Royal Tombs Research Articles

Relocation of Royal Tombs and Stone Sculptures in 19th-century Chosŏn

<i>Kukchosogoryeŭi</i>, the book of protocols for the late Chosŏn royal court, lists some rituals that have changed since early years of the dynasty. <i>Ch’ŏnjangŭi</i>, the process of relocating tombs is one of them. In late Chosŏn, royal tombs were actively relocated, unlike in early Chosŏn and mostly not in accordance with the dead monarch’s wishes. In the 15<sup>th</sup> century, T’aejo, T’aejong, and Sejong all outlived their queens and were able to prepare their own tombs and the management of the annexed Buddhist temples. In the 16<sup>th</sup> and 17<sup>th</sup> centuries, most relocated tombs were of posthumously honored monarchs, who were the birth parents of reigning monarchs. In contrast, 19<sup>th</sup>-century transfers were directly related to dynastic successions. Tombs that were relocated during the reign of Ch’ŏlchong were those of King Sunjo, Sunjo’s birth mother, and the Crown Prince Hyomyŏng, the son of Sunjo. In even moving some tombs twice, Ch’ŏljong was looking to the precedence of Yŏngjo and Chŏngjo and hoping to beget a son. In the 19<sup>th</sup> century, it was rare for royal tomb sculptures to be newly made and sculptures from original tombs were reused instead. Although some were newly made, they generally do not hold up to the quality of the sculptures of the past and betray the falling standards of art at the royal court in late Chosŏn.

신라 적석목곽묘 계층화와 의례적 자원 차별화

This study examines the quantitative differences in ritual resources like pottery, ironware, and mound size in the Wooden Chamber Tomb with Stone Mound based on the deceased’s rank. Using the Gini coefficient, ironware (0.90) and mound (0.78) aligned with state formation data, while pottery (0.63) deviated significantly. Hwangnamdaechong stood out with its resource investment, suggesting it’s a unique royal tomb. The deceased were categorized into six ranks using ornaments, revealing a complex relationship between rank and resource investment. The distribution of burial goods in stone chamber wooden coffin tombs wasn’t random but determined by the deceased’s social and vertical position, adhering to societal consensus and ritual norms. This system curbed excessive competition among the living, reinforcing the dominance of the top ruling group. Bonghwangdae and Seobonghwangdae, believed to be tombs of kings(Maripgan), likely had attached chambers and significant pottery and ironware burials.

Classic Maya mirror conjurors of Waka', Guatemala

AbstractThe Classic period lowland Maya used iron-ore mosaic mirrors and deposited mirrors in the burials of rulers and other people. Depictions of mirrors suggest that they were used for scrying, as were mirrors in Mesoamerica at the time of the Spanish arrival. Maya mirror users of this kind were conjurors, who used a variety of other divining and conjuring instruments and materials, including plates and shallow bowls. Three rulers at El Peru-Waka', now called Waka' by researchers at the site, an ancient city in northwestern Peten, Guatemala, were buried with mirrors and associated divining and conjuring materials. Following a brief introduction to the city and its temples, we describe the arrangement of mirrors and associated materials in three royal tombs. We suggest that the mirrors in these tombs were used in conjuring supernatural beings into existence, particularly Akan, a death god and wahy spirit who was a patron of the Waka' realm. We propose that the rulers and mirror conjurors of Waka' were oracles and that Waka' was known for prophecy. References to Sihyaj K'ahk' in text and iconography at Waka', and his association with oracular paraphernalia such as mirrors, lead us to propose a prophetic aspect of the visit of Sihyaj K'ahk' to the site eight days prior to his famous arrival at Tikal in a.d. 378. We suggest that the three rulers we discuss were mirror oracles sustained by the prestige of the prophecy of Sihyaj K'ahk'.

Scussion on the Provision of Meat Ritual Food at Royal Tombs and the Royal Ritual for Delivering Incense by the King Himself in the Late Joseon Dynasty

scussion on the Provision of Meat Ritual Food at Royal Tombs and the Royal Ritual for Delivering Incense by the King Himself in the Late Joseon Dynasty

