Tomb of King Heungdeok, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.30

Category

유적지

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1963

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 안강읍 육통리 산42번지

Coordinates

36.019039, 129.207525

The Royal Tomb of King Heungdeok (826-836), the 42nd king of the Silla Period, is one of the best preserved among Silla tombs. As the 42nd ruler of Silla, King Heungdeok came to the throne in 826 and ruled the country for eleven years. It was during his reign that tea was first introduced to Korea from Tang China and planted on Jirisan Mountain, a high mountain in the southern part of the peninsula. Likewise, Jang Bo-go, a famous admiral and trader, established Cheonghaejin, a powerful navy base, on Wando Island during this period. Twelve zodiac images are engraved on the side stones of the huge round mound, four sculptured stone lions are at the four corners of the square stone pavement around the mound, and stone figures of civil and military officers stand on both sides of the passageway leading to the tomb. The tomb served as a model for all succeeding tombs of the Unified Silla Era. Some broken pieces of a tomb stele -- stating that this is the tomb of King Heungdeok -- were found near the mound. A tortoise pedestal on which the tomb stele originally stood remains in front of the tomb.

Location