Trip to Traditional Culture and Daeseongdong Tomb Museum in Gimhae | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

The tomb of King Suro, the founder of Geumgwan Gaya, located in Seosang-dong, Gimhae-si, is designated as a historic site. It is a round-shaped mound approximately 5 meters high, with buildings such as Sungsunjeon (where the spirit tablet is enshrined), Anhwangak (for storing incense and sacrificial tools used in spring and autumn rites), Jeonsacheong, and Jegigo. There are also stone structures like the spirit monument and the merit monument. Major historic sites of Suro Royal Tomb include Sungsunjeon, Anhwangak, Nambyeong main gate (the main gate of the royal tomb), and Gujibong, which is a formation of ten turtles grouped together. King Suro ascended the throne as the founder of Garakguk in 42 AD, married Princess Heo Hwang-ok from the Indian Yautya Kingdom in 48 AD, and is the progenitor of the Gimhae Kim clan. In the 13th year of Seonjo's reign (1580), Yeongnam Governor Heo Yeop reportedly renovated the tomb into its current form. Inside the tomb are spirit tablets of King Suro and Queen Suro; spirit tablets are places where the soul of the deceased rests, referring to a portrait or document of the deceased. The tombstone in front of the tomb was erected in the 25th year of King Injo's reign (1647), and the name Sungsunjeon was bestowed by the king in the 21st year of King Gojong's reign (1884).

Hyanggyo were educational institutions established by the state to honor great Confucian scholars and to provide Confucian education and moral guidance to local people. The exact founding date of Gimhae Hyanggyo is unknown, but according to the 'Gimhae Eupji,' it was originally located in Dajeon-dong, east of the old Gimhae-bu. Later, the mountain where the Hyanggyo stood collapsed, and it was relocated to its current site in the 14th year of King Sukjong's reign (1688). The overall layout follows the typical jeonhak-humyo form, with the Myeongnyundang (study hall) in front and the Daeseongjeon (main shrine) and east and west offices behind. The main gate, Pungwharu, is unusual as it is a single-story building with a paljak-style roof (octagonal side shape), unlike typical pavilion-style structures. During the Joseon Dynasty, the state provided land, texts, and slaves for teaching students, but now only ceremonies are held. This Hyanggyo also holds materials useful for researching Gimhae local history.

김해문화원은 1956년 9월에 개원하여 1964년 10월 21일 사단법인으로 인가 받아 사업을 계속해오다 1994년 9월 지방문화원 진흥법에 의해 김해문화원으로 설립인가 받아 지금에 이르고 있다. 김해오광대, 농악단, 김해석전놀이 등을 발굴하여 전승해 오고 있으며, 민속자료전시실, 전국 가야금 경연대회, 이윤재선생 추모 백일장 등 각종 문화예술행사의 개최로 시민들의 발길이 끊이지 않는 항상 살아 움직이는 문화원으로 시민들의 문화적 욕구를 충족시키고자 노력하고 있다.

대성동고분군에서 4차례의 발굴조사에서 출토된 자료들을 전시하여 소개함으로써 역사 속에서 가려져 있었던 금관가야의 실체뿐만 아니라 이곳이 금관가야의 중심지라는 것을 인식하게 하는 장이다. 박물관은 지상 1층의 전시실과 지하 1층의 부속시설을 갖추고 있다. 지상 1층 3개의 전시실에는 도입의 장, 개관의 장, 고분의 장, 교류의 장, 문화의 장 5개의 전시공간을 구분하여 전시하고 있다.