Tomb of Sim On심온선생묘

About

This is the tomb of Sim On (1375–1418), a civil official during the reign of King Taejong of Joseon. His family clan was Cheongsong, his courtesy name Jungok, and his posthumous title Anhyo. As father of King Sejong's queen, he was made Internal Prince Cheongcheon and rose to the post of Chief State Councillor. However, in 1418 (the first year of Sejong's reign), while on a diplomatic mission to Ming China, he was falsely accused of involvement in the Musul Purge. He was arrested in Uiju on his way home and met his death in Suwon. The charges were later found to be false, and his official status was restored in 1451 (the first year of King Munjong's reign). The burial ground is laid out in three terraced levels divided by gyecheseok (long, flat boundary stones that mark out the tomb area), preserving the original form of 15th-century tomb design. The tombstone in front of the mound, with a square base and pointed top, bears the posthumous title 'Anhyo,' showing that it was made after 1451. Its inscription, written in the Songseol style popular at the time, is both powerful and graceful. Records in Geunyeok Seohwajing (1928) suggest it is the handwriting of Grand Prince Anpyeong (1418–1453), a master of the Songseol style. The stone lantern's three-tiered rounded top looks somewhat awkward, but its large, open light windows show the characteristics of the 15th century. The civil official statues wear bokdu headgear and official robes; their grand scale and striking expressions convey well their role as guardians of the tomb. With its well-preserved early Joseon tomb layout, a tombstone showcasing Songseol-style calligraphy, and stone sculptures embodying 15th-century artistry, the site captures the distinct character of royal and noble tomb culture in the Gyeonggi region and is recognized as a highly valuable cultural heritage.