Gyeongdeok of Silla

Gyeongdeok of Silla (景德王; 742-765) 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 intent 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 reagent, Gyeongdeok’s son, King Hyegong, succeeded him after his death.

Gyeongdeok of Silla
Hangul
경덕왕
Hanja
景德王
Revised RomanizationGyeongdeok Wang
McCune–ReischauerKyŏngdŏk Wang
Birth name
Hangul
김헌영
Hanja
金憲英
Revised RomanizationGim Heon-yeong
McCune–ReischauerKim Hŏnyŏng
Monarchs of Korea
Silla
(Post-unification)
  1. Munmu 661–681
  2. Sinmun 681–691
  3. Hyoso 692–702
  4. Seongdeok 702–737
  5. Hyoseong 737–742
  6. Gyeongdeok 742–765
  7. Hyegong 765–780
  8. Seondeok 780–785
  9. Wonseong 785–798
  10. Soseong 798–800
  11. Aejang 800–809
  12. Heondeok 809–826
  13. Heungdeok 826–836
  14. Huigang 836–838
  15. Minae 838–839
  16. Sinmu 839
  17. Munseong 839–857
  18. Heonan 857–861
  19. Gyeongmun 861–875
  20. Heongang 875–886
  21. Jeonggang 886–887
  22. Jinseong 887–897
  23. Hyogong 897–912
  24. Sindeok 912–917
  25. Gyeongmyeong 917–924
  26. Gyeongae 924–927
  27. Gyeongsun 927–935

Projects under reign

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][9] The construction began in 742 and finished during the reign of King Hyoseong.[9]  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 the Bulguksa Temple and the Dabotap Pagoda which began construction in the same year.[2][10][11] King Gyeongdeok also constructed a Jangsaenpyo at Borimsa to express his gratitude for the support of Master Wanpyo in his administrative endeavors.[12]  

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.[13]

Government reform

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]

See also

References
  1. Tennant, Charles Roger, 1919-2003. (1996). A history of Korea. London: Kegan Paul International. ISBN 0-7103-0532-X. OCLC 33334921.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 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. Lee, Geun-jik (2009). "The Development of Royal Tombs in Silla" (PDF). International Journal of Korean History. 14: 122.
  5. Cha, Soon-cheol (2009). "The Characteristics of Silla's Gongbang" (PDF). International Journal of Korean History. 14: 125–160.
  6. 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 – via JSTOR.
  7. Kim, Chong Sun (2004). "Silla Economy and Society". Korean Studies. 28: 75–104. doi:10.1353/ks.2005.0020. JSTOR 23720183. S2CID 145158628 – via JSTOR.
  8. 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 – via JSTOR.
  9. "Introduction - The Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok". Coursera (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  10. 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 – via KoreaScience.
  11. Administration, Cultural Heritage. "Dabotap Pagoda of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju - Heritage Search". Cultural Heritage Administration - English Site. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  12. Seung-yeon, Lee (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, 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
  13. Lee, Sang-jun (2009). "Spatial Structure and Scope of the Wolseong Castle" (PDF). International Journal of Korean History. 14: 31–57.
Gyeongdeok of Silla
 Died: 765
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Hyoseong		 King of Silla
Silla
742–765		 Succeeded by
Hyegong
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