Gyeongdeok of Silla

35th monarch of Silla (r. 742–765)

King Gyeondeok
경덕왕
景德王

Tomb believed to belong to King Gyeongdeok (2015)

King of Unified Silla
Reign| 742–765
Coronation| 742
Predecessor| Hyoseong of Silla
Successor| Hyegong of Silla

Born| 723~724
Died| 765
Father| Seongdeok of Silla
Mother| Queen Sodeok
Korean name
Hangul|

Hanja|

RR| Gyeongdeok
MR| Kyŏngdŏk
Birth name
Hangul|

김헌영

Hanja|

金憲英

RR| Gim Heonyeong
MR| Kim Hŏnyŏng
Monarchs of Korea

Silla
(Post-unification)

30. Munmu 661–681
31. Sinmun 681–691
32. Hyoso 692–702
33. Seongdeok 702–737
34. Hyoseong 737–742
35. Gyeongdeok 742–765
36. Hyegong 765–780
37. Seondeok 780–785
38. Wonseong 785–798
39. Soseong 798–800
40. Aejang 800–809
41. Heondeok 809–826
42. Heungdeok 826–836
43. Huigang 836–838
44. Minae 838–839
45. Sinmu 839
46. Munseong 839–857
47. Heonan 857–861
48. Gyeongmun 861–875
49. Heongang 875–886
50. Jeonggang 886–887
51. Jinseong 887–897
52. Hyogong 897–912
53. Sindeok 912–917
54. Gyeongmyeong 917–924
55. Gyeongae 924–927
56. Gyeongsun 927–935

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Gyeongdeok (景德; 723~724–765) was the 35th ruler of Silla and son of King Seongdeok (reigned 702–737). He succeeded his elder brother, King Hyoseong, the 34th ruler of Silla. His reign is considered a golden age in Unified Silla's history, particularly for Buddhist art and architecture.[1][2][3] He is noted as an avid patron of Buddhism and an influential political and religious individual.[4] King Gyeongdeok also made attempts to centralize the country through reorganizing government and standardizing naming practices.[1][5][6][7][8] With his mother as regent, Gyeongdeok's son, King Hyegong, succeeded him after his death.[9]

## Projects under reign

[edit]

King Gyeongdeok is best known for the multiple architectural projects that began under his reign. The most notable of these is the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, which he commissioned and named for his father.[1][2][10] The construction began in 742 and finished during the reign of King Hyoseong.[10]  The tomb of King Seongdeok was also completed by King Gyeongdeok in alignment with the styles of the Great Stupa of Sanchi and Bharhut Stupa.[4]

Buddhist architecture also gained much support from King Gyeongdeok. The construction of Seokguram Grotto also began under his reign headed by Prime Minister Kim Dae-seong in 751, who also oversaw the construction of Bulguksa and the Dabotap Pagoda which began construction in the same year.[2][11][12] King Gyeongdeok also constructed a Jangsaenpyo at Borimsa to express his gratitude for the support of Master Wanpyo in his administrative endeavors.[13]

It is also likely that King Gyeongdeok constructed one of the lotus ponds in the southwest region of Wolseong Castle, which spans approximately forty meters from east to west and fifty meters from north to south.[14]

## Government reform

[edit]

King Gyeongdeok attempted further centralization of Korea through organization of government and post naming conventions.[1]

King Gyeongdeok tried to establish a government system similar to the Chinese system of governing, where regions were governed by court-appointed officials rather than local nobles.[1]

The standardization of naming conventions happened across multiple levels during King Gyeongdeok's reign. The Gongbang class, or artisans, offices were renamed using the suffix "bang" from "jeon" during his reign.[5] A similar change was that of forge workers' titles, from Cheolyujeon (鐵鍮典) was changed to Chukyabang (築冶房), which have the same essential meaning.[5][7]

Locations were standardized as well under King Gyeongdeok. Records in the Samguk sagi show a list of toponyms from Silla and Korea's conquered kingdoms of Goguryeo and Baekje that were standardized to Chinese names in 757.[6] The records contain both the new standardized Chinese name and a phonetic Chinese transcription of the original name of each location, which were generally similar to the semantic meaning of the Chinese name.[6] Sanum, a county in modern South Gyeongsang Province. Called Chip'umch'on in the Silla period, the province was renamed Sanum and incorporated into Kwólsóng gun.[8]

## Death

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A tomb believed to belong to him is located in Gyeongju, South Korea. There is some debate over the true owner of the tomb. It is a Historic Site of South Korea No. 23.[15][16]

