Gyeongju Igyeondae

There are two places where you can meaningfully observe Daewangam (the Great King's Rock). One is Igyeondae in front of Daebon Elementary School, and the other is the site under the marker 'Donghaegu (East Sea Port)' where a monument inscribed 'My Unforgettable Sea' stands. Igyeondae is a historic place where King Munmu, who refused a lavish tomb and instead became a dragon of the East Sea to protect the country, is said to have appeared in dragon form. It is also where his son, King Sinmun, obtained the priceless treasure Manpasikjeok (a magic flute). The name 'Igyeondae' comes from the phrase 'Biryongjaecheon igyeondaein' (A flying dragon in the sky, it is advantageous to see a great person) from the 'I Ching (Book of Changes).' The current building was recently constructed based on the foundation stones revealed during an excavation in 1970.<br /><br />Descending below the Donghaegu marker, you will see the monument 'My Unforgettable Sea,' erected in 1985 by students to honor the anti-Japanese spirit of scholar Uhyun Go Yu-seop. During the Japanese colonial period, as Japan tried to justify its blatant invasion under the guise of 'Naeseon Ilche' (Japan and Korea as one), Go Yu-seop reflected on King Munmu's patriotic will to guard against Japanese pirates (Waegu) during the Unified Silla period. His poem 'Daewangam' and the monument 'My Unforgettable Sea' stand side by side overlooking Daewangam, adding deeper meaning.