Off to Gimhae, the Glowing Heart of Gaya Culture | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

The Tomb of Queen Suro of Gimhae is the burial site of Heo Hwang-ok, the queen of King Suro, the founder of Geumgwan Gaya. Heo Hwang-ok was originally a princess from the Indian Ayuta Kingdom who, following a heavenly command, crossed the sea by ship at the age of 16 to become King Suro's wife. Unlike King Suro's tomb, this tomb is uniquely built on a hill rather than flat land, and nearby is the Gusan-dong ancient tomb cluster with cave-style stone chamber tombs. Attached auxiliary structures include the Sungboje, Outer Sammun Gate, Inner Sammun Gate, and Hongsalmun Gate. At the entrance to the queen's tomb are the main gate called Gunammun and a Hongsalmun gate erected in front of the tomb. To the right of the tomb is the Sungbojae, where offerings are prepared, and in front is the tomb stele. In front of the queen's tomb remain stone ruins of a Pasaseoktap (stone pagoda) said to have been brought from India. According to the Samguk Yusa, this Pasaseoktap was carried to calm the waves when crossing by ship to Garakguk. The tomb itself is a circular burial mound about 5 meters high surrounded by a low square stone wall and has a stone retaining wall made of long stones in front. A stele in the center has two lines inscribed with ‘Garakguk Suro Wangbi Boju Taehu Heo Ssi Neung (Tomb of Queen Heo, Mother Empress of King Suro of Garak State).’ The protected area was expanded in 1446 (the 28th year of King Sejong’s reign) along with King Suro’s tomb, and there are records of grave robbery during the Imjin War. The current stele and upper stone were restored and installed in 1647 (the 25th year of King Injo’s reign). The facilities are relatively modest compared to the royal tomb, and since it has long been known as Suro Queen's tomb, it is believed to have been constructed around the same time as King Suro's tomb, likely as a pit tomb or stone chamber tomb. Ancestral rites are held every spring and autumn at Sungseonjeon alongside the tomb of King Suro, and on the 15th day of the 9th lunar month annually, the Kimhae Cultural Center hosts the Queen’s Tomb Tea Offering Ceremony honoring Heo Hwang-ok.

1998년 7월 29일, 국립김해박물관은 고대국가의 하나인 가야(加耶)의 문화유산을 집대성하기 위해 개관하였다. 가야의 건국설화(建國說話)가 깃든 김해시 구지봉(龜旨峰) 기슭에 자리 잡은 국립김해박물관은 가야의 문화재를 집약 전시하고 있으며, 아울러 부산·경남지역의 선사시대의 문화상과 가야의 성장 기반이 된 변한(弁韓)의 문화유산을 전시하고 있다.

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).

The Bonghwang-dong Site is a representative shell mound of the Gaya period. It expanded in February 2001 to include the Hoehyeon-ri shell mound, where Korea's first archaeological investigation was conducted in 1907, and Bonghwangdae, the largest living site of Geumgwan Gaya. At the Hoehyeon-ri shell mound, Gimhae-style pottery, various iron artifacts, bone tools, and Chinese coins called Hwacheon were excavated, indicating trade at that time. It also yielded Korea's first burnt rice remains, providing valuable data for the study of rice cultivation origins. Bonghwangdae was named by Jeong Hyun-seok, the Joseon-era governor of Gimhae, who said the hill resembled a phoenix spreading its wings and built a platform called Bonghwangdae. On the hill are Yeuigak and Hwangse rock, related to the legend of General Hwangse and Lady Yeoui. To the west of Bonghwangdae, Gaya period earthen fortifications and a large warehouse-type building site were discovered, along with raised houses and residential areas. Major facilities at the Bonghwang-dong site include the Geumgwan Gaya mounted warrior statue, elevated houses (warehouses), Gaya ships, watchtowers, Hwangse rock, Yeuigak, Gaya residential clusters, and the shell mound exhibition hall.