Royal Tomb of King Sinmun, Gyeongju

About this place

This is the tomb of Silla's 31st king, King Sinmun (r. 681–692). King Sinmun, son of King Munmu, continued his father's work of uniting the former peoples of Baekje and Goguryeo. He established the national educational institution Gukak (National Academy), abolished the noble class's land grants (nogeup) and replaced them with official grants (gwanryojeon), divided the country into nine provinces and established five secondary capitals (sogyeong) at strategic locations to govern the regions. Upon his death, he was buried east of Nangsan. This tomb is located at the southern end of Nangsan. The mound is a circular earthen tumulus 7.6 m tall and 29.3 m in diameter. The stone border surrounding the edge of the mound was dressed in brick-like shapes and stacked in five tiers, topped with cover stones. Outside these, trapezoidal support stones were placed. On the uppermost part of the support stone positioned due south, the character 'gate' (門) is carved, apparently marking the entrance to the burial corridor.