Stele of King Muyeol, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.25

Category

Sites & Pagodas

Era

통일신라시대 초기

Designated year

1962

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 서악동 844-1번지 / (도로명)경주시 대경로 4859

Coordinates

35.825134, 129.188548

This stele was erected in front of the Tomb of King Taejong Muyeol, the 29th ruler of Silla, in 661 (the 1st year of King Munmu’s reign). The inscription was calligraphed by Kim In-mun, who was the second son of the deceased king and a well-known master calligrapher. Steles built during the Unified Silla Period were influenced by the Tang Dynasty of China, and usually consisted of a tortoise-shaped pedestal and an ornamental capstone in the form of a dragon. The Stele for King Taejong Muyeol was the first monument to display such a style. At present, the whereabouts of the stele’s body is unknown, and only the tortoise-shaped pedestal and the capstone are housed in a pavilion. The tortoise of the pedestal extends its head high upward and its legs forward. There are large honeycomb-shaped hexagonal carvings on its back, and lotus designs are carved around the stele’s seat. The ornamental capstone is carved with three dragons on the left and three on the right, which coiled around each other to form a support for a “magic pearl.” The Chinese characters inscribed at the center of the front side clearly state for whom the stele was established. The tortoise-shaped pedestal and the capstone display realistic and vital expressions, suggesting the energetic spirit of the Silla people, who succeeded in unifying the three kingdoms. This stele is regarded as one of the finest masterpieces not only of Korea but also of Asia, thanks to the outstanding stone carving skills of that time.

Location