Timeline of Royal Tombs by Zarai Armstrong

1592-1598 -Japanese Invasion

zaraiarmstrong27 — 2024-05-08 17:54:05 UTC

Hideyoshi was a Japanese military leader in 1592 who attempted to invade China through forcing Korea. The Korean forces on land were defeated multiple times. The nation's crisis in Korea made different people from all ranks volunteer to fight against the Japanese. The Korean naval forces did not suffer much because Korea gained control of the sea through Yi Sun-Shin, but Yi won was infamous for having the greatest victories against the Japanese units. The Japanese retreated after one year and then tried another invasion in 1597, but their leader, Hideyoshi, had a sudden death leading to their withdrawal from Korea. Korean Scholars were kidnapped and forced to teach Japan Korea’s technology, which was very advanced. Cultural treasures were lost, palaces, and homes were destroyed. This caused Korea to be left in ruins after the war (Kwang-rin and Young).

Image Source: 1598 photo by Kanō Mitsunobu on Wikimedia Commons

2009-Joseon Royal Tombs emerge as World Heritage

zaraiarmstrong27 — 2024-05-08 18:24:15 UTC

There are 40 royal tombs in South Korea, listed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage, that house 27 generations of kings and queens and include 42 neung or reung (Koehler and Kim 57).

Image Source: © National Research Institute for Cultural Heritage photo by Seo Heun kang on UNESCO

1910-Japanese Annexation

zaraiarmstrong27 — 2024-05-10 00:00:19 UTC

The Tenno, Japanese emperor, would select generals and admirals to fill the Korean government and set up their own government in Korea. The Japanese finally annexed Korea in 1910, which made Koreans destitute of their freedom, gatherings, and expression. Japan used their schools as a way to assimilate Korea into Japan, they excluded the teaching of the Korean language and history and replaced it with the Japanese language. Private schools were shut down because they did not meet certain Japanese standards (Kwang-rin and Young).

Image source: 1876 photo by Kōichi Hagiwara on Wikimedia Commons

1907-1910- Final Joseon Royal Tombs

zaraiarmstrong27 — 2024-05-10 01:22:53 UTC

The two Daehan tombs differ from the rest of the Joseon royal tombs because they were more lavish and larger. Gojong, who took the title of emperor to advocate for political reforms in the Daehan empire period, and Sunjong’s were designed out of negligence for the Joseon traditions. The characteristics of Gojong and Sunjong, the dynasty’s last ruler, tombs of the Chinese emperors were adopted into the style of the Daehan empire tombs. (Koehler and Kim 69).

Image Source: 2012 photo by Jeon Chae Yong-shin on Wikimedia Commons

1395-Gyeongbokgung

zaraiarmstrong27 — 2024-05-10 01:23:40 UTC

If the king’s palace was overly expensive and extravagant it would be believed that he is making his people suffer, so the king’s palace has to display his dignity. Morality and fairness in the king’s rule was the way to show royal authorities legitimacy. The Joseon palace was not as extravagant as the other countries because their palaces have rules for cultural appropriation and it represents the character of Joseon. Gyeongbokgung, built in 1395, is one of the several Joseon palaces that is still standing, but it is the most memorable. The Gyeongbokgung palace, served as the primary palace, is a perfect site for matching the terms of feng shui principles because the main gate faces what is now known as Sejong-ro (Yukjogeori) and the back of it stands Mt. Bugaksan and Mt. Inwangsan. The Joseon palace was not as extravagant as the other countries because their palaces have rules for cultural appropriation and it represents the character of Joseon (Koehler and Kim 11-15).

Image Source: 2005 photo by Blmtduddl on Wikimedia Commons