This
is the royal tomb of King Danjong, the sixth king of the Chosun-Dynasty,
who was
enthroned at the age of 12 (1452), but dethroned
by his uncle Suyang.
Danjong was demoted
to Prince Nosan and exiled to Chongnyonpo, Yongwol-gun, when
the plot to restore him to the throne by
the loyal subjects was revealed. Being parted from
his wife, he spent the lonely period of
one year and a half here in custody and isolation.
In
October 1457, when another scheme for restoration of Danjong by
a magistrate was detected, the usurper King
Sejo bestowed poison to Prince Nosan, who ended up his tragic life
at the age of 17. Because Danjong was persecuted on the crime of
treason, nobody was allowed to bury his
corpse. Om Heung-Do, however, ignored the ruthless law, and stole
the dead body which he buried here at Changneung.
It is wondrous that all the pine trees near the
tomb have a list toward the tomb, as if they were bowing to the
ill-fated King.
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