Tomb of King Michu, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.175

Category

유적지

Era

신라 미추왕

Designated year

1969

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 황남동 89-2번지

Coordinates

35.836935, 129.213419

This is the tomb of King Michu (264-284), the 13th king of Silla and the first Silla king to come from the Kim clan. He defended Silla from an invasion by the neighboring Baekje Dynasty and encouraged cultivation. Located on the Daereungwon Ancient Tombs, one of the best-preserved tomb sites in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju, this is a round mound-type tomb with height of 12.4m and diameter of 56.7m. There remains a honyuseok (rectangular stone table) in front of the tomb, with the wall surrounding the tomb protecting it. Sunghyejeon Shrine, where people held a ceremony for the spirit of the tomb, was rebuilt in front of the tomb in 1794 since it was burnt down during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. It was presumed to be a wooden chamber tomb with stone mound. Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) describes the legend related to King Michu. In the 14th year of the reign of King Yurye (279), when the country’s capital, Geumseong, was under attack by Iseogoguk (country), troops of soldiers with bamboo leaves in their ears appeared to repel the foreign invaders. Somebody saw bamboo leaves piled on the tomb of King Michu and thought that the spirit of King Michu helped Silla defeat Iseogoguk. Thus, the tomb is called Jukhyeonneung or Jukjangneung (bamboo soldier tomb).

Location