SOSIALISASI IMPLEMENTASI PENDIDIKAN KARAKTER BERBASIS MULTIKULTURAL DI KOTA LHOKSEUMAWE

Community service (PKM) activities in the form of Dissemination of the Implementation of Multicultural-Based Character Education in Lhokseumawe City to the Managers of the Cultural Site of Samudra Pasai Kingdom's Royal Tomb Complex and the people reides around the Site in the Gampong Beuringeun, Samudera District, North Aceh Regency, on October 3, 2022. The target participants for this socialization activity were administrators of the Site and the residents around it. The socialization activity was carried out by the PKM Team consisting of lecturers and students of the Social Science Education Study Program, Almuslim University Postgraduate Program as a form of maximizing the meaning of diversity from the level of social status of society and interpreting the importance of historical heritage in the cultural site of Samudra Pasai Kingdom. This socialization activity were expected to increase public awareness and management of the Samudra Pasai Kingdom to improve character in socializing with various levels of social status in society. In addition, this socialization activity is a means of increasing love for historical heritage in the Samudra Pasai Kingdom and continuing to instill the meaning of togetherness and instilling the character of loving the environment by continuing to maintain the cleanliness of historical heritage objects. Thus, it can create a generation that can implement multicultural-based character education.

Historic gardens and parks in Southeast Asia: typologies and common characteristics

ABSTRACT Since the Florence Charter was issued by the International Council on Monuments and Sites in 1982, there has been an increasing research interest in the historic gardens of several continents including North America, Europe and Oceania. This has given rise to further research in conservation and management strategies for historic gardens. However, in Southeast Asia historic gardens do not receive as much recognition from scholars when compared with art, architecture and archaeology. This article is a first attempt at listing and analysing the historic gardens of Southeast Asia, focusing on secular gardens dated from the eighth to early twentieth century for which archaeological remains still exist. The analysis aims at identifying typologies and common characteristics among these gardens. This study can provide a database for future research and conservation plans. The list herein consists of sixty-five gardens divided into eight categories by their function: royal pleasure gardens, royal tomb gardens, parks, town squares, garden houses, institution gardens, botanical gardens and zoological gardens. Although the gardens vary in design, they share common characteristics suggesting integration between local culture and external influence.

Military Activities and Diplomatic Relations of Goguryeo in YeongNak 10th Year Article of King Gwanggaeto’s Royal Tomb Monument

Military Activities and Diplomatic Relations of Goguryeo in YeongNak 10th Year Article of King Gwanggaeto’s Royal Tomb Monument

The Chronological Order of Unified Silla Royal Tombs

The Chronological Order of Unified Silla Royal Tombs

Modeling Peace: Royal Tombs and Political Ideology in Early China by Jie Shi (review)

Reviewed by: Modeling Peace: Royal Tombs and Political Ideology in Early China by Jie Shi Armin Selbitschka Jie Shi, Modeling Peace: Royal Tombs and Political Ideology in Early China. New York: Columbia University Press, 2020. ix, 358 pp. US$60 (hb). ISBN 978-0-231-19102-9 Jie Shi (or Shi Jie 施傑 in the Chinese reading) has been a prominent and prolific scholar in the fields of Early China and Early Medieval China studies ever since he published the first of numerous articles in 2012.1 The book under review (hereafter Modeling Peace) is his first monograph and it is the first title from the recently established Tang Center Series in Early China at Columbia University. Modeling Peace seeks to unravel the social and political significance of royal burials during the Western Han period (206 BCE–9 CE). The author asserts that although "tombs were associated with the afterlife, it is more important to realize that the purpose of a tomb varied with the tomb occupant's status" (p. 10). In other words, a royal tomb can never be just a tomb; it is always also a political statement. Modeling Peace's introduction indicates that the book takes the author's doctoral dissertation as its template in as much as it presents an in-depth analysis of Tombs No. 1 and 2 at Mancheng 滿城 in Hebei province.2 These two multi-chambered structures were hewn into the face of a mountain almost as mirror images right next to each other, and once housed the remains of Liu Sheng 劉勝, King Jing 靖 of Zhongshan 中山 (r. 154–113 BCE; Tomb No. 1), and his queen Dou Wan 竇綰 (Tomb No. 2). Their bodies have long since decayed, but their tombs and burial goods have largely survived. Due to the immense labor necessary to build such elaborate rock-cut tombs in addition to the extraordinary quality and quantity of finds they have yielded, the author counts them "among the most important material remains of Early Chinese civilization" (p. 1). Moreover, he argues that they "set the highest standards for the lower classes" and can thus be properly understood only if they are distinguished from "lesser tombs" (p. 1). Yet, scholarship, so far, has mainly viewed such tombs as structures that either were intended to guarantee the personal welfare of the deceased in the afterlife, or to facilitate their immortality. Past discussions have failed to realize that differences in size and quality were imbued with deeper meanings. Since Western Han kings wielded actual power over people, their tombs needed to reflect the political and social importance of their occupants as well as fulfill their religious needs. In Liu Sheng's particular case, the goal was to present him and his wife [End Page 166] as virtuous and well-adjusted rulers of the newly established Zhongshan kingdom in an area whose cultural traditions still differed considerably from those of the Central Plains. Chapter 1 traces the trajectory of the development of early imperial Chinese tombs from vertical shaft pits to horizontal multi-chambered structures. Shi contends that the spatial arrangement of personal attire and burial goods in both Mancheng tombs symbolizes the postmortem transformation of Liu Sheng and Dou Wan from human beings with bodies into spirits without physical form. For instance, jade suits (yuyi 玉衣) for both occupants and additional sets of clothing that were deposited in and around the coffins of both deceased represent the bodies and souls of the deceased. The latter, in turn, were sustained in perpetuity in order "to secure a postmortem immortality" (p. 60) not only by materials with close links to immortality such as jade, but also by the intentional placement of food and drink throughout various chambers of both tombs. The respective containers and their edible contents symbolize kitchens, banquets, and sacrifices that were catering to the souls of the occupants.3 Shi strongly emphasizes that the desire for the longevity of Western Han rulers in this life and the next was not, however, rooted in personal vanity, but rather in a sense of responsibility. After all, the stability of the world depended on the fact that virtuous regents were around long enough to guide their realms. Chapter...

