The silver grass planted on the burial mound is traditionally harvested once a year during a specialized ceremony.
King Taejo chose this location himself after his abdication, reflecting a desire to return to his ancestral roots.
The Donggureung complex contains 17 individuals buried across its nine tomb sites, including several other Joseon monarchs.
The stone statues surrounding the tomb are uniquely large compared to later Joseon royal tombs, reflecting early dynasty artistic styles.
Geonwolleung is the burial site of King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, located within the Donggureung Royal Tomb complex in Guri. It is the only royal tomb in the Joseon cluster covered with susuk (silver grass) instead of turf, honoring the king's request to recreate the landscape of his hometown in Hamheung. The burial mound is flanked by two distinct stone lamp sculptures and various statues representing civil and military officials. This site serves as the centerpiece of the Donggureung site, which houses nine royal tombs in total across a vast forested area. The tomb layout follows traditional Confucian principles of feng shui, incorporating the surrounding topography into the memorial space. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and represents the zenith of Joseon-era burial architecture.
The path approaching the tomb entrance, which provides an unobstructed view of the stone statues and the unique grass-covered mound.
Walk the perimeter trail that circles the entire royal tomb cluster for a full perspective of the landscape.
Bring comfortable walking shoes as the paths within the Donggureung forest are unpaved and undulating.
Visit during the annual susuk-cutting ceremony if you wish to see traditional heritage preservation in action.
Do not mistake the smaller tombs nearby for the primary royal tomb of King Taejo; focus on the main mound with the silver grass.
Closed on Mondays, as is standard for all royal tomb sites under the Cultural Heritage Administration.
Respect the burial mound by remaining on marked paths; climbing or sitting on the tomb mound is strictly prohibited.
