Jindeok of Silla

Queen Jindeok of Silla (600–654), reigned as Queen of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 647 to 654. She was the kingdom's 28th ruler, and its second reigning queen following her predecessor Queen Seondeok.^[1] During her reign, Silla jockeyed with Baekje for favor in the Chinese Tang court. She is also known for writing a poem of the Emperor Gaozong of Tang.^[2] According to Samguk Sagi, she was voluptuous, beautiful and tall.^[3][1]

Queen Jindeok 진덕왕 眞德王
Tomb of Queen Jindeok [ko] in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Queen of Silla
Reign	647–654
Coronation	647
Predecessor	Queen Seondeok of Silla
Successor	Muyeol of Silla
Born	600 Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Silla
Died	654 Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Silla
Burial	Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Silla
Posthumous name Queen Jindeok (眞德王, 진덕왕)
Father	Galmunwang Kim Gukban
Mother	Lady Wolmyeong of the Park clan

Jindeok of Silla
Hangul	진덕여왕
Hanja	眞德女王
Revised Romanization	Jindeok Yeowang
McCune–Reischauer	Chindŏk Yŏwang
Birth name
Hangul	김승만
Hanja	眞勝曼
Revised Romanization	Kim Seungman
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Sŭngman

Reign

Queen Jindeok (r. 647–654) ascended the throne and became the Silla's second Queen regnant after Queen Seondeok.^[4] The last monarch from the ranks of the Seonggol, the highest class in the Silla's unique caste system, her real name is Kim Seung-man. Her father was Kim Gukban, who was King Jinpyeong's youngest brother, and her mother was Lady Wolmyeong.^[2]

During her seven-year reign Queen Jindeok's primary concern was foreign policy. With the help of General Kim Yushin she was able to strengthen Silla's defenses and greatly improve her kingdom's relations with Tang China. Those efforts laid the foundation for the unification of the three kingdoms, (Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo). She also expanded the Pumju tax-collecting system.^[5]

The Tomb of Queen Jindeok [ko] is located on the hill in Gyeongju city, although some historians question whether or not it is genuinely her tomb. According to the Samguk Sagi she was buried at Saryangbu, which is located in the opposite direction from the tomb.^[6]

A statue of Queen Jindeok's lower body was found at Zhao Mausoleum (昭陵, Hangul: 소릉), the tomb of Emperor Taizong of Tang in Xi'an.^[7]

Legacy

When King Jeonggang was dying in 887, he appointed his sister Jinseong as his heir, justifying the choice of a female monarch by pointing to Seondeok's and Jindeok's successful reigns.

The poem written by Queen Jindeok is Chidangtaepyeongsong (치당태평송; 致唐太平頌).^[8]

The name of an era

Queen Jindeok used the era name, Inpyeong, from January to July in 647, when she was crowned, and changed the era name to Taehwa. From July 647 to June 650, she used the name Taehwa era, but later used Yeonghwi, the name that was used during the Tang dynasty. Taehwa is the last name that Silla used independently.^[9]

Family

• Father: Galmunwang Kim Guk-ban (갈문왕 김국반; 568–?)
  • Grandfather: Crown Prince Dongryun (동륜태자; 543–572), son of King Jinheung of Silla, 24th ruler of Silla, and Queen Sado of the Park clan (사도왕후 박씨)
  • Grandmother: Lady Manho of the Gyeongju Kim clan (만호부인 김씨; 573–?)
  • Uncle: Jinpyeong of Silla, 26th ruler of Silla
    • Cousin: Queen Seondeok of Silla, 27th ruler of Silla
    • Cousin: Princess Cheonmyeong of Silla
      • Cousin-once-removed: Muyeol of Silla, 29th ruler of Silla
• Mother: Lady Wolmyeong of the Park clan (월명부인 박씨; 570–?)
• Spouse
  • Kim Gi-an (김기안; 金基安; 695–?) — No issue.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Jindeok of Silla
16. Prince Ipjong 8. King Jinheung of Silla 17. Queen Jiso 5. Crown Prince Dongryun 18. Park Yeong-sil 9. Queen Sado of the Park clan 19. Palace Lady Okjin 2. Galmunwang Gukban 5. Lady Mano of the Kim clan 1. Queen Jindeok of Silla 3. Lady Wolmyeong of the Park clan

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Yoo Roo Na in the 1992–1993 KBS TV series Chronicle of the three Kingdoms
• Portrayed by Son Yeo-eun in the 2012–2013 KBS1 TV series Dream of the Emperor.
• Portrayed by Na Mi Hee in the 2017 KBS TV series Chronicles of Korea.
• She is a recruitable general in the mobile war game Evony: The King's Return.

See also

• History of Korea
• Three Kingdoms of Korea

References

1. Neff, Robert (November 18, 2023). "Silla, when giants ruled the peninsula". Korea Times. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
2. Kim (1145), volume 5
3. "진덕여왕". Doosan Encyclopedia (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-08-02.
4. "Queen Seondeok: the first Korean queen who proved that women rule". April Magazine. October 22, 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
5. Lee (2008), p. 141.
6. Cultural Properties Administration, Tomb of Queen Jindeok of Silla
7. "진덕여왕은 넥타이를 했다?". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
8. "치당태평송". Doosan Encyclopedia (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-02-09.
9. Dongguk Tonggam 7th Records of the Three Kingdoms(東國通鑑 卷7 三國紀)

Sources

• Kim Bu-sik (1145). 삼국사기 (三國史記) [History of the Three Kingdoms] (in Korean). OL 24982503M.
• Lee, Bae-yong (2008). Women in Korean History. Ewha Womans University Press.

Jindeok of Silla House of Kim  Died: 654
Regnal titles
Preceded by Seondeok	Queen of Silla 647–654	Succeeded by Muyeol