Woongin Baekje (Gongju) 1. Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 2. Gongsanseong Fortress - 1 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 1. The Construction of the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong Welcome to King Muryeong s Tomb Reproduction Exhibition. This exhibition is filled with artifacts that were excavated from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong. The original tomb of King Muryeong is currently closed for preservation. So, all the exhibits are replicas open to the public. However, the excavated relics are displayed in nearby Gongju National Museum, so why don t you visit the museum later and take a look at those beautiful treasures? Now we will enter into the exhibition. This diorama demonstrates the construction process of the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong. The tomb is not only representative of Baekje culture, but is also a valuable historic site that provides concrete evidence of the cultural exchange that took place across East Asia. The excavated items suggest that Baekje served as a bridge for cultural exchange between China and Japan during the 5th century. Now let s look at how the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong was built. Although royal tombs of the Baekje Kingdom were usually made by heaping stones, the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong was an exception. Influenced by Chinese customs, it was made of bricks. First, let s look at the brick-making process. The construction of the delicate, arched roof of the tomb required a variety of bricks of different shapes and sizes. Indeed, more than 30 types of bricks were used in the construction of the tomb. After the bricks were made, major building work began. The - 2 -
most interesting point here is that the bricks were laid upon one another without using mortar. An arched tomb such as this could only be built if the bricks fitted together perfectly, like the pieces of a puzzle. Meticulous calculations based on an architectural blueprint ensured that the bricks were laid precisely. Baekje workers first constructed a timber frame to support the structure as it was being built, and then removed the frame upon completion of the brickwork. This creative method of brick construction was an impressive technological feat. - 3 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 2.Songsan-ri Burial Mounds, Tomb No. 6 According to this research data, one of these two tombs is sure to belong to King Muryeong. The tomb at the back is larger, but in my opinion, King Muryeong s tomb is the one at the front. Why? Because the larger tomb is a fake! Constructing a larger, fancier tomb was a typical method of camouflage used to protect the real tomb. I m sure of it. They might have deceived other people but they can t deceive me! Hurry up! Let s start excavating! Ha-ha-ha! I ve found it! This brick tomb is exceptional. Wow! That painted mural represents the four deities! It must be very rare and precious. As I expected, this tomb is significantly different to the tombs of other kings. Ha-ha-ha! I ve finally found the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong! [Narration] The tomb here is a reproduction of Songsan-ri Tomb No. 6 which was once thought to be the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong. When it was excavated, the tomb was found to be empty and thus its occupant was not identifiable. It was named Tomb No. 6 as it was the sixth tomb of a member of the Baekje royal family to be discovered. During the Japanese Colonial Period, the Japanese history teacher, Garubejion, insisted that the tomb he found was the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong, located nearby, remained safe from the intruders and grave robbers. It is a great historical irony that the error of an amateur historian actually protected the real tomb of King Muryeong from pillaging. For a long time, this tomb had been wrongly identified, but who did it actually belong to? The question has still not been answered. No clues or information regarding the identity of the tomb s occupant remained due to repeated theft by intruders. The only fact known with any certainty is that it is the tomb of a member of King Muryeong s family. The most important features of Songsan-ri Tomb No. 6 are that it is built of brick, just like King Muryeong s, and that it houses the painted mural called Sasindo, the Painting of Four Deities. The ravages of time have erased much of the mural, but you can vaguely see the features of four deities. These four holy animals are called Sasin. Sasindo is a painting of the four symbolic, legendary - 4 -
