Where Did the Stones for Danjong's Royal Tomb Come From?... Historical Documents and Science Provide the Answer

National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage: Historical Records and Scientific Analysis
Origin of Jangneung Stone Artifacts in Yeongwol Traced to "Songhak Mountain in Jecheon"

The origin of the stones used for the royal tomb, which had previously been preserved only in records, has now been reconfirmed through a combination of historical documentation and scientific analysis.

Panoramic View of Jangneung in Yeongwol / Photo by the Cultural Heritage Administration

On August 19, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage announced that it had identified the quarry site for the stone materials used in the stone artifacts of Jangneung in Yeongwol as the area around Songhak Mountain in Jecheon.

The crucial clue lay in the tumultuous posthumous history of Danjong. After being dethroned and degraded to Prince Nosan, Danjong died in exile in Yeongwol in 1457. During the 24th year of King Sukjong's reign (1698), Danjong was restored, and the tomb was officially designated as Jangneung. The tomb had to be properly restored in keeping with the dignity befitting a royal mausoleum, and as part of this, new stone artifacts were also created.

The records of these renovations remain intact in the "Uigwe for the Construction and Management of Danjong’s Jangneung." The paired civil official statue and stelae from the Joseon Dynasty, created during the reign of King Seonjo, were recut and reused during the refurbishment of Jangneung. In contrast, the spirit stone with its pedestal, the stone lantern known as Jangmyeongdeung, and the paired stone horse, sheep, and tiger statues were all newly created during King Sukjong's era. Non-destructive examinations by the research institute confirmed that all these artifacts are made of biotite granite. This raised the question: where was this granite quarried?

Overview of Songhak Mountain Abandoned Quarry / National Heritage Administration.

The answer can be found by considering geographical factors. Jangneung in Yeongwol is the only Joseon royal tomb located in Gangwon-do, apart from those dedicated to posthumous kings, making it necessary to source the stone from nearby areas. According to the uigwe, the vicinity of Yeongwol was first surveyed, but as no suitable stone was found, the search moved to Jeongam in Buk-myeon, Jecheon. Once the stone quality there was confirmed, it was chosen as the quarry site, as recorded in the document.

The name 'Jeongam of Buk-myeon, Jecheon' no longer exists. By comparing old place names and historical maps, the research institute discovered that Buk-myeon, Jecheon-gun during the late Joseon period was incorporated into Songhak-myeon, Jecheon-gun, as part of the 1914 administrative reorganization. Based on this, the village of Jeongam in Sigok-ri, Songhak-myeon, Jecheon City has been identified as the most likely candidate. In fact, Songhak Mountain in this area was once home to as many as eight granite quarries and is well known as a source of high-quality granite.

Quarry traces around Songhak Mountain / National Heritage Administration.

The final verification was conducted on-site. Analysis of the rocks around Songhak Mountain revealed that they are indeed biotite granite, matching that of the Jangneung stone artifacts in Yeongwol. The distance between the tomb and the stone quarry, as noted in the uigwe (about 60 ri, or 24 km), also corresponds closely with the actual distance. Thus, the findings from historical documents and scientific analysis are in agreement. More detailed research results are scheduled to be published in an academic journal within the year.

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