Visiting the dead

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I awoke last Saturday to another dull day in Korea – it’s beginning to seem like the wait for spring is endless. Before I left the flat and already bleak day had turned even darker threatening yet more rain – and I thought Korea’s rainy season didn’t arrive until July.

By the time the bus reached Seoul the inevitable rain had arrived and before we arrived at our destination, the Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs, the rain had turned to snow.

We met David, a new guy who’s living in our area, in Seoul. He’d been out the night before but had neglected to figure out how to get home. Luckily he’d been drinking all night so hadn’t had time to miss his bed! However little did he know that hanging out with us in Seoul for the day would mean about another 12 hours before he would even set eyes on his bed.

Our first stop was the surprisingly tranquil setting, considering it is in the middle of Seoul, of the Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs.

On the site lays the tombs of King Seongjong the ninth monarch of the Joseon period and his second queen and King Seongjong’s son King Jungjong.

King Seongjong is burried with his second queen Jeonghyeonwanghu, because his first queen Gonghyewnaghu died when she was just 18. King Seongjong was born in 1547 and ascended the thrown at the tender age of 12. He ruled for 25 years during which time he encouraged learning, improved various systems and fathered 28 children with 10 concubines. In 1488 Queen Jeonghyeonwangh gave birth to their second son Jungjong, who was to become the 11th King of the Joseon Dynasty in 1506. King Seongjong died in 1494 aged just 37. Queen Jeonghyeonwangh outlived the king by 35 years ad died in 1529.

The actual tombs are fenced off allowing you only to peer over a fence at the majestic looking statues guarding the final resting places of long dead kings. But as we approached the tomb of King Seongjong we were lucky that a guide was showing some Koreans around allowing us to wonder freely around the statues guarding the ancient king.

* Posted by j150vsc on 16/03/2007.

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