Royal Lineage and Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty

List of Joseon monarchs

Information Use

Glossary of Royal Tombs

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• • 1. Gokjang (曲墻)

    Low walls surrounding the grave mound on its east, west, and north sides.

  • 2. Bongbun (封墳)

    A round mound of earth under which the owner of the tomb lies; stone screens (屛風石, byeongpungseok) and stone rails (欄干石, nanganseok) encircle the mound to protect it and prevent erosion.

  • 3. Seogyang (石羊)

    Stone sculpture of a sheep that guards the tomb.

  • 4. Seoko (石虎)

    Stone sculpture of a tiger that guards the tomb.

  • 5. Seoksang (石床) or Honyuseok (魂遊石)

    As a stone platform placed in front of the mound; also called honyuseok, meaning a place where the soul of the deceased king plays.

  • 6. Mangjuseok (望柱石)

    A pair of stone columns erected on both sides of the mound; Gukjo oryeeui (國朝五禮儀, Illustrated Book of Five Rites of State) refers to it as seokmangju (石望柱) and jeonjukseok (錢竹石), but the term mangjuseok has been commonly used since 1425.

  • 7. Jangmyeongdeung (長明燈)

    Stone lantern.

  • 8. Munseogin (文石人)

    Stone sculpture of a civil official to attend the king.

  • 9. Museogin (武石人)

    Stone sculpture of a military official to attend the king.

  • 10. Seongma (石馬)

    Stone sculpture of a horse placed either in the back or to the side of the munseogin and museogin.

  • 11. Sansinseok (山神石)

    Stone altar used to perform rites for the Mountain Spirit who protects mountains and hills; located opposite side of the yegam pit, where written invocation is burnt, in the rear of the T-shaped hall (jeongjagak, ancestor-worship service hall).

  • 12. Yegam (瘞坎) or mangnyowi (望燎位)

    A pit used for burning and burying written prayers during ancestral rituals performed at royal tombs; generally located in the right-rear of the jeongjagak.

  • 13. Jeongjagak (丁字閣)

    A building used for setting a table with food, burning incense, and performing bows during royal ancestral rituals; called a ‘T-shaped hall’ (jeongjagak) after its floor plan.

  • 14. Eorogye (御路階) or donggye (東階)

    During royal ancestral rituals, the official in charge of arranging them walks up and down these stairs; meaning ‘the stairs leading to the path of the king’ since they were used by kings when they actually conducted rites.

  • 15. Hyangnogye (香爐階)

    Stairs used to carry incense during rituals; the official who carries the incense walks up the hyangnogye, crosses through the hallway (拜位廳, baewicheong) of the jeongjagak (T-shaped hall) and passes through the main section of the jeongjagak.

  • 16. Seo-gye (西階)

    The official (典祀官, jeonsagwan) who sets the table with food for rituals walks up and down these stairs then descends them to the yegam pit to burn or bury the written prayers.

  • 21~23. Sin-gye (神階), sin-gyo (神橋), and sillo (神路)

    Located behind the jeongjagak, these stairs, bridge, and path are believed to be used by the souls of the deceased kings and queens consort.

  • 18. Bigak (碑閣)

    Located west of the jeongjagak, this shed is built to protect stone markers or steles recording the achievements of kings.

  • 19. Eojeong (御井) or jejeong (祭井)

    A well used during state rituals, commonly circular and protected by walls.

  • 20. Suragan (水刺間) or suracheong (水刺廳)

    A building used to heat soup that is placed on the ritual table at the royal tomb; built to the east of the jeongjagak symmetrically with the subokbang.

  • 21. Subokbang (守僕房) or sujikbang (守直房)

    The residence of the tomb guards, known as sujikgun (守直軍) or subok (守僕), who maintains the jeongjagak; this building is erected to the west of the jeongjagak.

  • 22. Hyangeoro (香御路)

    A two-layed path stretching from the hongsalmun (red-spiked gate) to the jeongjagak. The upper path called hyangno is used to carry incense, and eoro, the path underneath, is used by the king or the official in charge; paved with either flagstones or square bricks. They lead respectively to the hyangrogye and eorogye stairs of the jeongjagak.

  • 23. Panwi (版位) or baewi (拜位)

    A dais next to the hongsalmun (red-spiked gate) where a king awaits or bows to the tomb when caring for it or performing a ritual.

  • 24. Hongsalmun (紅箭門)

    A gate separating royal tombs from private houses, erected since the early Joseon period; highly symbolic since a royal tomb can be entered only through such a gate.

  • 25. Geumcheongyo (金川橋)

    A bridge marking the boundary between the secular world and the royal tomb.

  • 26. Jaesil (齋室)

    The building where the tomb keeper resides and preparations for ancestral rites at royal tombs are made.