Historical Relics in Kaesong
There are many historical relics in Kaesong, which was the capital city of Koryo Kingdom.
In June, ２０１３, the UNESCO registered the mausoleums of kings Wang Kon and Kyonghyo, Kaesong Walls, South Gate of Kaesong, Sonjuk Bridge, Phyochung Monuments, Sungyang Confucian School, Koryo Songgyungwan, Manwoltae, Kaesong Chomsongdae, Seven Mausoleums Cluster and the Myong Mausoleums Cluster as world cultural heritages.
The mausoleum of King Wang Kon is the tomb of the founder of Koryo and the mausoleum of King Kyonghyo consists of two tombs (the ３１st King of Koryo and Queen).
The Kaesong Walls was the walled city of Koryo and the South Gate of Kaesong was built from １３９１ to １３９３.
On the upper storey of the South Gate, there is the famed Yonbok Temple Bell.
The Sonjuk Bridge is a stone bridge where Jong Mong Ju, a high-ranking official in the closing years of Koryo Kingdom, got killed and the Phyochung Monuments were constructed in praise of his loyalty to the king.
The Sungyang Confucian School was built at the site of Jong’s house in １５７３ as a private establishment for disseminating Confucianism to children of the ruling class in the feudal Joson dynasty together with moral education.
The Koryo Songgyungwan University was constructed as the highest educational institution of the state in ９９２. It has several attached buildings like Myongryun Hall and Taesong Shrine.
The Manwoltae is a site of the Koryo royal palace and the Kaesong Chomsongdae was an astronomical observatory.
The Seven Mausoleums Cluster is located at the foot of Mt Mansu. The scale, structure and relics show that those mausoleums are tombs of persons related to the royal family active in the closing years of Koryo.
The Myong Mausoleums Cluster consists of three tombs, and one of them is known as the Mausoleum of Hyonhyo, the ２９th King of Koryo.
The above-said historical relics showing the wisdom and talents of the Korean nation have been well preserved in their original state, under the Workers’ Party of Korea’s policy of protecting national heritages.
Rodong Sinmun