A Study on the Zhaomu System and Cases of Nizang

The purpose of this study is to analyze the history and cases of Nizang(逆葬, locating the graves of descendants behind those of ancestors) during the Joseon Dynasty through the application of the Zhaomu system and exceptional situations in the imperial graves of the Ming and Qing dynasties. When building graves, ritual features and Feng Shui play an important role. Ritual features include the Zhaomu system and the hierarchy based on Confucian thought. On the other hand, in terms of Feng Shui, they wanted to find an auspicious place and prayed for the success of descendants through propitious places. These characteristics meet the circumstances of the times and create various characteristic phenomena. It was reflected not only in the construction of the imperial tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties but also in the graves of the royal family and nobles of Joseon. Before the mid-Joseon Dynasty, the issue of Nizang or Daozang was not a problem, so it seemed to be accepted naturally. They used any place excellent for Feng Shui, even behind their ancestors’ graves. However, in the middle and late Joseon Dynasty, antipathy toward Nizang, Daozang, and Yazang grew, and a culture that took issue with it began to appear. Therefore, with the establishment of the Neo-Confucian hierarchy and the complex effect of various situational factors, Yeokjang became a taboo in Feng Shui.