Jeongneung | 정릉
Jeongneung: Part One | Part Two
Three weekends ago I made a trip out to the royal tombs at Uireung, and the weekend after that I made another voyage south from Uijeongbu to visit the tomb at Jeongneung. However, between leaving home late and backtracking twice due to not having any decent signs to guide me to the tomb I arrived five minutes after admission to the tomb ends and wasn't sure if I'd even be allowed access that afternoon. Fortunately, upon explaining my situation to the man sitting at the visitor information booth he not only waved me through but also waived the admission fee. Protests that I was more than willing to pay only fell on deaf ears.
Uireung is unique among the Joseon royal tombs for having the tombs placed tandem to one another, while Jeongneung is the only tomb site to feature an approaching pathway positioned to the side rather than head-on to the memoral hall (전자각; jeonjagak) -- as seen in the photo above.
"Spirit Stairs" for the deceased to access the memorial hall. The living are expected to use another set of stairs.
Bigak housing a monument stone (left) and unknown structure, possibly for the tomb's caretaker in day's past.
Old roofing from the Jeongjagak memorial hall.
Rooftop guardians.
Inner view of a window facing the rear of the Jeongjagak memorial hall.
Fewer statues than one would expect, and less ornate than those at other sites.
Hillside tomb and memorial buildings.
The next post ought to be one dealing a little more with the history of Jeongneung, but for now I'll just say that it's the burial site for Queen Sindeok, second wife to the Joseon Dynasty's founder, King Taejo.
Three weekends ago I made a trip out to the royal tombs at Uireung, and the weekend after that I made another voyage south from Uijeongbu to visit the tomb at Jeongneung. However, between leaving home late and backtracking twice due to not having any decent signs to guide me to the tomb I arrived five minutes after admission to the tomb ends and wasn't sure if I'd even be allowed access that afternoon. Fortunately, upon explaining my situation to the man sitting at the visitor information booth he not only waved me through but also waived the admission fee. Protests that I was more than willing to pay only fell on deaf ears.
Uireung is unique among the Joseon royal tombs for having the tombs placed tandem to one another, while Jeongneung is the only tomb site to feature an approaching pathway positioned to the side rather than head-on to the memoral hall (전자각; jeonjagak) -- as seen in the photo above.
"Spirit Stairs" for the deceased to access the memorial hall. The living are expected to use another set of stairs.
Bigak housing a monument stone (left) and unknown structure, possibly for the tomb's caretaker in day's past.
Old roofing from the Jeongjagak memorial hall.
Rooftop guardians.
Inner view of a window facing the rear of the Jeongjagak memorial hall.
Fewer statues than one would expect, and less ornate than those at other sites.
Hillside tomb and memorial buildings.
The next post ought to be one dealing a little more with the history of Jeongneung, but for now I'll just say that it's the burial site for Queen Sindeok, second wife to the Joseon Dynasty's founder, King Taejo.