General View of Tomb Sculpture

The museum is full of attractive things. Visitors look into various flowers, trees and statues as well as traditional buildings, so that they sometimes become unaware of the passage of time. Stone statues of civil officials, gravestones, and jangmyeongdeungs are also intriguing things to take a look at. The place where the stone statues are displayed is dyed yellow by fallen leaves from persimmon and gingko trees in autumn. The statues together with Jindo dogs are considered guards to keep the jongga safe. The calm atmosphere hangs around the tomb of Yi Wonbo and that of Hamcheongun.

Structure of Tomb Sculpture

The statues of civil officials standing around the tombs of Yi Wonbo and Hamcheongun, and the statues on the opposite side of the rest area have a short lower body and the form of a square pillar without expression of a neck and a waist. And they also show such characteristics of those of the Joseon Dynasty as a large head and stereo-typed expression. However, each of them is different in facial expression, build, and attire. The jangmyeongdeung standing alone looks simple and plain, with neat structures of foundation, body, and roof. Although it is made mainly for decoration, it can be also used as a real lantern by putting a lamp in it through windows on all sides.

Stylishness of Tomb Sculpture

Diverse types of bokgeons are represented on the statues of civil officials, including the ssangtugwan-type waryonggwan and the samo. The gravestone, which stands steadily, consists of a base with a lotus-flower pattern, a body and a capstone, and is regarded one of the most sophisticated tomb sculptures in the museum. It is frustrating, however, that its inscription as well as those of the tombs of Yi Wonbo and Hamcheongun is severely weathered, and, therefore, may not be legible without ink-rubbing. The tomb sculptures including the tomb stones and literary man statues are well harmonized with the tombs, boasting of their modest grace in the secluded places.