animals that represent the four directions, and they serve as the guardians of the tomb. This tomb is both historically valuable and a painful reminder of the frequency of theft. Only the four deities who have guarded the tomb since its construction know the identity of the person interred here. - 5 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 3. The Revival of Baekje, King Muryeong The bust in front of us is that of King Muryeong, the king who ruled Baekje for 22 years in the early 6th century. During the late 5th century, Baekje s power had declined and even the king was killed during a war with Goguryeo, the kingdom based in northern Korea. Finally, the capital fell to Goguryeo and Baekje relocated its capital to Gongju. Even after this, the crises faced by Baekje continued unabated. Due to a power struggle between members of the nobility, the new king was also assassinated. In the midst of complete political disarray, King Muryeong ascended the throne. King Muryeong appointed members of the royal family as local officials and strengthened the authority of the monarchy, thereby reducing the authority of the noble classes. Meanwhile, he engineered irrigation systems and encouraged migrants to farm the newly-reclaimed arable land so that Baekje acquired the largest grain belt on the peninsula. Political stabilization and unparalleled agricultural production were significant factors behind Baekje s victory in the war with Goguryeo. Furthermore, Baekje enhanced its diplomatic relations with China and exported its advanced culture to Japan. These feats made King Muryeong a great leader who succeeded in reviving Baekje during the early 6th century. The Royal Tomb of King Muryeong lay untouched and well preserved for some 1,500 years, and was only discovered by chance during the early 20th century. When you look around at the exquisite artifacts excavated from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong that are on display here, we hope that you will appreciate the mystical beauty of Baekje artwork. - 6 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 4. Stone Epitaph-plaque - The Secret of the Two Stone Tomb Steles [Narration] The two stone tomb steles belonged to King Muryeong and his queen. A tomb stele is a commemorative tablet inscribed with the interred person s biography, including their name and date of birth. Upon discovery of these steles, the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong became the only royal tomb from the Three Kingdoms Period to be conclusively identifiable. An interesting note is inscribed on the back of the plaque. [Female Student] What does it say? [Narration] It says that the king bought the land for the tomb from the god of the earth. [Female Student] The king bought the land for his tomb from god? That s so strange! [Narration] Yes. The people of Baekje believed that divine beings dwelled in natural phenomena, such as the earth. The act of buying land represented the asking of permission from the god of the earth and ensured the protection of the person entombed. Approximately 90 ancient Chinese coins were found on top of the tomb stele, and they are believed to have been payment to the god of the earth. [Female Student] That s really interesting. Which of the two stone tomb steles belonged to King Muryeong? [Narration] The one on the right was King Muryeong s and the other belonged to the queen. [Female Student] I see. What else is written on the stele? [Narration] I will tell you about the king s first. It says that King Muryeong died in 523 at the age of 62. The queen s stele says that the queen died of old age in 526 and that King Muryeong purchased the land from the god of the earth. The records on both stone steles - 7 -
are standard data for comparative studies of the relics from other regions. Furthermore, they established an absolute time frame, against which the histories of Baekje, Silla, Goguryeo and even East Asia could be measured. This is one of the many reasons why the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong has been accorded such value. - 8 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 5. Interior Model of the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong Brick Tomb, King Muryeong's Tomb Hello. This is a reproduction of the interior of King Muryeong s Tomb, a treasure house of the Baekje Kingdom. Let s enter into the tomb. The passage is narrow, so please be careful. This is the arched burial chamber of the tomb. Look at the floor first and you will see the raised area that set the sacred burial space apart from the rest of the tomb. Now, look up at the walls. Lotus-patterned bricks form the walls and there is a flame-shaped niche for an oil lamp in the middle. Why do you think an oil lamp was necessary in the tomb? The oil lamp was part of the last ritual performed after enshrining the casket. When the door of the tomb was finally closed, the light remained until the oil ran out and the tomb was plunged into total darkness. Brick tombs like King Muryeong s were easily accessible through an entrance, and so it was simple to bury the queen together with the king after she died. However, the exposed nature of the tomb meant that there was always a high risk of robbery. Fortunately, the tomb of King Muryeong remained undisturbed and complete until recently. As such, it greatly contributed to knowledge of East Asian history. Next, let s look around at the treasures King Muryeong s tomb enshrined for such a long time. Walking out of the chamber exit, you will see a