Tombstones without a Tomb
Publisher: Seoul Selection
Published: Dec 01, 2017
Language: eng
Format: paperback
Number of pages: 240
ISBN-13: 9781624121029
Description: Sindeok, the First Queen of the Joseon Dynasty. Heavy, intricately carved tombstones are embedded in the banks of the Cheonggyecheon Stream that cuts through downtown Seoul, in the shadows of the Gwangtonggyo Bridge, echoing the story of their owner, Queen Sindeok, the first of the Joseon Dynasty. Why are these stones here under the bridge, out in public view, rather than surrounding their assigned tomb, the Royal Tomb of Queen Sindeok? To examine and understand this enigmatic situation, Tombstones without a Tomb first seeks to understand why the status of Queen Sindeok, who played a crucial role in the foundation of the new dynasty was degraded after her death, and then traces the process of how the Queen's honor has since been restored.