From stargazer to visionary: 선덕여왕 (Queen Seondeok), the queen who brought the heavens closer to earth.
선덕여왕 (Queen Seondeok), born as Kim Deok-man, reigned as the 27th ruler of Silla from 632 to 647 CE. She was the first female sovereign in Korean history. Her life and achievements are recorded in various historical texts, including the 『삼국사기』 (Samguk Sagi, History of the Three Kingdoms) and 『삼국유사』 (Samguk Yusa, Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms).
선덕여왕릉 (Queen Seondeok's tomb) Historical records highlight Queen Seondeok's political acumen, her patronage of Buddhism, and her interest in science and astronomy. One of her most notable achievements was the construction of 첨성대 (Cheomseongdae), East Asia's oldest existing astronomical observatory. Despite facing challenges as a female ruler, she led Silla through a period of cultural and scientific advancement.
Now, I welcome you to the story of 선덕여왕 - a queen's curiosity about the stars, leading to the creation of a structure that would inspire generations to come.
Let the story begin...
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