World Heritage
Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong
Situated in Kaesong city in the south of the country the site consists of 12 separate components which together testify to the history and culture of the Koryo Dynasty from the 10th to 14th centuries The geomantic layout of the former capital city of Kaesong its palaces institutions and tomb complex defensive walls and gates embody the political cultural philosophical and spiritual values of a crucial era in the regions history The monuments inscribed also include an astronomical and meteorological observatory two schools including one dedicated to educating national officials and commemorative steles The site testifies to the transition from Buddhism to neoConfucianism in East Asia and to the assimilation of the cultural spiritual and political values of the states that existed prior to Koreas unification under the Koryo Dynasty The integration of Buddhist Confucian Taoist and geomantic concepts is manifest in the planning of the site and the architecture of its monuments
Democratic People's Republic of Korea -