Korean Burial Mounds

I took these pictures on a Sunday walk with the the Carlson's and Stiles' families. Burial Mounds can be seen throughout the country on almost every hillside. I have seen large cemetaries but most often I see small family plots dotting the hillsides. The hierarchal society rules are also observed in death. The size and placement of the mound traditionally represents the stature of the person in the family or society. The eldest son is responsible for cleaning and preparing the mounds of the most recently deceased. I read that that they are buried upright in the coffins made of six wood planks. The planks represent the four cardinal points of the compass plus a plank for heaven and earth. The corpses are then placed facing south or toward the mountains because they are said to be home of the spirits of the land and sky.

I gathered this information in conversations with the Stiles, Carlsons and from reading an article at PBS online.