• Journal of architectural history
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.19-30
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• 2020

In the early of Joseon Dynasty, Royal Tomb developed from stone chamber tomb to lime chamber tomb through precedents. The lime chamber tomb consists of main-chamber(JeongGwang) and sub-chamber(ToeGwang). This separation makes character to construct tumulus of the Royal Tomb half and half. By this character, the Royal Tomb are not constructed by separate structure but constructed by coadjustment. The underground structure and tumulus of the Royal Tomb affect each other in the size and method of construction. The selecting type of Royal Tomb is generally made decision through terrain and politics. This study prove the architectural structure is also one of the major cause the that select type of Royal Tomb.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.223-242
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• 2022

The main purpose of this study is to find out the meaning of structural changes that appeared in the royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty after the application of a compound lime-mortar(Sammulhoe三物灰: the mortar with lime, sand, ocher). In the early Joseon Dynasty, the royal tomb was constructed by following the system of the stone chamber tomb in the Goryeo Dynasty. However the system of the stone chamber tomb recorded in 『GukJo-OReYi(國朝五禮儀: The five category's formalities in the Joseon Dynasty)』 is very different from that in the Goryeo Dynasty. The biggest difference is that a compound lime-mortar was applied into the system of the stone chamber tomb in order to attempt structural reinforcement. This change reflects King Sejong's willingness to build a dense structure in which water does not permeate the stone chamber when Yeongneung(英陵) was built in 1446(the 28th year of King Sejong's reign). Yeongneung is a complex structure consisting of a stone chamber and compound lime-mortar wall. After constructing a stone chamber, the 1.2m(4尺) thick wall with a compound lime-mortar is additionally constructed outside the stone chamber structure. In 1468(the year of King Yejong's accession), according to the will of King Sejo, the stone chamber system was abolished and the Hyeongung(玄宮: the chamber enshrining a coffin of the deceased king or queen consort) was constructed only by the thick wall with a compound lime-mortar. This change become a primary cause for the royal tomb to be constructed as Hoekyukneung(灰隔陵: the royal tomb with chamber constructed only by the thick wall with compound lime-mortar) in the late Joseon Dynasty. The Hoekyukneung in the late Joseon Dynasty has been constructed with the method of structure and construction for the thick wall with a compound lime-mortar since the complex structure recorded in 『GukJo-OReYi(國朝五禮儀)』. The Hoekuykseoksilneung(灰隔石室陵: the complex structure consisting of a stone chamber and compound lime-mortar wall) is unique tomb style of Joseon Dynasty and become a motive of tomb system(Hoekuykneung) in the late Joseon Dynasty.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.67-78
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• 2021

This is a study on the structural changes of the tumulus and causes setting up a Sabangseok at the front of the tumulus at the royal tomb in the JoSeon dynasty, during the 17th~18th centuries. The Sabangseok was first used in the tumulus of Mongnueng(穆陵) in 1630. It is a multipurpose stone for boundary, foundation of the tumulus and blocking the sliding down of the tumulus. It was set up, when constructing a Yeongneung(寧陵) in 1673. But the vast spill of tumulus soil made it improve structure of the Sabangseok. Consequently, when the Yeongneung was re-constructed, the structure of the tumulus was fundamentally improved. The soil layer on the lime of the subterranean chamber became eliminated. Also the lime of the tumulus and the lime of the subterranean chamber became a united structure. The Sabangseok was still used until 1757 on account of precedents, although it would become unnecessary after structural improvement of the tumulus in 1673. In 1757, Yeongjo(The 21th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty) commanded repeal on the use of the Sabangseok, when constructing the Hongneung(tomb of Queen Jeongseong). The decision and discussions about abolition on the use of the Sabangseok was recorded in Gukjosangryebopyeon.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.31-42
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• 2023

