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The Tomb of an Emperor Mistaken for That of a General 高句麗 (GoGuRyeo) 將軍塚(general's tomb):

not ‘將軍墓 (general's tomb)’ but ‘皇帝墓 (emperor’s tomb)

Professor Seo Gil Su introduces a Korean photo of 將軍塚, which he believes to have been taken sometime in the first two decades of the twentieth century.

Remark: JangSuWang was a son of GwangGaeTo DaeWang, who conquered the vast reaches of land ranging from northern Mongolia to the Korean Peninsula. The names of these kings are very revealing: JangSuWang (Jang: long, Su: to live, Wang: king), son of GwangGaeTo DaeWang (Gwang: broad or wide, Gae: to open, To: land, DaeWang: great king).

Footnote: Accordingto “WiSeo (魏書: historical writing of Wi dynasty which united northern China in 439)”, the king of BukWi (北魏: 386-535), HyoMun (孝文) mourned the death of JangSuWang, wearing a special cloth showing respect when he died in 494 (魏書 - 高祖紀第七下: 帝爲高麗王璉擧哀於城東行宮).

A few days ago, a photo was delivered by one JoSeonJok (a Korean residing in Manchuria ). The photo shows a group of 157 Koreans posed behind a very familiar JangGunChong (general’s tomb). It’s the first known Korean picture of GoGuRyeo relics. The 95 boys and girls in the photo appear to be elementary school students. The boys, with short hair or shaven heads, are wearing school uniforms with 6 buttons on them, and the girls, also with short haircuts, wear Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing). Upon my first glance at this photo, I thought myself that it depicted a mere excursion of elementary school students. Upon further inspection, there are also middle school students in proper school uniform, men dressed in Durumagi (a Korean traditional jacket) or western suits, women with young children, and even an elderly lady in Hanbok with a towel on her head. These details raise questions such as “Why would they bring babies on a school excursion? “ and “Did local villagers include themselves in the school photo?”

When was this photo taken? According to the man who sent the picture, a Mr. Heo Chang-Heul, living in Gillim, Manchuria, it was taken at least 110 years ago. It was left by his grandfather, who died at the age of 80. Heo was born one year after his grandfather’s death. He is 66 years old this year (2004), and believes his grandfather was born in 1859. If his grandfather were around the age of 35 when he took the photo, then the photo would indeed be about 110 years old.

I do not believe that this photo is as old as that.

Since the location where this photo was taken, JipAn in GukNaeSeong, was proclaimed by the Cheong (Ching or Qing: 淸) Manchurian dynasty as a forbidden area, people didn't live or even visit there for a very long time. In 1902, when the village JipAn Hyeon was established, people began to repopulate the area. When a Japanese historian investigated GukNaeSeong (國內城: the capital city of GoGuRyeo), he reported that in the autumn of 1905, when he passed by this area, there was only a small settlement of about 30 families living near the gate in the center of enormous abandoned ancient fortress of GoGuRyeo. Given the longstanding forbidden status of the area and the report of the Japanese historian, it seems improbable that a large, diverse group as featured in this photo would be present at the site before 1905.

Mr. Heo said that his grandfather and two of his brothers were put in jail for 3 years for participating in a political protest shortly before the '3.1 independence movement' on March 1st, 1919. After being released from jail, the three brothers couldn’t be traced. Hence, it seems also that this photo would have been taken before his ancestors were jailed, which is to say, in the first two decades of the twentieth century, during the period of Japanese imperialist occupation. There are photos of GoGuRyeo relics taken by Japanese historians. These were introduced in books published during the Japanese imperialist period. Heo's photo has special meaning in light of having been taken by a Korean photographer in that time or earlier.

One more notable detail in Mr. Heo’s letter is the assertion that the photo was shot behind the GoGuRyeo emperor’s tomb in JipAn-si, Gillim-seong Manchuria. Following the Korean War (1950-1953) lasting from The 'Jip' of 'JipAn' was changed from Jip (輯) to Jip (集) which is used today. The name of the tomb was also changed at this time from the emperor's (皇帝) to general's (將軍). We know that local JoSeonJoks (Koreans in Manchuria) continued to call it 'the emperor’s tomb' as they always had.

On the map of 'Haedong JiDo' made in the early 18 century, GukNaeSeong appears as OhGukSeong, and next to OhGukSeong appears 'the emperor’s tomb' (皇帝墓).

(see image below)

As observed by Mr. Seo, the site which continues to be incorrectly called JangGunChong (general's tomb) is generally recognized to be JangSuWangReung (JangSuWang's tomb), even according to the research of Chinese historians. Although it may no longer officially be called 'the emperor’s tomb', this monument belongs to one of greatest kings in ancient Korean history. We should take steps to correct the erroneous designation 'general's tomb' -- the incorrect, degraded, and disrespectful name for the site, which has been widely accepted and taught in Korea for many years. It is amazing how a simple photo can make us realize the inadequacy of the flawed, perhaps even intentionally misleading, historical texts considered acceptable in Korea today.

Source: http://www.pressian.com (2004-05-25 11:18:53), translated by Lee Ki – Tae & edited by Daniel Julian