Visual Index of Kaesong Sites (Site name and description)
	Kaeseong Seonggyungwan (992) Koryo's national university, converted into the Koryo Museum.		Wang Geon Tomb (943, refurbished 1990s) The refurbished tomb of the founder of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392).

About Kaesong

Kaesong was the capital city of Goryeo (918-1392) and presently sits in North Korea not far from the demilitarized zone. The city was originally called Gaeju but was renamed Gaegyeong in 959 and Gaeseong in 995 (Kaesong is the romanization used by the North Korean government). When Wang Geon selected it as the capital of Goryeo, he built palaces and set up a number of Buddhist temples, believing that the power of Buddha and the energy of the topography (understood as the science of Pungsu [Chinese: feng-shui]) contributed to his success.

Life in the capital reflected the cultural influence of Chinese cities, particurly the Sung capital Kaifeng. There were over 130,000 residents when the Chinese envoy Xu Jing visited there in 1123. In 1010 it had been damaged by the Khitan but strengthened in 1029 with a perimeter wall and dozens of gates. But, in 1126 a revolt broke out inside the gates led by disgruntled military men under the command of Yi Jagyeom (Yi Chagyom), who torched the palace and proclaimed a military government. The city again saw strife in the 1190s when a slave revolt shook the capital. A generation later the court fled the city for Kanghwa Island in an attempt to escape the invading Mongols. They held out for several decades before signing an accord in 1270. The Mongols ruled Korea for over a century, but in their declining days could not prevent the Red Turbans from taking the city in 1361. Although the Mongols managed to drive them out, they were so weakened by this and other threats that they were unable to prevent Yi Seonggeye from occupying the city in 1388. By the time he founded the Joseon (Choson) dynasty in 1392, Kaesong was no longer the capital: thenceforth, Seoul held that honor.