S2023-211c

In Life and in Death: Burial Practices Over Time 》Tombs of Goryeo and Joseon Officials

Story

• Gwangju is home to several tombs dating to the Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon (1392-1910) periods. The tombs general are earthen burial mounds with stones around the base to support the structure. In front of the tombs are various stone structures and statues that serve to symbolically protect the tomb and are used during veneration rituals. A stele or monument was often erected near the tomb to record the life and achievements of the person buried there. Husbands and wifes were often buried in the same mound or in adjacent mounds.
• Examples of these tombs include in Gwangju include the tombs of the military officials Jeong Ji and Jeon Sang-ui.
• Tomb of Jeong Ji
  • Jeong Ji (1347-1391) was a renowned general of the Goryeo period. The late Goryeo period in which Jeong lived was a very chaotic time due to the frequent trespassing of Japanese pirates. As a way to stop the pirates, Jeong proposed the establishment of a navy for the first time in Korean history. He thought, “An enemy who has crossed the sea should be stopped at the sea. The Japanese pirates must be swept clear by training those familiar with the sea.” With such discerning insight, Jeong achieved great victories in several battles against the pirates. These contributions were recognized and he became a meritorious subject.
  • This tomb was constructed in accordance with Jeong’s status as a meritorious subject and is typical for the late Goryeo period. It consists of a trapezoidal earthen burial mound surrounded on three sides by a stone retaining wall. In front of the burial mound are a tombstone, a stone table, and two stone statues of government officials.
  • The armor worn by General Jeong was preserved by his descendants and was designated as a Treasure in 1963. It is currently exhibited at the Gwangju History & Folk Museum.
• Tomb of Jeon Sang-ui
  • This is the tomb of the military official Jeon Sang-ui (1575-1627) and his wife Lady Im. Born in Gwangju, Jeon Sang-ui passed the state examination in 1603 and began his military career. Jeon died during the Manchu invasion of 1627 while protecting Anjuseong Fortress, an important stronghold in the northwest part of the Korean Peninsula. The enemy troops were moved by Jeon’s resolve to fight to the death, and, believing that a patriotic martyr’s body should be handled with care, made a separate grave for him marked with his name. After the war, Jeon’s body was returned to Gwangju and formally buried here.
  • The earthen burial mound measures 21 m in circumference and is surrounded at the base by support stones. The stone sculptures in front of the tomb include a tombstone erected in 1857, as well as recently made statues of civil officials and goats.
  • Hwaam Village, where the tomb is located, is also home to Chungminsa Shrine which holds Jeon Sang-ui’s portrait and spirit tablet.

Semantic Data

Node Description

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S2023-211c	Story	Episode		Tombs of Goryeo and Joseon Officials			Tombs of Goryeo and Joseon Officials	http://dh.aks.ac.kr/~gwangju/wiki/index.php/S2023-211c	http://dh.aks.ac.kr/~gwangju/icon/episode.png