cross section of the interior of King Muryeong s tomb, as it appeared at the time of excavation, on your left. Shall we look? What we first see is a long passage projecting towards the front. This is the entrance to the tomb. There is a stone animal figurine doesn t it look like a pig with horns? This stone animal figurine is called Jinmyosu an imaginary animal with a grotesque body that was placed in the tomb as a guardian. The leader of the excavation team will explain it to us in more detail. Now, let s see the interior of the chamber where the treasures were found. The large, arched room is the burial chamber of King Muryeong. Do you see the funerary goods scattered on the floor? It is an absolute treasure house! There are gilt-bronze shoes and a bronze iron. Can you find the wooden W and U-shaped relics? They are the head and foot - 9 -
rests belonging to the king and queen. And now, as we mentioned earlier, let s ask the leader of the excavation team to explain the significance of the stone animal figurine. - 10 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 6. Stone Animal Figurine, the Guardian of the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong [Narration] Captain! Hello! [Excavation Team Leader] Hello! How s it going? [Narration] We d like to learn about the jinmyosu. Why was it buried in King Muryeong s tomb? [Excavation Team Leader] The jinmyosu is a stone animal figurine that embodies an imaginary animal. It was placed here to protect the tomb from invaders and evil spirits. Also, the stone animal figurine was believed to act as a guide for the king and queen, escorting them safely to the next world, in a role similar to that of Hermes in Greek Mythology. The figurine has a horn on its head and four winged legs. It also has another interesting feature. Look carefully at the right hind leg of the animal. Can you see that it is cracked? When the tomb was excavated, the leg was found broken. Surprisingly, stone animal figurines with similarly broken legs have also been found in Chinese tombs from a similar period. After examining the Chinese figurines, people assumed that this figurine might have been deliberately damaged. But why? We still don t know for sure, but it seems that it may have been to prevent the animal from leaving the tomb. They were required to stay and protect the king forever. [Narration] That s brilliant. Maybe the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong remained safe for over 1,400 years due to the guardianship of this stone animal figurine. Shall we now look at the next artifact, a pair of gilt bronze shoes? - 11 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 7. Gilt-bronze Shoes of King Muryeong and His Queen [Narration] These are the king s shoes. [Tourist] Baekje people must have been very tall. What big shoes! [Narration] These shoes were not for practical wear, but for use after the king s demise. They were originally highly decorated, and beautifully adorned with lotus patterns and phoenixes. The shoes also featured twisted, bronze thread detail. [Tourist] But the material the shoes are made from is hard and sharp. They must have been very uncomfortable to wear, even in the afterlife. [Narration] Actually, the shoes were lined with tree bark so that the king s feet would not have been in direct contact with the metal. [Tourist] I see. But why do these shoes have spikes like soccer boots? [Narration] They were only to decorate the shoes. Warriors featured in the murals of Goguryeo were depicted wearing a similar kind of spiked footwear. It is assumed that they were designed to prevent the approach of enemy soldiers on the battlefield. Such thick spikes must have looked quite intimidating. In the case of the king s shoes, the nails might have been thought to repel evil spirits after the king s death. Lastly, let s look at the artifact that looks similar to a ladle. What do you think it was used for? (Gilt-bronze Shoes) - 12 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 8. International Exchange of East Asia in Relation to Bronze Iron [Narration] The ladle-like artifact displayed here is the finest household implement of the Baekje Kingdom. [Tourist] Is it a utensil for cooking? They might have used it to stir enormous pots of boiling soup. It s huge! [Narration] It is actually a bronze iron from the Ying Dynasty of China. Only the households of the nobility and the royal families of Baekje would have possessed such extravagant items. [Tourist] It s an iron? I am impressed that Baekje people ironed their clothes, but how did it work without electricity? [Narration] They ironed their clothes by heating the round, pot-shaped end in a charcoal fire. The same kind of iron has been unearthed from ancient tombs discovered in Osaka, Japan. The iron provides evidence of the route of cultural exchange that passed from the Ying Dynasty of China to Baekje and Japan in those days. - 13 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 9. Head-rest and Foot-rest in Tomb [Narration] The ladle-like artifact displayed here is the finest household implement of the Baekje