This study examined the structural characteristics of the royal tomb equipped with only rail stones in the early Joseon Dynasty. Bongneung(封陵: the burial mound of royal tomb) equipped with only rail stones was constructed from 1468 to 1632. During this period, Hyeongung(玄宮: the underground chamber for the coffin of the king or queen) was constructed with lime. When the Hyeongung is completed, the soil is covered with a thickness of 1 foot parallel to the ground surface. On top of that, as the base of the Bongneung, the rail ground stone is constructed with a height of about 1.5 to 2 feet. The inside of the rail ground stone is also firmly filled with soil. On top of this, semicircular lime is installed with a convex center. Lastly the soil is divided and compacted several times to form a hill, and then covered with grass to complete the Bongneung. The notable feature is that between the Hyeongung made of lime and the Bongneung made of soil, the rail ground stone serves as a stylobate with the inside compacted by the soil.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.22
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• pp.41-52
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• 2019

Inner walls of the stone chamber of West Ancient Tomb No. 1 and 2 in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo-gun have been inspected for possible trace of murals. Tomb No.1 has a rough surface finish of the stone wall and no traces of murals was observed in any part of the stone walls except the ceiling part of the main chamber. On the ceiling surface, there is black colored area, which showed same visual characteristics for both the surface and interior upon slight scratch of the surface, suggesting that it may not be a painted layer. In addition, this black material is not artificial stuff like black ink but is confirmed as biotite from X-ray diffraction analysis that is one of the constituents of the stone wall. In case of tomb No. 2, white material, that is confirmed as lime(calcite, CaCO3) by X-ray diffraction analysis, was observed on the wall surface of the east, west and north, suggesting possible existence of murals. The lime layers, however, are located mostly on the entrance of east wall of main chamber and the place of passage whereas they are observed only in lower parts on the other walls. It may have been formed by the inflow of soil and lime from the outside as the form of the lime layer in the east wall corresponds to the traces of soil and lime deposited from the thief pit. Furthermore, the filling material found in the gap between the stone slabs of the four directions and the ceiling was confirmed as clay soil, which is different material from the lime present on the stone wall surface. If the lime layer had been artificially constructed for the purpose of creating murals, it would have been more reasonable to use lime as well in the gap between the stone slabs of the four directions and ceiling. In this regard, we conclude that there are no murals in the Tomb No. 2 in the Neungsan-ri.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.52-69
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• 2012

This paper attempts to analyze the inner and outer structure of royal tombs that were built during the Joseon Period. This analysis is based on the relevant historical records and they were restored through visual composition in order to compare the features of Joseon royal tombs with those of Goryeo royal tombs and common tombs of the Joseon Period. Royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are structurally solid and contain a variety of artistic ornaments that symbolize guardian deities both inside and outside to protect the owners of the tombs for a long time. According to historical records such as Sejong sillok oryeui (Five Rites of State from the Annals of King Sejong) and Gukjo oryeui (Five Rites of State), it is presumed that the inner structure of royal tombs dating back to the early Joseon Period consisted of a stone chamber and that the byeongpungseok and nanganseok were built outside of the tomb. However, ever since King Sejo left it in his will not to make a stone chamber in his tomb, the royal tombs began to follow a new pattern, a burial pit outside the coffin filled with lime powder. Gukjo sangnye bopyeon (Supplement Book of the State Funeral Rites), which was compiled during the reign of King Yeongjo, is a book that shows how the royal tombs were formed in the late Joseon Period. The book explains in detail how lime powder was used to fill the burial pit of royal tombs. The byeongpungseok used during the late Joseon Period were engraved with peony flowers, while those previously made were engraved with twelve spirit warriors. Peony designs were frequently used to decorate the items of royal families, and the use of peony designs in tombs reflects the idea of regarding the royal tombs as an everyday living space for the deceased.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.4-23
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• 2013

