The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty form a collection of 40 tombs scattered over 18 locations. Built over five centuries, from 1408 to 1966, the tombs honoured the memory of ancestors, showed respect for their achievements, asserted royal authority, and protected ancestral spirits from evil.
By being entombed in the nation’s dynastic capital, it was believed, the spirit of the kings and queens could continue to have influence on Korea’s political affairs. The location of the royal tombs, along with their unique configuration of buildings, structures and associated elements, illustrate and support the centuries-old tradition and living practice of ancestral worship through a series of rituals that are still carried on today.
The stone walkway has two roads, a higher road for the spirits and a lower road for the king.
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Krista Marson 