Heonilleung

About this place

Heolleung is the tomb of Taejong, the 3rd king of Joseon (reigned 1400~1418), and Queen Wongyeong of the Min clan (1365~1420). It is a twin tomb, with burial mounds side by side within a single curved enclosure wall. Viewed from the front, Taejong's tomb is on the left (west) and Queen Wongyeong's on the right (east). Queen Wongyeong died first in 1420 (Sejong 2), and her tomb was built at the present site. While it was being built, Taejong prepared his own burial site in advance. When he died 2 years later in 1422 (Sejong 4), his tomb was built west of hers, creating the layout seen today. Both mounds are surrounded by stone screens and balustrades. The screens are carved with the twelve zodiac deities, ritual vajra thunderbolts and vajra bells, among other motifs. Around the mounds stand stone civil and military officials, horses, central stones, stone lanterns, stone tables for the spirits, watch pillars, sheep and tigers. In particular, the civil and military officials, horses, sheep and tigers number twice as many as at other royal tombs, following the arrangement of Hyeolleung and Jeongneung, the tombs of Goryeo's King Gongmin and Princess Noguk. The pavilion below the burial area houses two spirit-path steles: one erected after Taejong's death and another erected in 1695 (Sukjong 21) to replace the damaged original. Illeung is the tomb of Sunjo, the 23rd king of Joseon (reigned 1800~1834), and Empress Sunwon of the Kim clan (1789~1857). It is a joint tomb with the king and queen beneath a single mound. Following the principle that the right takes precedence over the left, Sunjo lies on the left and Empress Sunwon on the right when viewed from the front. Sunjo died in 1834 (Sunjo 34), and his tomb was built the following year near Jangneung, King Injo's tomb, in Gyoha, Paju. Because its geomantic setting was considered inauspicious, it was moved to the present site in 1856 (Cheoljong 6). The new location had originally held King Sejong's old Yeongneung tomb. During construction, stone figures and structures from that tomb and from the old Huireung tomb of Queen Janggyeong, King Jungjong's second queen, were dug up from the surrounding ground, reworked and reused. These included civil and military officials, horses, lanterns, spirit tables, watch pillars, sheep and tigers; some sheep, watch pillars and horses were newly made. This is recorded in the Uigwe of the Directorate for the Relocation and Construction of Illeung, compiled after the move. Empress Sunwon died the year after the relocation and was buried jointly at Illeung. The pavilion below the burial area contains two inscribed markers: marker 1, erected during Joseon, names King Sunjo and Queen Sunwon; marker 2, erected during the Korean Empire, names Emperor Sunjo Suk and Empress Sunwon Suk. ✨AI

Related places and guides

• 경복궁 · Gyeongbokgung Palace
• 명동교자 · Myeongdong Kyoja
• 광장시장 · Gwangjang Market
• Seoul travel guides