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Culture3rd–4th century

Seokchon-dong Tombs, Seoul

Royal-scale tombs of Hanseong-period Baekje. Their stepped stone-mound tombs, like those of Goguryeo, show that Baekje’s founders came from Goguryeo stock.

Seokchon-dong Tomb No. 3 — a stepped stone-mound tomb of Hanseong-period Baekje
Seokchon-dong Tomb No. 3 — a stepped stone-mound tomb of Hanseong-period Baekje

Saigen Jiro · CC0 · Source

These Baekje tombs of the Hanseong period stand in Seokchon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The largest, Tomb No. 3, is a stepped stone-mound tomb built up in tiers, nearly 50 m on a side — the same style as early Goguryeo tombs on the Yalu (such as the General’s Tomb).

So the Seokchon-dong tombs back the founding story in which Onjo came south from Goguryeo: Baekje’s founders shared the Buyeo–Goguryeo lineage. Some see Tomb No. 3 as the tomb of King Geunchogo.

In the Ungjin period Baekje built stone-chamber tombs and brick tombs influenced by southern China (the Tomb of King Muryeong), and in the Sabi period small, refined stone-chamber tombs (the Neungsan-ri tombs in Buyeo).

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States and rulers at the time
Baekje — King Geunchogo

Before and after

Earlier
AD 346 Golden Age of King Geunchogo
Later
AD 356 Accession of Naemul Maripgan

Themes that include this event

  • Changes in Tombs2000 BC – 1374

    From dolmens to the tomb of King Gongmin — stone-mound, stone-mound wooden-chamber, stone-chamber and brick tombs, and how burial changed by kingdom and age

  • Seoul18 BC – 1988

    From Hanseong Baekje to the June Democratic Struggle — the Han River land every kingdom fought for, and Joseon’s capital for five centuries