아라가야의 高塚과 그 體系

The start of the Ara-Gaya the ancient tomb with a gigantic mound and System began in the mid-5th century, which is now Tomb No. 4 at Marisan Tombs(末伊山古墳群). The Ara-Gaya of the ancient tomb with a gigantic mound and System begins when the tomb ritual is changed to a stone tomb, and at the same time, the tomb ritual is changed. The biggest change in the burial ritual is the implementation of the Sacrificial burial(殉葬), and it inherits the structure of the large wooden chamber tombs from the previous period, but the pattern of the burial site changes. The transition period of civil engineering technology has not been confirmed in the construction of the ancient tomb with a gigantic mound, and it shows a relatively complete form from the time of its appearance. In addition, it shows a flexible appearance by applying a suitable civil engineering method according to the topography. It is confirmed that the same civil engineering method is applied to large civil engineering structures such as Saturn, fortress, embankment, and large buildings in the same province. Through this, it can be inferred that Ara-Gaya’s advanced civil engineering technology and its management and operation system were well equipped. The Ara-Gaya of the ancient tomb with a gigantic mound and System starts at the top of the fourth ridge of the Marisan Tombs and continues to the ninth ridge. Type A-1 is arranged at regular intervals on the top of the main ridge and the ridge of the branch ridge, and type A-2 and 3 are arranged as tombs attached to the periphery. The tomb of a large mound is in the middle of the 5th century. It was intensively contrasted in a relatively short time of about 70 years until the beginning of the 6th century. At the same time, considering the construction of large-scale mound tombs of type A on each ridge, it is believed that when the hills of Marisan Tombs were built as Scope of the Royal Tomb, the right of burial was not unified construction of royalty(多系列王權). On the other hand, from the stage of moving the the scope of a royal tomb to the Namnunoe Tombs(南門外古墳群) at the same time as turning into the ancient tomb with a gigantic mound and System, it is possible to get a glimpse of the establishment of a specific series of kingship(一元的 王權系列).

Antifungal, Antibacterial, and Interference Effects of Plant-Extracted Essential Oils Used for Mural Conservation at Buyeo Royal Tomb No. 1

Although subterranean tombs are largely protected from the external environment, the colonization of microorganisms threatens their conservation. Conventional biocides have negative effects on the environment, human health, and the sensitive materials in ancient tombs, especially painted murals. Therefore, we tested the biocidal effects of 11 plant-extracted essential oils (EOs) against two fungal strains and four bacterial strains isolated from Buyeo Royal Tomb No. 1, a World Heritage Site in South Korea. Oregano, clove bud, thyme, and cinnamon cassia EOs showed the highest antifungal and antibacterial activities. At concentrations suitable for practical application (3–10%), oregano and cinnamon cassia EOs exhibited the highest antifungal and antibacterial activities against the tested microbial strains. No variation in the surface properties and mineral composition was detected for the lithotype specimens (granite and gneiss) treated with the EOs at 1–10%. Low-concentration thyme and oregano EOs led to minimal color change in the painting layer specimens, whereas clove bud and cinnamon cassia EOs caused yellowing of the oyster shell white pigment at a concentration of 3–10%. Our results suggest that 3% oregano EO is a candidate biocide that could minimize the biological damage to and promote the conservation of ancient tomb murals.

