Joseon Taesil Moved to Goyang Seosamneung Finds Its Original Place

Cultural Heritage Administration Palace and Tombs Headquarters Produces Report on Joseon Taesil and Burial Sites Status

Tae-sil

The Cultural Heritage Administration's Office of Royal Palaces and Tombs announced on the 11th that it has conducted a survey and published a report on the documentary materials and the current status of the initial burial sites (초안지) and initial interment sites (초장지) of the Joseon royal family's taesil (胎室) and tombs (墳墓) located at Seosamneung (西三陵, Historic Site No. 200) in Goyang. The term 초안지 refers to the place where the placenta of a royal baby was first buried, and 초장지 refers to the place where the deceased's body was initially interred.

Seosamneung in Goyang is a cluster of three royal tombs enshrining Heolleung (Queen Janggyeong, wife of King Jungjong), Hyolleung (King Injong and Queen Inseong), and Yereung (King Cheoljong and Queen Cheorin). The burial grounds contain fifty-four taesil of Joseon kings, princes, and princesses, as well as forty-five tombs of princes, princesses, and concubines. A taesil is the place where the placenta of a royal baby was buried. The Joseon royal family selected auspicious land to enshrine the placenta, praying not only for the baby's health but also for the prosperity of the royal family and the nation.

Originally, the taesil and tombs of the Joseon royal family were established in auspicious sites (길지, gilji) across the country. To prevent damage caused by poor management during the Japanese colonial period, a collective taesil and burial ground were created and relocated to Seosamneung in 1929. In this process, the nature of the sites as auspicious places and their historical context were significantly damaged. Cultural properties such as stone artifacts decorating the taesil and tombs were scattered and left neglected.

Sukui Grave

The Office of Royal Palaces and Tombs commissioned the Academy of Korean Studies' Jangseogak Library to restore the historical significance of the taesil and tombs and to explore systematic management methods. They examined documentary materials from the Joseon and Japanese colonial periods, surveyed the initial interment sites of tombs concentrated in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, and identified the initial burial sites of taesil scattered nationwide. As a result, they uncovered specific circumstances regarding the relocation of taesil and tombs and confirmed the locations of taesil and tombs that were either incorrectly reported or uncertain. For example, the tomb of Royal Consort Gyeongbin Kim of King Heonjong was found to be originally located in Huigyeong-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, rather than in Huigyeongwon, Namyangju.

The Office of Royal Palaces and Tombs will share the report with local governments where the initial burial sites (초안지 and 초장지) of the Joseon royal family's taesil and tombs are located, so that these sites can be protected and utilized. Additionally, they will conduct further investigations into taesil sites that were not relocated to Seosamneung to grasp the overall scale of the Joseon royal family's taesil. An official stated, “We plan to complete the maintenance of walking trails and visitor convenience facilities by September and prepare experiential programs accompanied by guides.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.