Seonjeongneung

Infobox Korean name
hanja =
hangul = 선정릉
rr = Seonjeongneung
mr = Sŏnchŏngnŭng

The Seonjeongneung is the burial grounds of two Joseon Dynasty kings and one Joseon queen. The westernmost tomb belongs to King Seongjong (r. 1469–1494), the ninth king of the Joseon dynasty. cite web |url=http://www.cha.go.kr/english/royal_palaces_new/Seonjeongneung.jsp?catmenu=EN_05_02_06 |title=Seonjeongneung |publisher=Cultural Heritage Administration |accessdate=2008-04-21|language=English|] His first wife, Queen Han, died at age 18 and is buried near Munsan, north of Seoul. Another wife, Queen Yun, is buried here because she gave birth the king's second son (the future King Jungjong) in 1506. Queen Yun outlived her husband by 35 years and was buried in a splendid tomb to the east of her husband. Her grave has a stone fence encircling the mound, whereas her husband's tomb, on the left, has a retaining wall as well. Statues of civilian and military officials and their horses stand at attention in front of the graves. South of the tombs is a single T-shaped shrine of the type commonly found at Joseon-era royal tombs. There are also several ancillary buildings for storing material used in sacrifices.

Queen Yun had a deep interest in Buddhism and founded the nearby temple Bongeunsa.

The other tomb on the site is Jeongneung tomb, located at the easternmost of the site. This is the burial ground of King Jungjong, the 11th king of Joseon (r. 1506–1544). He was a son of Seongjong, and was originally buried at Goyang near Munsan, north of Seoul. However, his third queen thought it would be better to have him re-interred closer to his father. She expressed a wish to be buried alongside him, but this wish was never carried out, and his tomb stands alone.

References

ee also

*Seongjong of Joseon
*Jungjong of Joseon