The founding myth of Shilla and Bak Hyeokgeose

When was the Shilla Dynasty founded? Lacking definitive and concurring findings in historical records and archaeological studies, this is one of the most confounding unanswered questions of Korean history. However, a partial answer to this question was found in the spring of 2004, when archeologists discovered a well and a large octagonal building site from the early Shilla era in Najeong, the purported birthplace of Shilla founder Bak Hyeokgeose. The carbon-dating of the relics unearthed there revealed a date near to the time recorded as Shilla’s founding date in the official account of the three ancient kingdoms, Samguksagi.

In another history book from the ancient times, Samgukyusa, the birth of Shilla’s founder and first king is described as thus.

“Six village leaders gathered at the upstream region of the Alcheon River and climbed to the high ground to look south and choose a king. But strange lightning lit up the skies near a well called Najeong, where a white horse was found kneeling and bowing. When the village leaders looked around they found a wine-colored egg and the horse let out a long neigh and flew up into the sky. Then the eggshell broke and out came a boy.”

Just as Goguryeo’s founder Jumong and Garak’s founder Suro were said to have hatched from eggs, Shilla’s founder Bak Hyeokgeose was also said to have come out of an egg. His birth year is supposed to be 69 B.C., 20 years earlier than King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo and 40 years ahead of King Onjo of Baekje. The legend goes on to describe how the boy’s body glowed after the village leaders bathed him in river water, and how the birds and the animals danced and the moon and the sun shone brightly. The name “Hyeokgeose” means to rule the world with light and the surname “Bak” was given to indicate that he came out of an egg shaped like a bak or a round gourd.

When he turned 13, the village elders appointed him king and named the nation “Seorabeol.” In 53 B.C. Hyeokgeose married a girl, whose birth is just as mythical as his own, purportedly been born out of the side of a dragon.

Wise and benevolent king

Bak Hyeokgeose ruled the kingdom for 61 years during which he was loved and revered as a wise king. In 41 B.C. he toured the country with his queen to encourage farming. People called the royal couple “two saints.” In 32 B.C. the king built a palace in the capital city of Geumseong to strengthen the foundation of his rule.

Bak’s solid and benevolent reign inspired neighboring countries to the point that, according to legend, one country that attempted to invade Shilla turned away on its own accord upon seeing that the people of Shilla were content and prosperous, and realizing that Shilla was a “nation of morality.” In fact, when a Mahan king who demanded tributes from Shilla passed away, Shilla court officials urged Bak to seize the opportunity and attack Mahan, but Bak refused to take advantage of another country’s tragedy. Living up to his namesake, Bak was said to have showered his world with the light of benevolence and good leadership. It is recorded that he was lifted up to the heavens in 3 A.D.

Bringing abundance even after death

Most founding myths end with the founder, usually a child of heavenly gods, completing his earthly mission and returning to his home in heaven. But Bak’s death, or actually its aftermath, separates him from other leaders. According to the legend, his body fell down to earth seven days after he ascended to heaven. The queen passed away on that date. As people tried to collect the pieces of Bak’s broken body and bury them in together, a big serpent appeared and prevented them from interring the corpse. Bak’s body, which was said to have broken into five separate pieces, was finally buried in five different tombs.

The burial of Bak Hyeokgeose was very unusual for the interment practice of the day, for in those days the body was deemed sacred and buried in one piece. However, the events surrounding Bak’s burial were deeply symbolic. The broken and separated pieces of his body alluded to the spreading of seeds and ultimately a rich harvest. The significance of the five pieces can be found in that Koreans’ staple foods are often expressed as the “five grains,” representing all kinds of crops. It also means that Bak wanted people living in all five directions – east, west, south, north, and center – to live well and prosper. The people of Shilla had worshipped Bak not only as their founding king, but also as the god of farming. The small and impoverished land of six village leaders grew to become a nation that unified three ancient kingdoms and lasted for a millennium. And the foundation of that great nation was built by Bak Hyeokgeose, the boy who hatched out of an egg.