Archaeological Area of Nangsan Mountain, Gyeongju

Lying long from north to south like a silkworm cocoon and forming a low ridge, this mountain has been regarded as sacred and preserved as a holy site since the twelfth year of King Silseong of Silla (413). Records state that when the king saw auspicious clouds hovering over Nangsan Mountain, he told his officials, 'This is a place where spirits descend from heaven to play, and it is surely a place that bestows blessings; from now on, do not cut down even a single tree on Nangsan Mountain.' From the seventh century, it began to be regarded as a sacred Buddhist mountain, a place that brought blessings to the royal house. In accordance with Queen Seondeok's last wishes, her royal tomb was built here, and the mountain also holds many other Silla relics, including Sacheonwangsa Temple Site, associated with Silla hyangga (native vernacular songs), Neungjitap, believed to be the cremation site of King Munmu, a maaebul (a Buddha image carved into a rock face), and the three-storey stone pagoda at Guhwang-ri. (The name was changed from 'Gyeongju Nangsan' to 'Archaeological Area of Nangsan Mountain, Gyeongju', as officially announced on 28 July 2011.)

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Historic Site · 사적