presented serious technical given the role of making wooden type and printing books. The Gyoseogwan in
challenges. In addition, the letters in the finer notes were too small for engrav- charge of printing books did exist at this time; however, it was not until after
ing. In particular, it was difficult to verify that the copies, made from the origi- the middle of the seventeenth century that it was able to recover its printing
nal manuscripts, had no mistakes. This was an important issue since even a capabilities. Urgently required books were given priority, despite the difficul-
small mistake in the names of the medicines or in the prescriptions for illnesses ties in the post-war era. These books included history books and Confucian
could be the difference between life and death. The Naeuiwon cancelled the books that were needed to rectify the Confucian social order and references
decision to divide the book and make woodblock letter copies. Instead, the books for state affairs. Other books, such as medical books and military books
materials that had been prepared in the three provinces were sent back to were secured domestically and then were compiled and published in China.
Naeuiwon and wooden-type boards were used to print the books instead. The activities of the Naeuiwon, the department in charge of publishing medical
The publication record that follows the foreword in the first edition books at the time, illustrate the efforts that went into distributing such books,
states that the Dongui Bogam was published in November 1613 at the as well as the difficulties of publishing at the time.
Naeuiwon and that the proofreaders were Lee Hui-heon, the head of the The Naeuiwon reported thatThe prescriptions we had stored have all
Naeuiwon, and Yun Ji-min, a ninth grade official in the Naeuiwon. At that been lost due to the wars and there is nothing to refer to when discussing medi-
time, the two were appointed to the special position of Uiseoin Chulgam cine or for those who wish to learn. We would like to print some key medical
Gyogwan (proofreader for the publication of medical books). Their names books by gathering a few books that have been scattered and lost. We have pre-
would also be record as proofreaders in other books that were produced in a pared adequate amounts of paper. When we looked into the process, it did not
similar way, such asChando Bangnon Maekgyeol Jipseong,Sinchanbyeog appear too difficult; however, we worry since there is no way for us to procure
Onbang,Ganibyeog Onbang,andByeogyeok Sinbang. the wages for the craftsmen. If we are provided with ten craftsmen from
It was customary for the government to print important books in Gyoseogwan and expenses, we will be able to print the essential medical
metal type or wooden blocks. However, at the time, since so many were lost books. How about having various departments pay the wages for their lower
due to the war and there was a severe shortage of goods, the books could grade officials and have them print the books The king granted their request.
only be printed with wooden type. Hullyeon Dogam, a military institution, After the Japanese invasion in 1592, the whole government was in a
would print books. In order to procure its operational expenses it had its sol- state of disarray, not just the printing department. It was not until the end of
diers farm. However, this was not enough to make Hullyeon Dogam self-suf- the reign of King Injo, in the later part of the seventeenth century, that
ficient, so it utilized idle soldiers to make type and print books to raise more Gyoseogwan was able to continue its role as national printer. The times were
Publishers of the first edition of theDongui Bogam.
Joseon-era woodblock reproduction ofDongui Bogamfrom the Jeolla Provincial government office
Printing block used for the reproduction of theDongui Bogam
so difficult that the government had to worry about paying the salaries of the
craftsmen working in Gyoseogwan. Despite theDongui Bogambeing such
a massive work, it was still completed under these difficult circumstances.
After the first edition of theDongui Bogamwas printed, it was sent to the
government offices in Gyeongsan and Jeolla Provinces and reproduced with
woodblocks. Later, the demand for the book increased and it was printed
continuously until the nineteenth century. It was also reproduced multiple
times in ing China and Japan. Digital and translated copies of Dongui
Bogamare still published to this day.
The complete set ofDongui Bogamconsists of 108 sections in 25
books in 25 volumes. It is divided into two volumes of table of contents, four
volumes of Naegyeongpyeon (internal medicine), four volumes of
Oehyeongpyeon (external medicine), eleven volumes of Japbyeongpyeon
(various diseases), three volumes of Tangaekpyeon (herbal decoctions), and
one volume of Chimgupyeong (acupuncture). Thus the book is basically orga-
nized into five divisions of internal medicine, external medicine, various dis-
eases, herbal decoction, and acupuncture. The twenty-five books of Dongui
Bogamhave been edited into two parts. One part is the two-volume table of
contents, and the other part is the twenty-three volumes of the five divisions.
Under each division, items are listed according to category, and each catego-