Kingdom. [Tourist] Is it a utensil for cooking? They might have used it to stir enormous pots of boiling soup. It s huge! [Narration] It is actually a bronze iron from the Ying Dynasty of China. Only the households of the nobility and the royal families of Baekje would have possessed such extravagant items. [Tourist] It s an iron? I am impressed that Baekje people ironed their clothes, but how did it work without electricity? [Narration] They ironed their clothes by heating the round, pot-shaped end in a charcoal fire. The same kind of iron has been unearthed from ancient tombs discovered in Osaka, Japan. The iron provides evidence of the route of cultural exchange that passed from the Ying Dynasty of China to Baekje and Japan in those days. - 14 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 10. Sword with Round Pommel from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong, a Symbol of Supreme Power This sword with a round pommel was also recovered from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong. The Korean name for the sword is yongbong-mun hwandu-daedo, and it means sword with a round pommel and a dragon and phoenix design. This type of sword characterizes the Three Kingdoms Period of the Korean Peninsula as examples have been discovered in regions occupied by each of the three kingdoms. A cord was laced through the round pommel at the end of the hilt so that the sword could be secured to the wrist. It prevented warriors from dropping the weapon on the battlefield and illustrates their determination to never surrender their arms to the enemy. Swords with round pommels were more commonly used as funerary goods and ceremonial accessories designed to denote social standing. Just like King Muryeong s sword in front of us, the pommels were frequently adorned with luxurious, decorative designs. The higher the social status of the person to whom the sword belonged, the more extravagant the adornments became. In particular, patterns featuring dragons and phoenixes were reserved for those of the highest rank, illustrated here by King Muryeong s sword. Dragons and phoenixes were the symbols of the supreme power of the king. Let s look at the sword in more detail. Inside the ring pommel, a dragon is depicted holding a cintamani, a wish-fulfilling jewel. On the outside of the pommel, there are two dragons depicted with vivid scales. The upper part of the wooden hilt is bound with gold and silver thread, and both ends of the hilt are gold-plated. The sword is decorated with silver tortoiseshell and gold saw-toothed patterns, and a phoenix is depicted within the tortoiseshell pattern. Isn t it elaborate? Although this sword is corroded, it is the most glamorous sword ever discovered on the Korean Peninsula. Lastly, let us tell you an interesting fact. These Korean swords with round pommels were the precursors of the famous Japanese samurai swords. - 15 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 11. Golden Diadem Ornaments of King and Queen These artifacts are items of ornate regal jewelry excavated from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong. Let s examine them one by one. The first ones are gold diadem ornaments that belonged to the king. Can you recall the features of the bust of King Muryeong that we saw earlier? These flame-shaped ornaments were made with thin gold plates and were depicted adorning the king s head. The two ornaments appear to be identical, but they are actually symmetrical when attached to the diadem. The king s gold diadem ornaments consist of a lotus and flame design. If you look closer, you will see the stems and blossoms of the lotuses with small gold spangles attached. Imagine the spectacle the king would have made, appearing before his subjects wearing such splendid accessories. When the king wore the diadem in the sunlight, these spangles would have looked both mystical and beautiful; shining with the king s every step. There are as many as 127 small, gold spangles attached to the ornaments. It is surprising that Baekje artisans could produce such delicate, metal-worked objects at the time. When you move to the right, you will see the gold diadem ornaments that were worn by the queen. Just like the king s, the queen s gold diadem ornaments are made out of thin gold plates and the pattern is quite similar. The only major difference is that the queen s are smaller. Compared to the splendid, extravagant diadem ornaments of the king, the queen s appear elegant and simple. We will now move on to look at the next artifact a symbol of royal authority, the bronze mirror. - 16 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 12. Bronze Mirror, a Symbol of Royal Authority These bronze mirrors were excavated from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong. From the Bronze Age onward bronze mirrors were used not only to reflect one s face, but also as a symbol of royal authority or shamanistic power. As a traditional symbol of the sun, bronze mirrors were commonly used in religious rituals. Egyptians are known to have invented the first bronze mirrors in 4,000 BC. In western