The original burial site of Princess Hwahyeop, daughter of 21st Joseon monarch King Yeongjo, was rediscovered in August 2015 in Sampae-dong, Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do Province. The letters carved on stone blocks placed on the right side of the tomb, prove that it belongs to the Joseon princess.
The previous burial site of Princess Hwahyeop (1733~1752), the daughter of King Yeongjo, the 21st ruler of the Joseon Dynasty and sister of Crown Prince Sado, has been discovered in Sampae-dong in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do Province. The princess, renowned for her beauty, died from measles at the age of 19.
The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said on Dec. 28 that a flat stone with the name of the tomb’s owner, the father’s elegy carved on a memorial stone and a stone case with porcelain jars that contain what appear to be cosmetics, a bronze mirror and a wooden comb were found during the second excavation of the tomb in December.
The memorial stone has 394 letters carved on its front, back and sides. On its right side, the author of the lamentation, King Yeongjo, is marked.
The memorial stone found in the princess’ tomb is covered by 394 letters of lamentation from her father, King Yeongjo on front, back and sides.
In August 2015, a wooden horse and a stone box were found on the site, leading to the first excavation which was carried out in November 2015 and the subsequent discovery of another stone box and white porcelain artifacts buried for the afterlife. The second excavation was conducted in December 2016.
“The stone plate with King Yeongjo’s personal lamentation, the cosmetic pigments and vanity cases tell us about the funeral rites of a married princess,” said an official from the CHA. “These are valuable sources for studies on female members of royal family considering that there are not many tangible references from the Joseon Dynasty,” he added.
By Kim Young Shin
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Cultural Heritage Administration
ysk1111@korea.kr
The makeup tools found in a stone box in the tomb of Princess Hwahyeop, daughter of King Yeongjo, in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do Province.
White porcelain jars found during the first excavation in November 2015. These were buried along with the dead in preparation for the afterlife.
