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{{Infobox World Heritage Site
| WHS     = Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom
| Image    = [[Image:5th century tombs of rulers of Koguryŏ.jpg|thumb|275px|]]
| State Party = {{PRC}}
| Type    = Cultural
| Criteria  = i, ii, iii, iv, v
| ID     = 1135
| Region   = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Asia and Australasia|Asia-Pacific]]
| Year    = 2004
| Session   = 
| Link    = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1135
}}
{{ChineseText}}
'''Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom''', located in and around [[Ji'an, Jilin]] in the [[People's Republic of China]], received [[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage Site]] designation. The site contains the archaeological remains of three cities ([[Wǔ Nǚ Shān|Wunu Mountain City]], [[Guonei City]], and [[Wandu Mountain City]]), and forty identified tombs of [[Koguryo]] imperial and noble families. Until recently, little has been known about the [[History of Korea|origin of Korea]] in the northern regions of [[China]] and in [[North Korea]]. At the end of the [[Joseon Dynasty]], in the late nineteenth century, China had become protective of the northern regions historically claimed by Korea. China and [[Joseon]] signed an agreement that the movement of Koreans into [[Manchuria]] would be a crime punishable by death. Still, Koreans migrated secretly into the historic region of Korea's origin, the area of [[Tangun Joseon]], [[Kija Joseon]], and Koguryo.
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The fall of the [[Berlin Wall]] in 1989, and the turning away from communism by the Chinese government that followed, opened a new era for [[archeology]]. With the approach of the [[Beijing Olympics|Olympics]] in the summer of 2008, China has been gradually opening to archeological investigation. UNESCO designated the Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom a World Heritage Site in 2004. China's opening the region to archeology constituted a brave act on their part. The discovery and excavation of the original capital cities of the [[History of Korea|Korean empire]], dating to at least the time of [[Christ]], reopens the question of ownership of the region, at least for scholars. Some Korean scholars argue that [[Korea]], especially [[North Korea]], has claim to the area while some Chinese scholars argue that the early dynasties had been Chinese provinces, not Korean kingdoms. In any case, the argument seems academic since the governments of [[China]], North Korea, and [[South Korea]] are content to leave borders where they are.

== Capital Cities ==
[[Image:Unesco Ancient Koguryo Kingdom.jpg|thumb|400px|Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom added to [[UNESCO]] in 2004.]]
Wunu Mountain City served as the first capital of Koguryo ([[Goguryeo]]) Kingdom. [[Guonei City]] ([[Gungnae-seong]]) and [[Wandu Mountain City]] ([[Hwando]]) served at other times as the capital of the Koguryo Kingdom.<ref name="UNESCO">[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1135%7CUNESCO Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom] ''UNESCO''. Retrieved April 27, 2021.</ref> Wunu Mountain City has been only partly excavated. Guonei City, within the modern city of Ji’an, played the role of a supporting capital after the main Koguryo capital moved to [[Pyongyang]]. Wandu Mountain City contains many vestiges including a large palace and many tombs.<ref name="UNESCO"/>

The Capital Cities of the Koguryo Kingdom provide an early example of mountain cities, later imitated by neighboring cultures. The system of capital cities represented by Guonei City and Wandu Mountain City also influenced the construction of later capitals built by the Koguryo regime.<ref name="UNESCO"/> The capital cities of the Koguryo Kingdom represent an artistic blending of human creation and nature whether with the rocks or with forests and rivers.<ref name="UNESCO"/>

== Wu Nu Shan ==
{{Infobox Mountain
| Name = Wu Nu Shan
| Photo = Sole-like profile of WuNvShan.JPG
| Elevation = 821 metres (2,693&nbsp;ft)
| Location = [[Liaoning]], [[China]]
| Prominence =
| Coordinates = {{coor dm|41|19.6|N|125|24.7|E|type:mountain}}
| Easiest route =cable car
}}
Wu Nu Shan ({{zh-cp|c=五女山|p=Wǔ Nǚ Shān}}), which means the [[mountain]] of Five Women, represents a mountain of historical and cultural significance located in the north of the town of Huanren, in [[Huanren Manchu autonomous county|Huanren]] [[Manchu]] [[autonomous county]], [[Liaoning]] [[Province of China|Province]], [[China]]. The tallest [[pyramidal peak|peak]], Main Peak, stands 821&nbsp;meters high.

