Seosamneung

Seosamneung (西三陵) is a set of three royal tombs, Hireung, Hyoreung, and Yeoreung, located in Wondang-dong, Deokyang District, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It was designated as Historic Site No. 200 of South Korea on May 26, 1970. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overview

Seosamneung consists of three royal tombs: Hireung (禧陵), Hyoreung (孝陵), and Yeoreung (睿陵). After Hireung, the tomb of Queen Jangkyeong, the second wife of Jungjong of Joseon, was first established, the tomb of Injong of Joseon and his queen, Queen Inseong, Hyoreung, and the tomb of Cheoljong of Joseon and his queen, Queen Cheorin, Yeoreung, were built. As a result, the three tombs came to be called "Seosamneung" because they are located west of Hanyang.

In addition to the three royal tombs, Seosamneung contains three won (royal shrine tombs), one myo (tomb), 47 tombs of princes, princesses, and royal concubines, and 54 taesil (placenta jars). In 1665 (Injo 23), when Crown Prince Sohyeon died, he was buried here and the tomb was called Sohyeon Myo (昭顯廟), but in 1870 (Gojong 7) it was renamed Sogyeongwon (昭慶園). During the Japanese colonial period, the royal taesil, the tombs of princes, the tombs of royal concubines, and the tombs of princesses and ongju were gathered by the Japanese at their present location. After liberation, six tombs, including the tomb of Consort Gyeongbin Yi, a concubine of Myeongjong, were moved here. In 1944, Hyochangwon (孝昌園), the tomb of Crown Prince Munhyo, the eldest son of Jeongjo, was moved here, and in 1949, Uiryeongwon (懿寧園), the tomb of Crown Prince Uiso, the eldest son of Crown Prince Sado and grandson of Yeongjo, was moved here. In 1969, Hoemyo (懷墓), the tomb of Deposed Queen Yun, consort of Seongjong, was moved to Seosamneung.

The Seosamneung tomb grounds also once contained the tombs of Prince Euichin and his mother, Lady Deokso Jang. However, in 1996 the tomb of Prince Euichin was relocated, and in 2009 the tomb of Noble Consort Jang (mother of Prince Euichin) was relocated from Seosamneung to the Hongyureung grounds. As a result, Seosamneung now consists of three royal tombs, three , one , 47 tombs of princes, princesses, and royal concubines, and 54 .