Royal Tombs Information

When the royal tombs were constructed, man-made facilities were kept to a minimum in order not to damage or interfere with the natural surroundings. The design of the tombs was carefully planned, so that various ancestral ceremonies and rituals could be performed there on a regular basis. Over time, certain traditions developed for the construction of the tombs. Near to the tombs, a small building was constructed, which was used when preparing for ceremonies and rituals. When you walk past the building, a forested area and a stone bridge over a stream comes into view. In front of the tomb, a red gate with cylindrical pillars was placed, this symbolized to visitors that they were entering a tomb site. After passing through the gate, you enter the center of the tomb site. The royal tombs were built by piling earth into a huge mound and have a number of features, such as doors, and stone guardian statues standing in front of the tombs. Throughout the Joseon Dynasty, the royal tombs maintained their basic design, but gradually adapted to the topographical conditions and circumstances of the times. The 40 royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty were officially listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in June 2009. This was due to their unique architecture, the comprehensive preservation of all of the tombs from the 500-year dynasty, and their locations, which were decided by Confucian and geomantic traditions. Excluded from the list were the Jereung and Hureung tombs in North Korea.