Wu Nu Shan has been considered the birthplace of the Korean Kingdom "[[Goguryeo]]" civilization and the last [[feudal]] [[dynasty]]&mdash;Manchu's [[Qing Dynasty]]. Its peculiar and beautiful landscapes have made it internationally famous in recent years.

=== History ===
Wu Nu Shan has a long history of human habitation. Recently [[archaeologist]]s have found historical artifacts on the [[mountain]], including pottery from the late [[Neolithic]] Age, more than 4500 years ago. Those artifacts also include some human-used [[weapon]]s and tools which have been dated as thousands of years old. The [[Korea]]n [[monarchy|kingdom]], [[Goguryeo]]had been founded in 37 year B.C.E above the mountain. Goguryeo moved the capital to [[Gungnae Seong]] in the year 3 B.C.E.. In 1424 C.E., when the third king of Jurchen [[Li Manzhu]] invaded Liao Ning, they quartered on that mountain and founded the Manchu kingdom.

=== Location === 
Wu Nu Shan situates in the northeast of [[Huanren Manchu autonomous county|Huanren County]] and the northwest of the [[Hun Jiang River]], eight km from the county. Its main peak measures 821 meters above sea level, has a length of 1500&nbsp;m from the north to the south side and a width of 300&nbsp;m from the east to the west side. 

=== Natural significance ===
Wu Nu Shan sits in the north temperate zone so the four seasons, enjoying four distinct season. More than sixty scenic spots populate the area. In the spring and summer, flowers, trees, butterflies and birds abound. The lake has a regular schedule of tourist ships during the summer. In autumn, red dominates the mountain, as the famous [[China|Chinese]] sweet gums come into season. At the end of the year, the mountain will appear to put on a white coat and become like a jade [[dragon]] lying beside the river.

=== Cultural significance ===
Wu Nu Shan, called "The First Defensive City Wall In The East," has all the elements of a defensive [[city wall]]&mdash;[[temple]], [[palace]], [[barn]], [[barracks]], water source, and a city wall of more than 200 meters above the relative sea level. The Goguryeo kingdom could quarter at the mountain as long as necessary during the cold weather seasons.<ref name=Baike>[http://baike.baidu.com/view/3937.htm The Historically Famous Wu Nu Shan] ''baike.baidu.com''. Retrieved April 27, 2021.</ref>

=== Awards ===  
*1994, Awarded as the Most Protected Culture Relic
*1999, One of the Top Ten National Archaeological Discovery 
*2002, Awarded as the AAAA Class National Tourist Spot
*2004, Nominated on the UNESCO World Heritage List<ref name=Baike/>

== Gungnae-seong ==
[[Image:Korean three-legged bird mural.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Three-legged bird flanked by dragon and phoenix. Mural from the Koguryo period, Korea]]
Gungnae-seong, present-day [[Ji'an, Jilin|Ji'an]] (集安), served as the second capital city of the ancient Kingdom of [[Goguryeo]]. The kingdom's second ruler, [[Yuri of Goguryeo|King Yuri]], chose the site as the capital city during the tenth month of the year 3 C.E. Invaders sacked the city several times until the rise of the 19th ruler [[Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo|king Gwanggaeto the Great]], who greatly expanded Goguryeo's territory and made it a formidable power in the northeast [[Asia]]. When King Gwanggaeto died during 413 C.E., his son, [[Jangsu of Goguryeo|King Jangsu]], inherited the throne and moved the capital south to [[Pyongyang]] in the year 427 C.E.