ry is in turn divided into sub-categories. The theory behind each disease and
its prescription are recorded under each item, as is the literature cited. When
describing the cited literature as a whole, an article on the historical medical
techniques is placed at the beginning of the book, and a brief explanation is
given at the end of the book. There are a total of eighty-six types of historical
medical techniques described in this work.
The list of contents fills the first and second books; the first volume pediatrics, with a list of illnesses according to their symptoms.
of the main text of the Dongui Bogam is the third book. Therefore, the In Tangaekpyeon, which treats clinical pharmacology, there are
foreword by Lee Jeong-gu (1564-1635) was written in 1610 (the third year descriptions of various herbal decoctions. Information on the collection of herbs,
of the reign of Gwanghaegun). At the end of the foreword, the location, time, dried herbs, three standards for medicines, processing medicine, preparing medi-
and publisher are given. The title and name of the proofreader from that time cine, determining decoctions, powder and pills, boiling medicine, taking medi-
are also stated. At the beginning of Naegyeongpyeong, which is the first cine, five different tastes, and scents of medicine are included. All the medicine
page of the body of the book, is a foreword by the author. Here, he explains is categorized into over 140 kinds, including 35 kinds of water type, 18 kinds of
why he titled the bookDongui Bogam(Mirror of Eastern Medicine). earth type, and 107 kinds of grain type. In most cases, the popular name was
Naegyeongpyeong, describes the diseases that belong to internal written in Korean under the medicines Chinese name, and relevant information,
medicine in modern medical terminology. The content includes body, spirits, energy, such as the characteristics, tastes, existence of poisonous properties, efficacy,
ghosts, blood, dreams, vocal sounds, language, sap, bodily fluids, internal organs, and time for collection was summarized.Chimgupyeondescribed the parts of
protoplasm, insects, urine and feces, self-development, and old-age illnesses. the body where acupuncture could be applied.
The content ofOehyeongpyeonpertains to the areas related to sur- Dongui Bogam is compiled into five divisions of internal medi-
gery. The content focuses on the head, face, ears, nose, mouth and tongue, cine, external medicine, various diseases, herbal decoction, and acupuncture.
teeth, throat, head and neck, back and chest, stomach, waist, armpits and The divisions categories and sub-categories are established according to the
arms and legs, skin, muscle, bone and muscle, hair, and genitals. The content diseases. Then under the categories and sub-categories, the theories and pre-
also encompasses surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, dermatology, scriptions are given in detail, together with the source, so that the history of the
urology, and dentistry. prescriptions for the diseases can be seen clearly. In establishing the categories,
Japbyeongpyeon, focuses on pathology, diagnostics, allopathy, first those diseases that were most common were given priority. The diseases symp-
aid, epidemics, gynecology, and pediatrics. It covers a variety of topics, includ- toms, cause, diagnosis, and prescription were listed in an easy-to-understand
ing diagnosing vitality, sickness from anxiety, determination of illness, pulse, manner. In particular, the prescriptions are detailed, the sources are clearly stat-
and medicine usage. There is also a mixture of internal medicine: wind illness, ed, and in some cases, folk remedies, or secret recipes from personal experience
cold illness, hot illness, rough temper, hot temper, internal injury, fatigue, upset were added to improve the effect of treatments. An important feature is that the
stomach, vomiting, coughing, ulcer, edema, abdominal dropsy, thirst, jaundice, categories were established based mainly on the basis of symptoms. This
spring epidemic, and unidentified epidemics. Additionally, external medicine, allowed clinicians who did not have time to look through the massive volumes
such tuberculosis, boils, and injuries are also included, as is gynecology and to identify the disease easily. They were also able to conveniently look up pre-
Collection at Jangseogak
Copy at the National Library of Korea
Twenty-four books in twenty-four volumes at Gyujanggak
Korean version ofDongui Bogamat Jangseogak
scriptions. The book is not simply a clinical, medical book either. It fully
absorbed the basics of Chinese medicine and added the medicines of the Jin and
Yuan dynasties, as well as the medical practices and medicines of Korea. This
book can be called the total sum of Korean medicine. It was reproduced multi-
ple times in ing China, Japan, and Korea.
The first edition of Dongui Bogam is listed as a Memory of the
World By UNESCO. At the time it was registered, the first edition was
stored in three different locations, in Korea. Of the three, the complete copies
at the National Library of Korea and the Jangseogak version at the Academy
of Korean Studies were listed as aMemory of the World.The materials in
all three locations have a common factor. They were all previously stored at
