The tomb of King Munmu, the 30th king of Silla, who defeated Goguryeo and Baekje and unified the three kingdoms, is the resting place of this king. The legend of King Munmu who transformed into a sea dragon in the East Sea to protect Silla is still alive here.
If you drive 745-30 minutes east from Tohamsan Mountain, which is 40 meters high and has two Gyeongju World Heritage sites, the majestic East Sea (Sea of Japan) will appear before your eyes. About 200 meters from the shore of Bongil-ri Beach, there is a small, strangely shaped rock on the water, where you will find Daewangam (Underwater Tomb), said to be the royal tomb of King Munmu, the 57th king of Silla (935 BC - 30 AD), who unified the Three Kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla).
Silla allied with the Tang Dynasty of China and destroyed Baekje and Goguryeo, but in 676 Silla and the Tang Dynasty came into conflict. King Munmu drove the Tang forces out of the peninsula and almost unified the Korean Peninsula. However, he was constantly worried about the problem of Japanese pirates who frequently appeared in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and attacked the coast, so he built Jinkokusa Temple on a hill overlooking the East Sea, with the idea that the power of Buddha would protect the country. However, he died before seeing the completion of the temple.
As he was dying, the king, who had accomplished the great feat of unifying the three kingdoms, left this will: "The three kingdoms have become one, but due to the spirit of the Japanese pirates invading from the East Sea, a period of peace has yet to begin in my country, Silla. When I die, I will be reborn as the dragon of the East Sea to stop the Japanese pirates attacking from the East Sea and protect my country, so please bury my remains in the East Sea." And with this, he departed this world, leaving behind the great will of the king, who had accomplished the great feat of unifying the three kingdoms.
King Shinmun, the 31st king of Silla, following the wishes of his father, King Munmu, created the Great King Rock in the East Sea, which could be seen clearly from Jinkuksa Temple, which his father had been building. He buried his father's remains beneath the rock and changed the name of Jinkuksa Temple to Gameunsa Temple in gratitude for the blessings his father had bestowed upon him, completing the temple.
Also, the father, the king, who had become a dragon,Gameunsa TempleA waterway was built under the temple's main hall so that King Soo could enter and exit Gameunsa Temple, allowing the king to rest and relax. In the past, the Daejongcheon Stream, which flows into the East Sea, used to flow in front of Gameunsa Temple, but now it is no longer connected to the Daejongcheon Stream due to the rise of the ground.Gameunsa TempleThe temple is surrounded by rice fields, but it is said that the Daejongcheon River, which flows into the East Sea, once flowed in front of the temple.
The underwater tomb, Daewangam, where it is said that the remains of the 30th generation of Silla are buried, has a pond-like hole in the center with a cross-shaped waterway that runs east-west, north-south, and west through the middle of the hole. Seawater from the ocean flows into the eastern channel and flows out into the western channel, so calm, clear water always flows inside the underwater tomb, and a large stone has been placed beneath the shallow flowing water. There is a theory that the remains were buried beneath this stone, but the currently accepted theory is that the remains were scattered on top of the stone.
Seokguram GrottoThe tomb of King Munmu seen from the top
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| spot name | Mausoleum of King Munmu Unknown |
| Address | 26, Bonggil-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju-si 26 |
| Phone | 054-772-3843 |
| Time | 自由 |
| Admission fee | None |
| Details | Historic Site No. 158 |
directions:Gyeongju Intercity Bus TerminalTake bus number 150 from there and get off in front of the Underwater Tomb of King Munmu (runs every 40 minutes, takes 50 minutes).
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