Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom

Capital Cities and Tombs of Goguryeo added to UNESCO in 2004

Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in and around the city of Ji'an in China. Koguryo (or Goguryeo, 37 BCE – 668 CE) was an ancient kingdom located in what is now Northeast China and the northern Korean Peninsula.

The site was designated a cultural World Heritage Site in 2004, qualifying as such under the first five of the six criteria for cultural heritage sites.^[1]

The site contains the archaeological remains of three fortress-cities: Wunü Mountain City, Gungnae City and Wandu Mountain City) and forty identified tombs of Goguryeo imperial and noble families.^[1]

Capital cities

Wunü Mountain City (Onyeosanseong) was the first capital of Goguryeo. Guonei (Gungnae) City and Wandu Mountain City (Hwando) were also capitals of the Goguryeo.^[1] These areas are now in China but were historically in Goguryeo territory, a proto-Korean kingdom.

Onyeosanseong is only partly excavated. Gungnae City, within the modern city of Ji'an, played the role of a supporting capital after the main Goguryeo capital moved to Pyongyang. Wandu Mountain City contains many vestiges including a large palace and many tombs.^[1]

The capital cities of the Goguryeo are an early example of mountain cities later imitated by neighbouring cultures. The system of capital cities represented by Gungnae City and Wandu Mountain City also influenced the construction of later capitals built by the Goguryeo regime.^[1]

The capital cities of the Goguryeo represent a perfect blending of human creation and nature whether with the rocks or with forests and rivers.^[1]

Tombs

The site includes archaeological remains of 40 tombs which were built by Goguryeo, which was founded by Jumong in a region called Jolbon Buyeo, thought to be located in the middle Yalu and Tongjia River basin, overlapping the current China-North Korea border.

Some of the tombs have elaborate ceilings designed to roof wide spaces without columns and carry the heavy load of a stone or earth tumulus (mound) was placed above them. The paintings in the tombs, while showing artistic skills and specific style, are also an example of strong influence from various cultures.^[1]

The tombs represent a masterpiece of the human creative genius in their wall paintings and structures.^[1]

Since these are the tombs of the kings of Goguryeo, these tombs are widely recognized as the Heritage of Korea.

See also

• Complex of Goguryeo Tombs, UNESCO world heritage site in Pyongyang, North Korea.
• Ancient Tombs at Longtou Mountain with Mausoleum of Princess Jeonghyo of Balhae.

Notes

1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom". UNESCO. 

World Heritage Sites in China
East	Classical Gardens of Suzhou Fujian Tulou Lushan National Park Huangshan Mount Sanqing (Sanqingshan) Mount Tai (Taishan) Mount Wuyi (Wuyishan) Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and Kong Family Mansion, Qufu Ancient villages in Southern Anhui, Xidi, and Hongcun West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
South Central	Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains Historic Centre of Macau Hubei Shennongjia Kaiping Diaolou and Villages Longmen Grottoes Historic Monuments of Dengfeng, including the Shaolin Monastery and Gaocheng Observatory Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area Yin Xu
Southwest	Chengjiang Fossil Site Dazu Rock Carvings Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, including the Jokhang and Norbulingka Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area Old Town of Lijiang Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
North	Mount Wutai (Wutaishan) Chengde Mountain Resort and its outlying temples, including the Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Xumi Fushou Temple and the Puning Temple Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian Ancient City of Pingyao Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing Temple of Heaven, an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing Site of Xanadu Yungang Grottoes
Northeast	Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang
Northwest	Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Mogao Caves Xinjiang Tianshan
Multiple regions	The Great Wall China Danxia Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties South China Karst The Grand Canal Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Tusi Sites

Coordinates: 41°09′25″N 126°11′14″E / 41.15694°N 126.18722°E / 41.15694; 126.18722