백제 웅진·사비기 묘제의 변천

This study set out to to make an approach to the differences and changes of burial system including royal tombs and noble tombs among the ancient tombs distributed around the Woongjin and Sabi capital city by comparing them in the distribution pattern, the construction order among the individual tombs, and the structure of tomb.
 During the Woongjin and Sabi period, Baekje's ancient tombs followed the natural landform with royal and noble tombs built closer to the capital in general. Unlike the Woongjin period, the Sabi period witnessed the further systemization of tomb arrangement, which is due to the hierarchy of tomb and the clear regulations involved in tomb construction. The royal and noble tombs built around the capital city of Baekje during the Woongjin and Sabi period were categorized based on the structure of tomb according to the stage(late 5th century), when the mainstream was stone chamber tomb with a vaulted ceiling of a square or rectangular form, the stage(early and middle 6th century), when brick chamber tomb of an rectangular form appeared and had impacts on stone chamber tomb, and the stage(since the late 6th century), when stone chamber tomb of a narrow rectangular form become mainstream. These changes of burial system throughout the stages were respectively influenced by the attempted revival of Baekje through the introduction of the brick chamber tomb from the Southern Dynasties of China in the latter part of the Woongjin period, the appearance of an institutionalized capital and burial system following transfer of the new Sabi capital city on its extension, and the ordering of official ranks and the pursuit of practicality according to the progress of institutionalization after the transfer of Sabi capital.

A case of septic arthritis of the hip in Central Plains, China, during the Western Han Dynasty (3rd century BCE–1st century CE)

ObjectiveSeptic arthritis is not commonly reported in paleopathology. This study aims to provide a differential diagnosis of septic arthritis by looking at a case from ancient China. We also aim to add to the current literature on septic arthritis in paleopathology. MaterialsOne adult male skeleton recovered from the Dapuzi Cemetery, Shaanxi, dating to the Western Han Dynasty (3rd century BCE–1st century CE). MethodsMacroscopic observations were conducted. ResultsThe lytic appearance and massive new bone formation on the left acetabulum of M142 are compatible with septic arthritis. The hip pathology greatly influenced his stature. The two femur shafts present different degrees of robusticity. He also showed severe osteoarthritis. ConclusionsThe individual suffered from septic arthritis of the hip, of unknown cause, for a long period, which greatly influenced his daily life. Complications included osteoarthritis, shortened stature, and difficulties in walking. SignificanceThis study offers a new case of septic arthritis and provides insight into the people who guarded the royal tombs in the West Han Dynasty. LimitationsThe skeleton is not well-preserved, limiting observations of bony changes to other areas of the body.

"Like Sneaky Thieves, They Broke into Royal Tombs": Mobility, Egyptian Antiquities, and the Limits of Anti-Colonial Critique

SUMMARY: This article examines how anti-colonial critique of the plunder of Egyptian antiquities reached the Russian Empire in the early twentieth century. Drawing on travelogues and secret police reports, the article analyzes how Russian travelers encountered (or did not encounter) Oriental antiquities through the mediation of local Egyptian guides. Once in the Russian Empire, the returnees shared their impressions with the reading audience and thus acted as coproducers of anti-colonial knowledge. However, the impact of the critique of European museal practices remained limited because of the complex arrangement of group identities and interests. Резюме: В данной статье рассматривается, как антиколониальная критика разграбления египетских древностей получила распространение в Российской империи в начале ХХ века. На основе путевых заметок и полицейских отчетов статья реконструирует реакцию российских путешественников на увиденные при посредничестве местных египетских гидов (или не увиденные на своем месте) восточные древности. Вернувшись в Россию, путешественники делились своими впечатлениями в печати и тем самым участвовали в производстве антиколониального знания. Однако влияние критики европейских музейных практик оставалось ограниченным в силу сложности групповых идентичностей и интересов.

Analysis of the Shaping of the Ear in Representations of Pharaohs and Deities in the Decoration of Selected Tombs in the Valley of the Kings

This paper deals with the analysis of the shaping of ears in representations of pharaohs and anthropomorphic deities found on the walls of selected royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings and discusses the directions of change in the style of this organ’s depiction in the decoration of tombs of New Kingdom rulers.