Songsalli Ancient Tombs of Gongju consists of seven tombs. King Muryeong's tomb, the seventh tomb, is a brick chamber tomb discovered during the drainage works for the fifth and the sixth tombs in 1971. The excavation at the time focused on topographic surveys of the tomb entrance and the inside of the burial chamber as well as collection of the remains. The burial mount survey confirmed the status of some stone slab remaining and lime-mixed soil layers, but the survey did not examine the exterior structure of the whole tomb as the mounds were removed even more deeply. The excavation revealed damages to the bricks and mural damages due to moisture and fungus in the sixth and the seventh tombs. Between 1996 and 1997, Gongju National University conducted a comprehensive detailed survey of Songsalli Ancient Tombs including a geophysical survey, with an aim to identify the root causes of such degradation. Based on the results, repair took place in 1999 and the fifth, sixth and seventh tombs were placed under permanent conservation to conserve the cultural assets. General public is currently denied access. The purpose of this study was to conduct a three-dimensional resistivity and GPR surveys on the ground surface of the fifth, sixth and seventh tombs of Songsalli Ancient Tombs in order to understand the underground status after repair. The study also aimed to understand the thickness of all the tomb walls and exterior structure based on GPR inside King Muryeong's tomb. The exploration on the ground surface found that the three tombs and soil adjacent to the tombs had resistivity as low as 5 to $90{\Omega}m$, which confirmed that the soil water content was still as high as that prior to the repair work. Additionally, GPR found that the wall construction of the burial chamber of King Muryeong's tomb was approximately 70cm in thickness, while the structure was of 2B with two bricks, about 35cm in length, put together longitudinally(2B brick masonry). The pathway to the burial chamber was of the 2B structure just like that of the burial chamber walls, while its thickness was 80cm with an eyebrow-type arch connected to it. Also, the ceiling exterior appears to have an arch structure, identical to the shape inside.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.457-466
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• 2014

Rigorous analysis was performed to identify the structure and materials of the murals to study techniques used on mural tombs of ancient Daegaya era(6th century). The murals were painted by applying mortar on the walls and the ceiling after building a stone chamber and creating ground layers on mortar layers. Mud was applied on most of the mortar layers on four sides of the walls except the ceiling. Sand was not used in mortar but was made of materials with pure calcium substances. In addition, shells in irregular sizes with incomplete calcination were mixed; and the mortar's white powder was inferred as lime obtained by calcination of oyster shells. Kaolinite($Al_2Si_2O_5(OH)_4$) was used in the ground layer, Cinnabar(HgS) was used for red pigment, Malachite($Cu_2CO_3(OH)_2$) for green and Lead white($PbCO_3{\cdot}Pb(OH)_2$) for white. Mud plaster was applied on the mortar and was composed thinly and densely using clayey of particle size smaller than that of medium sand. It was assumed that the finishing was for repair after long time had passed since the mortar layer came off. Using lime made with oyster shells as mortar is unprecedented in ancient Korean mural tombs and its durability was very poor, suggesting that Gaya's mortar production technique was relatively behind compared to that of Koguryo's in the same era.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.118-135
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• 2022

The primary purpose of this study is to estimate the structure of Byeongpungsadaseok (屛風莎臺石) and Nanganseok (欄干石) in Geonwonneung (建元陵) and Heonneung (獻陵), which were built in the early of 15th century, based on the Annals of King Sejong. In addition, the ultimate purpose of this study is to reveal structural changes and their significance by comparing the differences with the contents of the dismantlement survey. Geonwonneung, Jereung(齊陵), and Heonneung were repaired at the same time in 1442, and the structural changes were the similar. The purpose of the repair in 1442 was to prevent water from flowing into the underground palace with smooth drainage. As a result of estimating the structure of Geonwonneung and Heonneung according to the records of the Annals of King Sejong, it was created in a very similar form to the Hyeonneung and Jeongneung of Goryeo. And it was clearly recognized that the Royal Tomb of Goryeo was followed. However, as the structure was improved in 1442, the unique characteristics of the Royal Tomb of the Joseon Dynasty were formed. First is the appearance of the Bokbuhyeong lime (覆釜形石灰, which is a convex roof on the Byeongpungsadaseok that serves to prevent rainwater from penetrating into the burial mound. It also plays a role in connecting and fixing the Manseok (滿石) and the Inseok (引石), which are the upper structures of the Sadaseok (莎臺石). Second, the Bakseok (薄石) between the nanganseok and the sadaseok has been transformed into the Sangseok (裳石) with a slope. This plays a role in protecting the inner stone chamber by expanding the length of the bakseok, which forms an overall slope, like the eaves of the roof. After both of these features were first attempted in 1442, they were applied to all Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty and became unique features of these Royal Tombs.