The Tae-sil Enshrining Joseon King Injong to Become a Treasure

"Following the Formalities According to the Joseon Taesil Uigwe"

When a royal descendant was born in the Joseon Dynasty, the placenta (胎) was thoroughly washed and placed in a jar. It was then moved outside the palace and enshrined separately. One of these has been designated as a National Treasure. It is the 'King Injong's Taesil' located in Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 23rd that after reviewing opinions from various sectors for a month and undergoing a Cultural Heritage Committee review, the designation decision will be finalized.

King Injong's Taesil was established in 1521, six years after the birth of Injong, the 12th king of Joseon. The site includes the Taesil where the placenta was enshrined and a stele erected during the Gabong (加封) ceremony. Gabong refers to the formal elevation of the placenta's status to enhance dignity when its owner ascends the throne. Injong's reign (1544?1545) was short, so the Gabong ceremony was not immediately performed.

The Taesil was constructed in an octagonal shape according to the formal layout depicted in the royal protocol (Uigwe). At the center, a Jungdongseok (中童石?a round stone placed on a square pedestal) was positioned to indicate where the placenta was enshrined. On the floor, several radiating stone slabs were arranged around the Jungdongseok. Stone railings surrounded the perimeter. A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "This is a typical Joseon Taesil style."

King Injong's Taesil was repaired in 1680 after damage, and the Taesil stele was rebuilt in 1711. However, during the Japanese colonial period, the Governor-General of Korea relocated the placenta jar and the Taejiseok (胎誌石?a stone or plaque buried with records of the placenta owner's personal information) to Seosamneung in Goyang. After being neglected for some time, it was excavated in 1999 and restored to its current form in 2007. A Cultural Heritage Administration official evaluated, "It follows the formal protocol of Joseon Taesil," and added, "The scale is large, and the stone carving techniques are excellent." They also said, "There are records that reveal the installation process and history, giving it high historical, academic, artistic, and technical value."

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