Paju Samneung Tombs [UNESCO World Heritage]

Paju Samneung consists of Gongneung (Tomb of Queen Jangsun), Sunneung (Tomb of Queen Gonghye), and Yeongneung (Tomb of Crown Prince Hyojang and Queen Hyosun).

Gongneung is the tomb of Queen Jangsun of the Han clan, the first wife of King Yejong, the 8th ruler of Joseon. When Queen Jangsun passed away in 1461 (the 7th year of King Sejo's reign) as the Crown Princess, a tomb was built in 1462 (the 8th year of King Sejo's reign) at the current site in Bosidong, Paju, and was called Jangsunbinmyo. Later, in 1470 (the 1st year of King Seongjong's reign), she was posthumously honored as Queen Jangsun, and the tomb was renamed Gongneung. The burial mound omits the stone screen and railings, and is simply arranged with only one pair each of stone civil official, stone horse, longmyeongdeung (stone lantern), stone table (honyuseok), stone sheep, and stone tiger. The hyangno (incense path) and eoro (royal path) leading from the red gate to the pavilion are bent once to suit the terrain.