Tomb of King Heondeok, Gyeongju

This is the tomb of King Heondeok (r. 809-826), the 41st ruler of Silla, located by the Bukcheon stream in Gyeongju. King Heondeok's given name was Kim Eon-seung; he became king after killing his nephew, King Aejang. During his reign he encouraged farming and maintained close relations with Tang China, but domestic affairs were thrown into turmoil by rebellions such as those of Kim Heon-chang and Kim Beom-mun. According to the Samguk sagi, when the king died in 826 he was buried to the north of Cheollimsa Temple. The exact location of Cheollimsa is not known, but a temple site to the south of this tomb is regarded as its former location. The tomb is a round earthen mound 26m in diameter and 6m high. Retaining stones were placed around the base of the mound to protect it: a course of stones serving as a plinth was first laid on the ground, and flat upright stones were set up on top of them, with pillar-like supporting stones fitted between the upright stones to hold them in place. On the supporting stones, figures of the twelve zodiac spirits were carved facing their respective directions as a symbol guarding the tomb; of these, only five now survive - the pig, rat, ox, tiger and rabbit. Outside the retaining stones, stone posts were set up to form a railing, and the ground between the retaining stones and the railing was paved with stone. The tomb's present appearance is the result of restoration carried out in the 1970s, when part of the retaining stones and the stone railing were newly made. The official name of the site was changed from Silla Heondeokwangneung to Gyeongju Heondeokwangneung (Tomb of King Heondeok, Gyeongju) by notification of 28 July 2011.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Historic Site · 사적