Tortoise-shaped Pedestal in Seoak-dong, Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.70

Category

Sculpture

Era

통일신라시대

Designated year

1963

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 서악동 1006-1번지

Coordinates

35.825009, 129.189941

This tortoise-shaped pedestal, located south of the Tomb of King Muyeol in Seoak-ri, is thought to be the pedestal for the stele erected to commemorate the life and achievements of Kim In-mun (629-694) of Silla, judging from Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) and the inscription on the fragments of the stele found near the north prop of Yeonggwiru Pavilion at the Seoakseowon Confucian Academy. The pedestal’s stout feet securely support the weight on the stone base. The five-line folds on its neck are expressed naturally and realistically. The large hexagonal design carved on its back shows excellent workmanship. The back of the tortoise is engraved with cloud and stringed bead patterns. A rectangular hole, into which the main body of the stele was thought to be inserted, is situated in the middle of the pedestal. This tortoise-shaped pedestal matches in technique and detail that of the stele for King Muyeol (except that the tortoise’s feet have five toes). Judging from the stylistic changes made to the pedestals of steles, the tortoise head was replaced with a dragon's head around the 9th century. Preserved in its original form, this tortoise-shaped pedestal in Seoak-ri is an archetypical one, and is estimated to have been erected around the mid-7th century during the early Unified Silla Period.

Location