Seochulji Pond, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.138

Category

Architecture

Era

신라 소지왕

Designated year

1964

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 남산1길 17 (남산동)

Coordinates

35.796430, 129.242333

Located at the foot of Namsan Mountain in Gyeongju, this pond was built during the Three Kingdoms Period. Two of the three-story stone pagodas were in the middle of the village in Namsan Mountain and elegant pond on the east. As a historical relic in the Silla Period, it was famous for the following legend. In the 10th year of the reign of King Soji (488) of Silla, a crow and a mouse came to the king and said, "follow the crow" on his way to Cheoncheonjeong Pavilion at the foot of Namsan Mountain. The king had his follower tag along. While following the crow, he was caught in the fight of two pigs. Wandering about on the road, he received an envelope delivered by an old man. Based on the message in the envelope, the king had the Geomungo case shot. With this shot, a monk and an official who hatched the plot were killed. The name of the pond, Seochulji, originated with the story that the message that could prevent entrapment was composed here. Since then, the custom of daeboreum or feeding a crow with memorial service food on January 15 had been practiced. Im Jeok is said to have constructed a building around the pond to read a book and enjoy sightseeing in the 5th year of the reign of King Hyeonjong of Joseon. This simple but elegant building northwest of the pond still remains.

Location