Gyeongmun of Silla

Who was Gyeongmun of Silla?

Gyeongmun of Silla was the 48th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the grandson of King Huigang, and the son of the ichan Kim Gye-myeong. His mother was Lady Gwanghwa, the daughter of King Sinmu. Gyeongmun married Queen Munui, who was the daughter of King Heonan.

Gyeongmun's reign saw intensifying internal strife and rebellion. He sought to strengthen the kingdom within and without, but was generally unsuccessful. Famine was widespread. In 869, he sent the Crown Prince to Tang China together with Kim Yun.

The Samguk Yusa tells that Gyeongmun became a Hwarang with 18 years.

The Samguk Yusa also portrays a story which is similar to that of king midas' ears. A royal crownmaker appears instead of the barber. The crownmaker shouted the secret at a bamboo forest. Following the crownmaker's death, the king noticed that when the wind blows, his secrets echo from the forest. He immediately felt unpleasant and destroyed the bamboo forest and planted dogwoods.

His daughter, Jinseong, would later become Silla's 51 ruler and its 3rd and last reigning queen in 887.