countries, mirrors with handles were developed and they were generally used when applying cosmetics. However, in Eastern countries, including Baekje, mirrors with ring-shaped knobs were developed. Each mirror has a different design with a different meaning, so let s take a closer look at them one by one. The mirror at the end on the left is engraved with an image depicting four animals and Taoist hermits on a hunt on the outside of the square pattern in the middle. Chinese characters are carved around the animals: can you see them? This bronze mirror was created in prayers for the owner s good health and long life. The biggest mirror on the right has a leather thong tied to the knob and there is an inscription on it. The back of the mirror is decorated with a design featuring seven animals. The inscription means a wish for the success of our descendants. The remnant of the leather thong suggests that it might have been worn around the neck. The pattern on the mirror on the left copies the characteristic style of mirrors made during the Han Dynasty in China. Just like the other two mirrors, this one also features animal designs. It is also evidence of the - 17 -
cultural exchange that occurred between Baekje and China at that time. You might wonder how you could reflect any object at all with all these complicated patterns. What you are actually seeing is the back of the mirror. Unlike the back, the front of mirror has no patterns or designs, and was polished to a reflective, shiny surface. The bronze mirrors of Baekje were later disseminated to Japan, and so the same style of mirrors is also found in ancient Japanese tombs. - 18 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 13. Wooden Coffin from Japan What you see here in front of you are the restored coffins of King Muryeong and his queen. The wooden coffins are decorated with gold and silver, and they provide important evidence of the ongoing exchange that occurred at the time between Baekje and Japan. The timber used to make these coffins is not native to the Korean Peninsula. In fact, this type of pine is only found in the southern part of Japan. The origin of the wood was determined 20 years after the coffins were excavated from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong. The Japanese pine is resistant to moisture and decay, making it a worthy choice of material for the coffin of a monarch. Does that mean that the coffins were imported from Japan? No. Ancient Japanese coffins were usually made of stone. Therefore, it is believed that the coffins of King Muryeong and his queen were not produced in Japan, but that the timber used to construct them was imported and used in Baekje. Through the tale of the birth of King Muryeong, we can gain an idea of the relationship between Baekje and Japan at that time. According to Japanese historical records, the king of Baekje sent his pregnant queen to Japan with his brother. On their way to Japan, the queen gave birth to a boy on a small island in southern part of Japan, and he grew up to be King Muryeong. The child was actually named Sama, which means island in Japanese, and so King Muryeong was also called King of the Islands. The wooden coffins from the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong are of great historical importance, as the importation of timber of the highest quality from Japan attests to the intimate relationship that existed between Baekje and Japan at that time. - 19 -
Songsan-ri Burial Mounds 14. Fashion of the Baekje Royal Family The luxurious clothing exhibited here are the restored garments of the king and queen of Baekje. The queen s clothing is displayed on the right of the tomb steles. As these garments were worn by the holders of the two highest positions in the kingdom, they represent the absolute pinnacle of splendor and dignity. The clothing of Baekje people differed according to their social status. One s social position and official rank determined both the style of one s clothing and the color of one s hat. The long jackets and straight sleeves typical of Baekje garments were influenced by the style prevalent in the northern kingdom of Goguryeo. Note the dignified appearance of the King of Baekje, who is depicted here wearing mystical purple clothing. Now let s examine the characteristic features of Baekje clothing. The king of Baekje generally wore purple clothing, wide sleeves and a long jacket. The long, traditional Korean jacket was usually cinched by a leather belt and worn over wide trousers made of blue silk. As Baekje was located in the south, the climate was warm and clothes were usually worn open, unlike the traditional Korean clothing of today. The diadem was made of black cloth and decorated with extravagant gold ornaments designed to accentuate the authority of the king. In accordance with their official rank, nobles of the highest rank also wore violet clothing. The rank beneath them wore red, and courtiers of the lowest rank wore blue clothing. All government officials wore a hat decorated with a silver flower. But what about the queen s clothing? A few records remain describing the clothing of Baekje women. It is thought that women s garments had wider sleeves than the men s, but they are presumed to have been of a similar style. - 20 -
