Yeongneung (King Sejong) (Yeoju)

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Yeongneung is the tomb ot King Seiong (r. 1418-1450), the 4th king of the Joseon Dynasty, and his wife Queen Soheon (1395-1446). It was the first of the royal tomb of the dynasty to consist of two burial chambers. At the time of its relocation in 1469, the stone burial chambers were replaced with lime mortar-compacted structures.

A mangjuseok (a stone column erected to mark the border between this world and the next world), stone lamps, and statues of animals and people were set up near the tomb, along with a pair of honyuseok (a stone intended as a place of rest tor spirits of the deceased) which indicate that the tomb contains two bodies.

Yeongneung was built according to the instructions provided in Gukjo Oiyeeui (Book on the Five Rites of State) and served as a model for the construction of other royal tombs. lts lower side is girded with byeongpungseok (a stone wall surrounding the mound) and nanganseok (hedge-like stones which protect the byeongpungseok). The stone columns, dongjaseokju erected there are inscribed with Chinese characters indicating the tour directions.

The location of the tomb was determined according to the principles of Feng Shui. During the reign of King Sejo (r. 'l456-1468), royal retainers pointed out that the tomb should be relocated to a better position, although the renowned neo-Confucian scholar Seo Geojeong and others were opposed to its relocation. Finally, in 1469, the tomb was moved to its current location.