Getting to Know The Great Queen Seon Deok, the First Queen in 5000 Years of Korean History - Predicting Her Own Time of Death

Kapanlagi.com - Many of you may know about Korean drama after watching The Great Queen Seon Deok. This drama aired in 2009 on MBC. The drama, starring Lee Yo Won as Queen Seon Deok, achieved ratings above 40% in Korea.

However, do you know who Queen Seon Deok is? In fact, she became the first ruling queen in 5000 years of Korean history. At that time, only men could become kings.

1. First Queen in Korean History

As quoted from prkorea.com, Seon Deok became queen for nearly 15 years from 632-647. In the Silla kingdom, Seon Deok was the 27th ruler and became the first queen in the kingdom's history. During her reign, Silla had the weakest national power compared to the other kingdoms, Goguryeo and Baekje.

However, from the moment she became queen, Seon Deok took care of the poor inside and outside the kingdom. She pursued various policies to improve the nation and chose two heroes, Kim Yu Shin and Kim Chun Chu. Currently, Koreans say that Silla's ability could unite the three kingdoms and survive for thousands of years with its human resources and the leadership of its leaders

2. Achievements of Queen Seon Deok

Queen Seon Deok ascended the throne during a turbulent period, but she was a great queen. Seon Deok paved the way for Silla with her extraordinary wisdom. She used her intuition, intelligence, and charm to keep the country strong in battles with the other two kingdoms.

According to newworldencyclopedia.org, culture and education also advanced under her leadership. Baekje and Goguryeo eventually united the entire Korean peninsula for the first time, only a few decades after Queen Seon Deok's reign. She also maintained the kingdom by expanding its ties with China by sending scholars there to learn.

3. Prediction of Queen Seon Deok's Death

Queen Seon Deok © prkorea.com

Not only that, one of the abilities most remembered by history is the ability to predict called 'Queen Seon Deok's Prediction'. The Queen predicted an attack on Baekje. Previously, she heard a group of frogs making noise at Eokmun Pond. Seon Deok considered this as a warning of an attack on Silla. Seon Deok then sent troops even though military observers did not see any signs of an attack.

Her prediction turned out to be true, the enemy troops were hiding and ready to attack. This resulted in the successful killing of the Baekje general in the attack. Another prediction was about her own death, starting from the date, month, year, and even the time of her death.

4. Dying Without an Heir to the Kingdom

The beginning of her leadership in the Silla Kingdom as her father's successor was believed to be associated with her intelligence in childhood. One of the stories is when she was seven years old, her father received a box of Peony flower seeds from the Emperor of China accompanied by a painting of what the flower looks like.

Seeing the painting, Seon Deok commented, "It's a pity that although the flower is beautiful, it has no fragrance. If it had a fragrance, there would be many butterflies and bees around the painting of the flower." Her observation proved her intelligence. This confirmed her ability to rule the kingdom.

Queen Seon Deok is compared to Queen Elizabeth I, where she encouraged the rise of thought, literature, and art that had a strong impact on Silla culture. She also promoted balance among different religious groups in Korea. After her reign ended, Seon Deok died without an heir. The throne was then handed over to her cousin, Queen Jin Deok, who ruled Silla from 647 to 654. She died on the day and time she had predicted earlier.

(kpl/mit)