Tomb of Dangun

Tomb of Dangun

The Tomb of Dangun is the royal mausoleum of the founding king of the ancient Korean state of Gojoseon, located on Korean soil. It sits in Munhŏng-ri, Kangdong County, about 38 kilometers northeast of central Pyongyang. It was built in October 1994 (Juche 83). The structure consists of nine terraces made from 1,994 meticulously carved granite blocks. It covers an area of 45 hectares, and the renovated memorial courtyard features gate pillars, the “Tomb of Dangun Renovation Monument,” and the Dangun Achievement Stele. The gate pillars are upright stones carved in the style of ancient gate structures. From the courtyard of the renovated monument, a wide 40-meter stone stairway leads up, flanked by eight statues of loyal ministers and four statues of princes. The tomb itself is a stone pyramid-like structure resembling a four-sided pyramid. The tomb platform measures 50 meters in both length and width, and is 22 meters high. The top of the tomb is square-shaped, with the entrance located at the back. The burial chamber is square, measuring 5.7 meters on each side and 4.8 meters in height, and can accommodate over ten people. It houses two coffins containing the remains of King Dangun and his queen. At the four corners of the tomb platform stand stone carvings of Korean tigers and sword towers depicting the symbolic weapon of ancient Gojoseon—the crescent-shaped dagger sword.

Pyongyang, North Korea