Seoul Taereung (Queen Munjeong) and Gangneung (King Myeongjong and Queen Insun) [UNESCO World Heritage]

Taereung is the tomb of Queen Munjeong of the Yun clan (1501–1565), the third wife of King Jungjong (r. 1506–1544), the 11th king of Joseon. When Queen Munjeong passed away in 1565 (the 20th year of King Myeongjong's reign), the tomb site was initially chosen near King Jungjong's Jeongneung (the New Jeongneung), but due to King Myeongjong's opposition, the current site was chosen as the site for Queen Munjeong's tomb and the tomb was named Taereung. Originally, Queen Munjeong wished to be buried together with her husband King Jungjong, and after consulting with Bou, the abbot of Bongeunsa Temple at the time, King Jungjong's tomb, which had been next to Huireung, the tomb of King Jungjong's second wife Queen Janggyeong, was moved to its current location on the grounds that it was inauspicious according to feng shui. However, because the relocated Jeongneung was on low ground and frequently suffered flood damage when it rained, King Myeongjong chose the current site for his mother's tomb. According to the Seonjo Sillok, there is a record that during the Imjin War in 1592 (the 25th year of King Seonjo's reign), Japanese invaders attempted to rob Taereung and Gangneung, just as with Seolleung and Jeongneung, but failed.
Taereung was built according to the rites in the Gukjo Oryeui, and the burial mound is surrounded by folding screen stones and balustrade stones. The folding screen stones are carved with cloud patterns and the twelve zodiac deities, and the twelve earthly branches are carved in characters. Originally, carving the twelve earthly branches in characters was applied only when the folding screen stones were omitted and only the balustrade stones were built, but starting with Taereung, the twelve zodiac deity figures and the characters came to be carved together. The stone figures at the tomb, including the civil and military stone officials and the lantern, were made larger than those at other Joseon royal tombs, which is a style of the mid-Joseon period. In particular, it is unusual that the civil and military stone officials have earring holes in their earlobes. The T-shaped shrine (jeongjagak) below the tomb was destroyed during the Korean War and restored in 1994.

Gangneung is the tomb of King Myeongjong (r. 1545–1567), the 13th king of Joseon, and Queen Insun of the Sim clan (1532–1575). Gangneung is a twin tomb (ssangneung) with the burial mounds placed side by side within a single curved wall; when viewed from the front, the left (west) is King Myeongjong's tomb and the right (east) is Queen Insun's tomb. Gangneung was built in 1567 (the 22nd year of King Myeongjong's reign) on the eastern hill of Taereung after King Myeongjong passed away a few days after completing the three-year mourning period for his mother, Queen Munjeong. Later, when Queen Insun passed away in 1575 (the 8th year of King Seonjo's reign), a tomb was built to the east of King Myeongjong's tomb, creating its current appearance.
Overall, this tomb complex was built two years after the construction of Queen Munjeong's Taeung tomb, resulting in a similar appearance. Both mounds are surrounded by "byeongpungseok" (screen stones) and "nanganseok" (railing stones), with the railing stones connecting the two mounds. Around the mounds, various stone structures are placed, including "munseok-in" (gate pillars), "museok-in" (guard stones), stone horses, "jangmyeongdeung" (lanterns), stone statues (including "honyuseok"), and "mangjuseok" (cornerstones). Below the tomb chambers, there are structures such as a "jeongjakkak" (pavilion), a "bigak" (memorial hall), and a "hongsalmun" (gate).

Details

Admission fee

- Individual: 1,000 KRW
- Group rates (10 people or more): 800 KRW

Restroom

Yes

Accessible travel information

Machine-translated from Korean.

Mobility

Parking

장애인전용 주차장 있음(태릉).무료강릉은 주차시설이 없으므로 태릉에 주차하고 도보로 약 20분 이동해야 함

Access route

휠체어 접근 가능

Wheelchairs

휠체어 무료대여 가능함(3대/입구)

Entrance passage

주출입구 무단차조선왕릉전시관 내부 통로는 이용하기 편리함태릉과 강릉은 관람로가 흙길로 되어 있고 능 위로 올라가는 길이 가파름

Restroom

장애인 화장실 있음( 조선왕릉전시관 1층과 태릉 앞 위치)_무장애 편의시설

Families with infants

Strollers

유모차 무료대여 가능함(4대/입구)