Gungnae-seong fell to the [[Silla]]-[[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] alliance when General [[Yeon Namsaeng]], son of [[Yeon Gaesomun]], surrendered the city in 666 C.E. The kingdom of Goguryeo itself fell in 668 C.E. when Tang army captured [[Pyongyang]] and took [[King Bojang of Goguryeo|King Bojang]] and [[Yeon Namgeon]] into custody.
<!--{{credits|Gungnae-seong|194138450}}-->

==Wandu Mountain City==
Wandu Mountain City ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: '''[[wikt:丸|丸]][[wikt:都|都]][[wikt:山|山]][[wikt:城|城]]''') (Korean transliteration: ''Hwando Mountain Fortress''), along with [[Gungnae-seong]] (Guonei), served as the second capital of [[Goguryeo]] (Hanzhi: 高句麗, [[Pinyin]]: Gaogouli, [[Hangul]]: 고구려). Located 2.5 kilometers to the west of [[Ji'an, Jilin]], [[People's Republic of China|China]], [[UNESCO]] designated the remains of Wandu Mountain City part of a [[World Heritage Site]].<ref name="UNESCO"/> 

=== History ===
*"On October of the 22nd year (of [[Yuri of Goguryeo]]), the Yuri King moved the capital to [[Guonei|Gungnae-seong]], and built the Weina Rock fortress."<ref>''Samguk Sagi'' (The History of the Three Kingdoms) Volume 13, 18.</ref>. Since the first year of Yuri of Goguryeo falls on 19 B.C.E., the 22nd year figures to 3 C.E. [[Gungnae-seong]] designated a fortress on [[Yalu River]]'s [[plain]], while Weina [[Rock (geology)|Rock]] fortress (尉那巖城) had been a fortified city in the [[mountain]], later renamed to Hwando(丸都), by [[Sansang of Goguryeo]].
*"On February of the 2nd year (of [[Sansang of Goguryeo]]), Hwando City was built." "On October (of the 13th year of Sansang of Goguryeo), the Sansang King moved the capital to Hwando".<ref>''Samguk Sagi'' (The History of the Three Kingdoms) Volume 16, 21-23. </ref> Since the 1st year of Sansang of Goguryeo calculates 197 C.E., the 2nd year falls on 198 C.E. and the 13th year 209 C.E.

== Tombs ==
The site includes archaeological remains of forty tombs: fourteen imperial tombs and twenty six nobles. The tombs host the remains of royalty in Koguryo, which ruled over parts of northern China and the northern half of the Korean Peninsula from 37 B.C.E. to 668 C.E.<ref name="UNESCO"/>

Some of the tombs have elaborate ceilings, wide spaces without columns, and carrying a heavy load of a stone or earth tumulus (mound) placed above them. The tombs, particularly the important stele and a long inscription on one of the tombs, shows influence of Chinese culture on Koguryo. The paintings in the tombs, while showing artistic skills and specific style, provide an example of strong influence from various cultures.<ref name="UNESCO"/> The tombs represent a masterpiece of the human creative genius in their wall paintings and structures.<ref name="UNESCO"/>

==Notes==
<references/>

==References==
* Chŏn, Ho-tʻae. ''The Dreams of the Living and Hopes of the Dead: Gogureo tomb murals''. Seoul, Korea: Seoul National University Press, 2007. ISBN 9788952107299
* Kim, Lena. ''Koguryo Tomb Murals: World cultural heritage''. Seoul: ICOMOS-Korea, 2004. {{OCLC|66479811}}
* Kim, Ri-na.. ''Koguryo Tomb Murals.'' Seoul, Korea: ICOMOS-Korea, 2004. {{OCLC|59009020}}
* Tongbuga Yŏksa Chaedan (Korea). ''Koguryo: A glorious ancient Korean kingdom in Northeast Asia''. Seoul, Korea: Northeast Asian History Foundation, 2007. {{OCLC|173623530}}
* Veg, Sebastian. ''Preservation of the Koguryo kingdom tombs''. S.l.: UNESCO, 2005. {{OCLC|71724726}}

==External links==
All links retrieved November 25, 2023.

* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1135 Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom] ''UNESCO''. 



{{World Heritage Sites in China}} 

[[Category:Geography]]
[[Category:Cities]]
[[Category:Archaeology]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites]]

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