Ijongmujanggun Tomb

This is the tomb of General Yi Jong-mu (1360–1425), a renowned military commander of the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. In 1419, the first year of King Sejong, as Japanese pirate raids grew more severe, the royal court decided to attack Tsushima Island, the pirates' base. The general led a fleet and troops to subdue Tsushima, pursuing the enemy as far as the Japanese mainland of Kyushu before receiving their surrender and returning home. The tomb takes the form of a single mound shared with his wife, Lady Jo of Pyeongyang. It was extensively restored in 1975, and its stone furnishings are a mix of old and new. Rectangular kerbstones were set along the front and sides of the mound, while the dragon-tail ridge at the rear and the crescent-shaped earthen bank behind the mound are later alterations. The stone civil-official figures are modest in scale, in the typical early Joseon form of a civil official wearing a bokdu cap and gwanbok official robes. Their large eyes, protruding cheekbones and deep laughter lines give them a fierce expression, emphasising their role as guardians of the tomb. At the lower part of the tomb area, part of an old stone lantern survives. The firebox stone of the lantern, the section of the shaft holding the window, is entirely broken, leaving only the base, but it still bears traces of fifteenth-century workmanship and is therefore significant. This tomb holds considerable academic value for preserving the artistry of early Joseon tomb sculpture, examples of which have since become rare.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongin, Gyeonggi

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물