Gongsanseong Fortress 1. The New Capital of Baekje, Ungjin Fortress This is the fortress that surrounded the capital of Baekje. The kingdom of Baekje ruled the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula from 18 B.C. to 660 A.D. The fortress is 2.6 kilometers in circumference, and takes approximately an hour to walk around. There are some hilly sections but it is worth the effort just to take in the splendid view of Gongju, the second capital of Baekje, and the surrounding area. Shall we start our walking tour around the historic capital of Baekje? Baekje s capital was originally established near modern-day Seoul. However, an invasion by Goguryeo forced the people of Baekje to abandon their 500-year-old city. The kingdom of Goguryeo possessed great military strength, and controlled the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and the northeast of China. The king of Baekje was killed in the battle and Baekje finally surrendered the Seoul area to Goguryeo, whereupon it relocated its capital to the Gongju region and built this fortress. The fortress is bordered by a river and low mountains, and as such was the ideal location in which the weakened Baekje could recover. The location conferred a defensive advantage and also permitted ease of access. In this new capital, the people of Baekje were able to forget their painful past and regenerate their kingdom, thus beginning the grand era of Gongju. Gongsan Fortress surrounds - 21 -
the former sites of the royal palace, pond and arbor. If you visit between April and October, make sure not to miss the Baekje changing of the guard ceremony! Gongsan Fortress and the Tomb of King Muryeong This nest-shaped Baekje fortress was constructed to defend the capital, Gongju, against enemy attacks. Gongju was the capital city of Baekje for 63 years until the capital was relocated yet again, this time to Buyeo. Here, Baekje recovered its strength and resolved to restore its depleted territory. Most critically, Baekje made a considerable effort to improve social integration. The political environment was in turmoil due to conflicts between the existing rulers and local tribes. Amid the aggravated political crisis, the king was assassinated as a result of a power struggle, and so the conflicts continued without resolution. Fortunately, a capable, powerful king, King Muryeong, ascended to the throne after the assassination. Baekje was in dire need of such a figure during the Gongju era. The ascendance of King Muryeong heralded the revival of Baekje. To resolve the conflicts between the members of the nobility and to restore the balance of power, the king appointed nobles from both the old establishment and the new regime. He engaged various members of the royal family as local officials, thus placing them under his direct control. The power of the monarchy was reinforced and, due to this stabilizing influence, King Muryeong was able to develop the Geumgang River basin to prevent flooding and establish irrigation systems to create additional arable land. He supported the settlement of migrants in the region and established a taxation system for the collection of revenue. After achieving greater social integration, the king endeavored to regain control of the land appropriated by the enemy. The kingdom, which had fled defeated to Gongju, now experienced a dramatic revival. The splendid culture of Baekje in Gongju was revealed to the world after the accidental discovery of the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong in 1971. You can visit his tomb in Gongju, so why not take the time to look around the area? Last Hope of Baekje, Gongsan Fortress This fortress is where the final battle of Baekje took place. In 660, when the Silla-Chinese alliance invaded Baekje, the king of Baekje escaped from the third capital, Buyeo, and sought refuge here in Gongsan Fortress. - 22 -
Prior to that, in 475, the king of Baekje had fled here after Goguryeo s invasion of the original capital. And on this occasion again, the desperate kingdom of Baekje prepared to fight for its survival in this very spot. However, after being betrayed by a servant, the king of Baekje was unable to resist the Silla-Chinese alliance and was forced to surrender. The king, the princes, 88 ministers and generals, and 12,000 of his people were taken to China as prisoners of war. Even after their defeat, the remaining citizens of Baekje continued to fight for independence. While they were besieged in the fortress, they crowned a new king and fiercely resisted their invaders. Despite their determined resistance, the Baekje revival finally came to an end four years later. Founded in 18 B.C., the kingdom was once powerful enough to export its elegant, splendid culture to other nations such as Japan and Silla. But, 681 years later, Baekje vanished into the mists of time in 663. - 23 -
