About 90 minutes north of Busan, South Korea, is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Gyeongju Historic Areas. This was a thriving area of Korean Buddhist art from the 7th-10th centuries. The Silla (sometimes written Shilla) Dynasty ruled at the time, and their contribution of temples, stone artifacts, mound-like tombs, and gold tomb treasures were outstanding legacies of the Korean people. The stories and artifacts are stored in the Gyeongju National Museum, although the temples, mounds, and parks are worth a visit too.
Begin the museum visit with a look at the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, which is a national treasure. It was commissioned by King Gyeongdeok, the 35th King of Silla. It’s nearly 4 meters tall and is the most exquisite bronze bell in the world. It is struck from the outside, unlike Western bells, and there are multiple legends about its construction.
The museum interior begins with a look at the stone, iron, and bronze ages, which have important historic notes in the development of the Silla Dynasty. Historically, the people who made pottery were some of the most important because they allowed food to be cooked. Humans had a difficult time eating raw food, and cooking not only progressed the human race, but medicine, warfare, and culture as well. As tools developed, the primary purpose was for burial processes, then home use, and finally warfare.
Next we come to the history of the Silla people. The dynasty was formed in the 5th century when 12 small states gathered into 6 different clans. They joined together into a kingdom for political and defensive reasons.
The Silla became able craftsmen and created intricate metalworks for horse and soldier armor, but also for clothing design and accessories, jewelry, shoes, and crowns. Earrings were abundant and were worn equally by men and women. The goldwork was intricate and beautiful.
Even more impressive was their glasswork. They discovered ways to heat and mold sand, silica, crystal agate, and other additives to make beads, jewelry, pots, and accessories. These treasures were valued highly, and were eventually traded on the Silk Road. Glass was treated as more important than gold because of its trade value.
Jewels that adorned the belts, crowns, and jewelry included comma-shaped jade and glass beads. It’s said that they are fetus shaped to indicate the beginning of life. The wish was for an abundance of babies, because babies would not only increase the population but would grow up to become soldiers, workers, and wise people.
This museum is where the actual gold, jewels, silica, crowns, shoes, pottery, and other artifacts are housed. When you visit the tomb mounds you will only see replicas. There are the six gold crowns from the Silla Kingdom.
The Silla Dynasty was the start of the unification of the Korean Peninsula. The Silla people were religiously Shaman, but as they became influenced by the Tang China Dynasty, they took on Buddhism. Other cultural practices changed, including clothing style, housing construction, pottery making, and diplomatic issues.
The Sillas thrived until the 8th century. Rulers unsuccessfully attempted to establish reforms. In 935, they were overthrown and the country evolved again.
Tips: The museum has an etiquette guide, so be sure to read about that before entry. There are no bathrooms inside the museum–they are located at the gate entrance by the gift shop. The cafe is seasonal. Check with the museum for English language tours. Signs are mostly in Korean with small English titles or short English descriptions. For a fuller English experience, use a tour guide or visit the museum’s social media channels.
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Bethany Miller is a writer, art advisor, and global traveler. She works on projects relating to storytelling and demystifying the art world. She writes a newsletter called Art Advisor and runs an arts education platform called Boundaryless Art. Bethany has a PhD with focus on business psychology and a Masters of Art and Culture Management. Born in the United States, she currently travels internationally full time with her husband.