The Jars from Tomb U-j – a Further Petrographic and Contextual Reassessment

The petrographic investigations of imported vessels from Abydos, published a few years ago in “Egypt and the Levant,” 4 confirmed their origin from different regions of the Levant. In addition to vessels from Early Dynastic royal tombs and from Cemetery B, the samples also included five jars from Predynastic Cemetery U, especially from Tomb U-j. For the latter, such an origin had already become apparent from the archaeological point of view, as well as from NAA and XRF analyses when the material was first published 20 years ago. However, the interpretation of the results of petrographic investigations at the time neglected this option. The new series of samples from Abydos has since been supplemented by 13 additional vessels from U-j and other Cemetery U tombs. The analysis presented below leaves no doubt as to the Levantine origin of the jars and shows that an evaluation of analytical results based on a limited database can easily lead to misinterpretation, which has long hindered the archaeological discussion concerning the significance of these finds. In the case of the U-j jars, this is regrettable as this thus far unique finding is not only important for the understanding of the connections to the Levant from an Egyptian point of view, but also sheds light on the socio-economic developments in different regions of the Levant in the late 4th millennium BCE.

TWO LATE CLASSIC ROYAL BURIALS FROM BUENAVISTA DEL CAYO, BELIZE

We describe two Late Classic royal tombs excavated by the Mopan Valley Archaeological Project at Buenavista del Cayo. Feature 385-6, excavated in 2018, was located in Structure 3c and dates to around AD 600. The large masonry tomb contained an individual laid to rest on an elevated wooden bier, accompanied by 19 ceramic vessels, obsidian and stingray spine bloodletters, a mirrored headdress, and a jade bead. Among the more remarkable findings in the tomb were hundreds of desiccated popcorn kernels and two pyrite mirrors, one with Teotihuacan-style painting. Feature 385-30 is another masonry tomb, excavated in 2019 in Structure 3b. Dating to the late 7th century AD, this tomb contained an adult individual wrapped in textiles, accompanied by two jade artifacts and 27 ceramic vessels, some of which were elaborately painted. Of particular note, two parallel rows of chert lithics were found immediately under the body: a row of five very fine, large bifacial axes, and a row of nine eccentrics. Three additional eccentrics were found near the head. These tombs indicate that the line of kings that was established at Buenavista by at least ca. AD 450 reigned for at least two centuries.

고구려 상장의례 시론

During the early years of Goguryeo, people mourned for the deceased for 100 days. Yet the culture of three-year mourning spread out after the early 3rd century. In case of the three-year mourning, ‘bin’ (殯, preserving the body temporarily in a morgue) lasted for a long time. It was partially because it took a long time to build a royal tomb, but the more important reason was because the new king needed time to cement his power. Most likely, it is assumed that the royal temporary morgues (殯所) were located outside the royal palace. It is also assumed that the coffin with the body in it was moved to the tomb after the ‘bin’ period.
 Originally, in Goguryeo, grand funeral was enacted. Then, trees were planted around tombs after the early 3rd century. However, because the trend of simple funeral became prevalent from the late 4th century to the 5th century, the deceased’s goods came to be distributed to others. Despite these changes, the tradition that escorting a funeral in a cheerful atmosphere was maintained.

평양 정릉사지 문자자료 검토와 과제

Jeongneungsa Temple in Pyongyang, North Korea's state-owned No.173, was built during the Goguryeo period. According to an excavation report published by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the temple is the tomb of King Dongmyeong, located in front of it. However, the name and nature of the temple (Nungsa Temple) were confirmed through the literature excavated from the temple site, and it is unclear whether Jeongneungsa Temple was the tomb of King Dongmyeong.
 An excavation report published in North Korea in 1964 focused on the tomb of King Dongmyeong, and the area around the tomb of King Dongmyeong was considered to be the tomb guarding the tomb of King Dongmyeong. Jeongneungsa Temple is also described as the tomb of King Dongmyeong. In addition, the fact that the scope of the temple is not symmetrical emphasizes its specificity as it is a combination of the temple and the ruins of the palace. This is an obstacle to understanding Jeongneungsa Temple.
 In this article, I would like to mention the problems of research on Jeongneungsa Temple Site in Pyongyang and suggest the direction of future research on Jeongneungsa Temple Site. First, Jeongneungsa Temple is understood as a tomb group by dividing Dongmyeong Royal Tomb and Jeongneungsa Temple, and Jeongneungsa Temple has the characteristics of Neungsa Temple of the entire Jinpa-ri Ancient Tombs using the concept of family tombs. In addition, I would like to point out that the octagonal flag identified within Jeongneungsa Temple Site is emphasized as a characteristic of Goguryeo, and it is necessary to keep various situations in mind.

An archaeological evaluation of the Olmec “Royal Tombs” at La Venta, Mexico – Corrigendum

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