Gongsanseong Fortress 2. Baekje s Heritage Sites Seen from Geumseoru When you walk up to Geumseoru, or the west gate of Gongsanseong Fortress, you can see the downtown in its entirety at a glance. Also, there are several historic sites related to King Muryeong, who revived the ancient kingdom of Baekje. Try and find the tunnel. On the small mountain to the right of the tunnel, there lies Jeongjisan Historic Site. That s where national rituals took place during the Baekje Period. Before King Muryeong and his queen were buried in the tomb, their funeral was held here as well. Ice storage facilities were also found in this site, and it is assumed that ice from this facilities have been used to keep the corpses from decaying. People of Baekje built a funeral parlor there and kept the corpses of King Muryeong and the queen for 27 months before they were buried in the royal tomb. Mourning for the deceased for such a long time was a funeral custom of ancient Korea. Now, how about a walk up hill along the road above the fortress? - 24 -
Gongsanseong Fortress 3. Trace of Baekje Palace Site Let s take a look at the site where the palace of Baekje existed. Based on Korea s historical texts, which said that the palace was here, the site was excavated in 1985. During the excavation, a large building site was discovered, and it s the one surrounded by the fences now. Many artifacts were also found on this site, and especially, there were large numbers of Korean traditional roof tiles. Some of the roof tiles had the Chinese character gung engraved on it, which indicated a royal palace. The excavation also included many sumaksae, which are convex roof-end tiles used to decorate the edge of eaves. The convex roof-end tiles found here had Baekje-style lotus design, which indicated high authority of the buildings. The most noticeable heritage on this location is the site where a garden and a large pond used to be. The original shape of the pond remained relatively intact when discovered, so only the damaged parts were repaired. If you notice the shape of the pond, it is a dome shape with a wide upper part and significantly narrower bottom. Back then, only noblemen and royal family were able to build a pond in their residences. The existence of a garden here supports the notion that the royal palace was indeed located on this site. - 25 -
Gongsanseong Fortress 4. East Gate - Trace of Baekje s Earthen Fortification At the East Gate of Gongsanseong, we can see traces from which the fortress was constructed. Gongsanseong today is a stone fortress. However, it was once an earthen fortress during the Baekje Period, but later was rebuilt with stones. An area near this East Gate was the only place left with traces of the earthen fortress that was built in the Baekje Period. Exit the East Gate and look below to the right. You ll see traces of the earthen fortress intact. The soil was well packed and stacked according to a certain interval. This construction method allowed the fortress to withstand flood and external damages. Tremendous manpower was needed to construct a fortress with this type of architecture. Based on such large scale public works, we can assume a powerful royal authority constructed this fortress. - 26 -
Gongsanseong Fortress 5. Imnyugak Pavilion site-a Banquet Hall This pavilion is called Imnyugak Pavilion site. The excavation survey conducted in 1980 led to the discovery of a presumed site of the pavilion inside the fortress. The current building was then restored in 1993 based on the remaining structure and historic records. According to Korean historical records, it was originally built in 500 AD, with the height of 15m. Currently, the restored two-story building consists of an elevated wooden-floor hall and many pillars. Also, you can climb up on the hall using stairs built on each side of it. So what was this building used for? Why do you think the king of Baekje built such a large and splendid pavilion? The king of Baekje used this pavilion as a banquet hall. He put much effort to strengthen the royal authority and to control the aristocrats. Also, he must have wanted to show off his power and commanding position, as he had successfully defeated invasions from neighboring countries. - 27 -
Gongsanseong Fortress 6. Pond of Baekje Presumably, there were three ponds inside Gongsanseong, and just two of them were excavated so far. You saw one at the palace site, and the other one you see now is the second one. This pond is similar to the one at the palace site. It was constructed by stacking stones. But while the pond at the palace site was circular, this one is angular. Also, the stones here were stacked to create stairs. As you can see, the top portion is wide, but it becomes narrower as it reaches the bottom. So when you look down to the pond, it looks like a Korean stone pagoda standing upside down. Ten stairs were installed at the southwest part of the pond to create an entrance. It is assumed that people were able to reach the bottom of the pond to raise water through this passage. A Korean traditional pavilion standing next to the pond was built after the Baekje Period. People probably built it there to enjoy the scenery of the pond. - 28 -