## Family

[edit]

* Grandfather Sinmun of Silla (김정명; 642–692)
* Grandmother: Queen Sinmok of the Kim clan (신목왕후 김씨; 655–700)
* Father: Seongdeok of Silla (reigned 702–737) (성덕왕; 691–737)
* Mother: Queen Sodeok (소덕왕후 김씨) of the Kim clan (700–724)
* Wife:
* Queen Sammo of the Kim clan (삼모부인 김씨; 723–?); daughter of Kim Sun–jeong (김순정; 690–?)
* Queen Gyeongsu of the Kim clan (경수왕후 김씨; 725–?); daughter of Kim Ui-chung (김의충; 695–?)
* Daughter: Lady Kim (김씨; 750–?)
* Son: Hyegong of Silla (758–780); was the 36th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla.
* Lady Kim (김씨; 727–?); daughter Kim Sun–jeong (김순정; 690–?)

## See also

[edit]

* Silla
* Korean Buddhism
* List of Korean monarchs
* List of Silla people

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Tennant, Charles Roger, 1919-2003. (1996). A history of Korea. London: Kegan Paul International. ISBN 0-7103-0532-X. OCLC 33334921.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. ^ a b c Pratt, Keith L. (2006). Everlasting flower : a history of Korea. London: Reaktion. ISBN 978-1-86189-273-7. OCLC 63137295.
3. ^ Kim, Jeong-hwa (2003). "Manufacturing Technique of Gulbulsaji Four Surface Buddha Statue - Mainly for Seomyeon Amita Three Buddha Statues -". Komunhwa. 62: 59–85 – via KoreaScience.
4. ^ a b Lee, Geun-jik (2009). "The Development of Royal Tombs in Silla" (PDF). International Journal of Korean History. 14: 122.
5. ^ a b c Cha, Soon-cheol (2009). "The Characteristics of Silla's Gongbang" (PDF). International Journal of Korean History. 14: 125–160.
6. ^ a b c Pellard, Thomas (2014). "The Awakened Lord: The Name of the Buddha in East Asia". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 134 (4): 689–698\. doi:10.7817/jameroriesoci.134.4.689. JSTOR 10.7817/jameroriesoci.134.4.689.
7. ^ a b Kim, Chong Sun (2004). "Silla Economy and Society". Korean Studies. 28: 75–104\. doi:10.1353/ks.2005.0020. JSTOR 23720183. S2CID 145158628.
8. ^ a b Ro, Jin Young (1983). "Demographic and Social Mobility Trends in Early Seventeenth-century Korea: An Analysis of Sanum County Census Registers". Korean Studies. 7: 77–113\. doi:10.1353/ks.1983.0004. JSTOR 23717753. S2CID 162202551.
9. ^ 김, 동완 (July 30, 2021). [삼국유사 오디세이] 34. 황복사탑이 혜공왕을 점지한 천궁이었을까. Kyongbuk Ilbo. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
10. ^ a b "Introduction - The Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok". Coursera (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-08.
11. ^ Koh, Woong-Kon (2015). "Status of the Principal Statue of Sakyamuni in Seokguram Grotto and Suggestions". The Journal of the Korea Contents Association. 15 (11): 41–19\. doi:10.5392/JKCA.2015.15.11.041.
12. ^ "Dabotap Pagoda of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju - Heritage Search". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
13. ^ Lee, Seung-yeon (2013), "Formation of Multiple Areas within Seon Temples in the Aftermath of the Dissolution of the Upper Monastic Area", On the Formation of the Upper Monastic Area of Seon Buddhist Temples from Korea´s Late Silla to the Goryeo Era, Sungkyunkwan University Outstanding Research, vol. 2, Heidelberg: Springer International Publishing, pp. 57–95, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-00053-4_5, ISBN 978-3-319-00052-7, retrieved 2020-12-08
14. ^ Lee, Sang-jun (2009). "Spatial Structure and Scope of the Wolseong Castle" (PDF). International Journal of Korean History. 14: 31–57.
15. ^ "Tomb of King Gyeongdeok, Gyeongju - Heritage Search". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
16. ^ 경주 경덕왕릉 (慶州 景德王陵) [Tomb of King Gyeongdeok, Gyeongju]. Korea Heritage Service (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-02-07.

Gyeongdeok of Silla

House of Kim

Died: 765

Regnal titles
Preceded by

Hyoseong

|  King of Silla
Silla
742–765  | Succeeded by

Hyegong
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