Our final destination of the day was the National Museum of Gyeongju which is home to treasures of the Silla era.
The entrance to museum is graced by a giant bronze bell - the Bell of King Seongdeok. It is believed to be the largest bell in Korea. The bell is also known as the Emile Bell, after a legend about its casting.
The 18.9 tonne bell was commissioned by King Gyeongdeok in honor of his father, King Seongdeok. However, King Gyeongdeok passed away in 765 AD before the casting of the bell. The bell was finally cast in 771 AD.
The bell is also known as the Emile Bell - Emile, pronounced as "em-ee-leh" is an ancient Silla term for mother.
According to a legend associated with the bell, the first bell that was cast produced no sound when it was struck. The bell was recast many times but with no success. The king, who had wanted the bell cast, died after a while. His young son took over the reign and carried out what his father had started but still he didn't have any success.
Later, a monk dreamed that if a child was cast into the metal, the bell would ring. The monk then took a child from the village and had her cast into the metal. When the bell was complete, the bell made the most beautiful sound when struck. When rung, the sound of the bell is said to have been heard from 40 miles away on a clear day.
The museum is home to the gold crown from Geumgwanchong, an invaluable treasure from Korea's Silla heritage...
Inscriptions on a gold plate...
A figure of a boar from the Chinese zodiac...
A model of Gyengju city from the Silla e
A broken tile from Sacheonwangsa Temple site,Baeban-dong...
A lion statue...
The head of Vajra guardian statue...
Various figurines...
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