history archives in the Joseon era, as that was a method for preserving them.
The copy at Jangseogak (Picture 4) is a complete copy of twenty-
five books in twenty-five volumes and is presumed to have been stored in the
Jeoksangsan history archive in Muju. Jangseogak was designated Treasure
Number 1085-2 in 2008. It is a complete set of all twenty-five books in per-
fect condition with uniform page and paper conditions throughout the whole
set. Even the name and title of the book written at the bottom of the book is
flawless, which goes to show how well books in the historical archives could
be preserved. On the first book can be seen theseal, which was
placed on books granted by the king.
The copy at the National Library of Korea (Picture 5) was the copy
bestowed by Gwanghaegun in February 1614 (the sixth year of the reign of
Gwanghaegun) to the Odaesan history archive. It is a complete set of twenty-
five books and is of the same edition as the Jangseogak copy. However, the
title on the cover page is , short for Dongui Bogam, but unlike the
Jangseogak copy, the record of the kings bestowal can still be seen on the Jabyeongpyeon. Yeungnam University Library has one copy of volume one of
inside of the cover page. On the record of the kings grant, the handwriting of Tangaekpyeon. Cheongju Early Printing Museum has one copy of volume four
Lee Deok-hyeong (1566-1645), the Jwaseungji at the time, can still be seen. of Oehyeongpyeon. The first edition copies ofDongui Bogamthat are regis-
Though it is not listed as a Memory of the World, the copy stored at tered as a UNESCO Memory of the World are more meaningful in that they
Seoul National Universitys Gyujanggak (Picture 6), used to be stored in the are complete copies. However, the incomplete collections were also pub-
Taebaeksan history archive. It has one book missing and so only has twenty- lished at the same time, using the same method as the Memory of the World
four books in twenty-four volumes (Gyu 1933). There is also a copy of sev- copies, and they are meaningful in that they are relics that allow us to see the
enteen books of seventeen volumes (Gyu 3553) that has eight books missing. printed books in their original form.
The two copies were designated together as Treasure Number 1085-3 in Together with the first edition of theDongui Bogam,three books of the
2008. The twenty-four-book copy has the same handwriting and seal as the Korean copy ofDongui Bogam(Picture 7) are kept in Jangseogak. There are no
other copies, and the content is records regarding the transcription or translation of the Korean copy, so it is diffi-
.The features of its shape are almost identical to cult to know the exact period when the book was made. However, the characteris-
the copies at Jangeseogak and the National Library of Korea. tics of the paper and vocabulary suggest it was translated and transcribed around
The other copy of the first edition is titled.It is like the copy the middle of the nineteenth century. The book was made for the ladies of the
in the National Library of Korea. The seventeen books are physically the royal family, and is included in the Yeongyeongdang Seochaeng Mongnok, a
same, but eight books2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, and 18are missing. list of Korean materials moved from Yeongyeongdang to Nakseonjae (created
There are more copies of the first edition, with missing volumes around 1920). This shows that the royal family ladies used it.
stored in the Jikjisa Seongbo Museum, Hwabong Book Museum, Heo Jun Dongui Bogam,holds great meaning in that it emphasized practi-
Museum, Yeungnam University Library, and the Cheongju Early Printing cality and referred to almost every medical book known around the world at
Museum. The Jikjisa Seongbo Museum copy has twenty-two books remain- the time of its compilation. The content was rich, and it organized all known
ing. It is missing volumes ten and eleven of Jabyeongpyeon and volume two medical knowledge of its time. In addition, the book was published many
of Naegyeongpyeon. A special aspect of this copy is that, together with the times in Korea, as well as in China and Japan. Since, it listed all the explana-
seal, it was granted to an individual. Hwabong Book Museum has one copy tions and prescriptions according to symptoms and recorded sources, folk
of volume four of Jabyeongpyeon, one copy of volume two of Naegyeong- remedies, and even prescriptions from personal experience, doctors loved
pyeon, and one copy of volume two of Jabyeongpyeon. The Heo Jun using it. The book recognizes the importance of Korean medicine and
Museum has four books of volumes one, three, six, and seven of emphasizes its usage and distribution. Over 640 types of Korean medicine
An oriental doctor feels the pulse to make a diagnosis
Jinmaek (acupuncture)
medicinal herbs
are listed, in Korean in the Tangaekpyeon, and an effort was made to make it
accessible to everyone to help revive national medicine. The book also is sig-
nificant to printing culture, in that it was a large work printed when the pub-
lication system that had been passed down from Goryeo to Joseon had been
severely damaged by war.
World Heritage Map
Dongui Bogam
Seungjeongwon Ilgi
Uigwe
Pyengan & Hwanghae Provice Royal Tombs of

