Tomb of Queen Jindeok, Gyeongju

This is the tomb of Queen Jindeok (r. 647–654), the 28th monarch of Silla, located midway up a hill far to the northeast of downtown Gyeongju. Queen Jindeok succeeded Queen Seondeok as Silla's second female monarch; her personal name was Seungman. She was born to Galmunwang Gukban, a younger brother of King Jinpyeong, and Lady Wolmyeong, and was the last monarch of Silla's "sacred bone" (seonggol) lineage. During her seven years on the throne she strengthened the nation and, through active diplomacy with Tang China, kept Goguryeo and Baekje in check, laying the foundations for the unification of the Three Kingdoms. The tomb is a round earthen mound with retaining stones set around its base. Between the retaining stones, twelve upright pillar stones were inserted, each carved with one of the twelve zodiac figures corresponding to its direction. Long stones were laid on top of these, though some are later repairs rather than original. A stone balustrade appears to have once stood at regular intervals from the retaining stones, but almost none of it survives today. Apart from a recently built path and retaining wall, there are no other stone structures in front of the tomb. According to the Samguk sagi, when the queen died in 654 she was given the posthumous name Jindeok and buried in Saryang-bu. Saryang-bu is thought to correspond to the area southwest of present-day downtown Gyeongju, the exact opposite direction from this tomb. The tomb's form is also of a style that developed after the reign of the 33rd monarch, King Seongdeok, and the carving technique of its zodiac figures is the latest among all such figures found on Silla royal tombs. For these reasons, some scholars argue that this tomb is not in fact Queen Jindeok's.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Historic Site · 사적