Hongneung and Yuneung Royal Tombs, Namyangju

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.207

Category

유적지

Era

조선시대~일제시대

Designated year

1970

Location

남양주시, 경기도— 경기 남양주시 홍유릉로 352-1 (금곡동)

Coordinates

37.632279, 127.207986

Hongneung is a royal tomb where the Emperor Gojong, the 26th king of Joseon, and his consort Empress Myeongseong are buried. Emperor Gojong failed to preserve the country against internal political upheavals and foreign aggression and during his reign. His wife, Empress Myeongseong, was slain by the Japanese Army in 1895. Empress Myeongseong's tomb was originally located near Cheongnyangni but she was later moved next to her husband. Distinguished from the existing styles of tombs at that time, Hongneung was constructed after the style of the tombs of the Ming emperors as the Korean Empire had been proclaimed in 1897. It has a 12 leaved-folding screen in stone and a stone plate embosomed among floral patterns but no stone slabs around the tumulus outside of the handrails. Instead of a T-shaped shrine, a house containing the king's bedroom with an area of five kan by four kan is placed in front of the tomb. Around the tomb are placed sculptures of civil and military officers and animal images such as giraffes, elephants, lions, and camels. The officer sculptures are large in size and traditional in their decoration. Yureung is another royal tomb where the Emperor Sunjong and his wives, the Empress Sunmyeonghyo, and Sunjeonghyo, are buried It is unique among the royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty in that has a room is assigned for each of the three graves. Around the tomb are located a 12-leaved folding screen embosomed with floral decorations and 12 kan handrails. Instead of a T-shaped shrine, a hall containing the king's bedroom stands beneath the tomb, backed up by animal and the officer sculptures. As the title "emperor" was accorded to Sunjong during the reign of the Emperor Gojong, this tomb was changed in size, style, and location of the buildings to be appropriate for the tomb of an emperor. To place two tombs into one, an outer fence was drawn and a pond made of stone was installed between the two. Although these royal tombs, Hongneung and Yureung, are the last of Joseon Dynasty, this does not have any implication for the history of royal tombs of Joseon Dynasty.

Location