Goguryeo Tomb Complex the Joseon Dynasty
Annals of the Joseon

Dynasty
Jongmyo Shrine
Seoul
Jikji Simche Yojeol
Hunminjeongeum
Ganghwa
Gangneung
Dolmen Sites
Danoje Festival
Suwon
Hwaseong Fortress
Gyeonju
Seokguram Grotto
Gochang
Bulguksa Temple
Dolmen Sites
Yangdong village
Hwasun
Dolmen Sites
Hapcheon Andong
Haeinsa Temple Hahoe village
Jeolla-do &
Gyeongsang-do
Pansori
245 WORLD HERITAGE MAP

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SECOND EDITION

Published by the Academy of Korean Studies Press

Edited by the Center for International Affairs

Address The Academy of Korean Studies

Copyright 2010 The Academy of Korean Studies

ISBN 979-11-86178-16-4 03900

Printed in Korea THE ACADEMY OF KOREAN STUDIES PRESS

T he Center for International Affairs (CEFIA) at the Academy of Korean

HAEINSA TEMPLE JANGGYENG PANJEON, THE DEPOSITORY OF THE TRIPITAKA

CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

WORLD HERITAGE HWASEONG FORTRESS

GYEONGJU HISTORIC AREAS

GOGURYEO TOMB COMPLEX

ROYAL TOMBS OF THE JOSEON DYNASTY

HISTORIC VILLAGES OF KOREA: HAHOE AND YANGDONG

SEOKGURAM GROTTO AND

Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, both of which were built

Dabotap (Seokgatap appears in the background)

A fter unification, Silla reformed its dominant political institutions, as

HAEINSA TEMPLE JANGGYENG PANJEON,

The Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depository of the

F ounded in the early ninth century, Goryeo independently unified the

Buddhist writings: sutras, laws, and treatises. In general, the Haeinsa

Buddhist monks from Haeinsa making Tripitaka

Fortunately, the Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon has never suf-

Jongmyo Shrine is a royal shrine in which the ancestral tablets of

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 34 35 JONGMYO SHRINE

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 36 37 JONGMYO SHRINE

A well at Jongmyo Shrine. The water in this well

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 38 39 JONGMYO SHRINE

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 40 41 JONGMYO SHRINE

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 42 43 JONGMYO SHRINE

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 44 45 JONGMYO SHRINE

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 46 47 JONGMYO SHRINE

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 48 49 JONGMYO SHRINE

CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

Changdeok Palace is an important palace that was built in the early

I ncluding its back gardens, Changdeok Palace covers an area of 434,877

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 52 53 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 54 55 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

and his household.

Injeongjeon and Injeongmun

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 56 57 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 58 59 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 60 61 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

The Daejojeon Area

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 62 63 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 64 65 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 66 67 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

Manwolmun Gate of the East Wall and the Flower

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 68 69 CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX

Suwons Hwaseong Fortress is an Eupseong (a castle surrounding a

W hen King Jeongjo (1752-1800), the twenty-second king of Joseon,

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 72 73 HWASEONG FORTRESS

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 74 75 HWASEONG FORTRESS

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 76 77 HWASEONG FORTRESS

reign of King Jeongjo). Since he planned on living there after he abdicated,

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 78 79 HWASEONG FORTRESS

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 80 81 HWASEONG FORTRESS

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 82 83 HWASEONG FORTRESS

GYEONGJU HISTORIC AREAS

The Gyeongju Historic Areas contain many vestiges and relics of

Poseokjeong Pavilion in the Namsan Mountain

EXPLORING KOREAN HISTORY THROUGH WORLD HERITAGE 86 87 GYEONGJU HISTORIC AREAS