| Title |
Backgrounds and Periodical Changes of Building Charcoal Powder Layer in Burial Holes of Royal Tombs in Joseon Dynasty |
| Keywords |
Royal Tomb ; Charcoal Powder Layer ; Lime Plaster Layer ; Stone Burial Chamber ; Plastered Burial Hole |
| Abstract |
The purpose of this study is to trace historical process between the beginnings and disappearance of making charcoal powder layer in royal tombs of Joseon period. People had believed charcoal doesn't decay and has special quality to keep moisture, roots and bugs away from tombs, mainly because charcoal is 'dead' thing. Zhu Xi also believed that, and he recommended to protect burial hole with charcoal and plaster. The neo-confucianists who founded Joseon tried to make a compromise between Zhu Xi's formal tombs and Korean traditional burial chambers for new royal tombs of their new country. Thus, charcoal layer became a part of royal tomb and went through a couple of changes over 200 years, until it was no longer used. |