A Study on Civil Protection of King GabonTaesil in the Late Joseon Dynasty : Focusing on the Placenta Chamber of King Sukjong and the documents of Taebong-dong, Gongju

A novel discovery reveals that the village of Taebong-dong, Gongju, played an active and autonomous role in protecting King Sukjong's placenta chamber (Taesil) during the late Joseon Dynasty, contrary to historical assumptions. Unlike royal tombs managed by central authorities, this local Taesil was entrusted to villagers, who developed a unique tradition of protection that persisted even after its relocation in the colonial era. Documents from Taebong-dong show that residents sublimated their duties into communal rituals, including building a mountain shrine on Taepongsan Mountain around 1930, which they maintained until the 1960s. This study challenges the traditional royal-centered narrative by highlighting the village's agency in preserving Taesil, suggesting that such cases should be recognized as part of UNESCO World Heritage Site values to uncover sustainable cultural significance.

Choi, M. (2024). A Study on Civil Protection of King GabonTaesil in the Late Joseon Dynasty : Focusing on the Placenta Chamber of King Sukjong and the documents of Taebong-dong, Gongju. Chungcheongmam-Do Institute of History and Culture, 37, 377–410. https://doi.org/10.55852/jcscc.2024.37.377