Item Information – Nara to Norwich (original) (raw)

Name/TitleStele commemorating the martyrdom of Ichadon (異次頓 ), Gyeongju Museum

About this objectThis stele commemorates the martydom of Ichadon (501–527), a Buddhist monk and advisor to King Beopheung (法興王, r. 514–540) of Silla, one of the three kingdoms in Korea. The king was not Buddhist at this time and, despite Ichadon's attempts to convert him, finally sided with other ministers and had Ichadon publicly beheaded Ichadon. According to the Samguk yusa (三國遺事) [EXH18], Ichadon's prediction that his blood would not be red but milky white proved correct and his head flew upwards out of the temple courtyard and landed on the peak of Sogeumgangsan （小金剛山), the northern sacred peak of Gyeongju. As a result, King Beopheung finally chose Buddhism as the state religion, although it was not until the reign of his successor that it became fully established. Baengnyulsa (栢栗寺) was founded as a memorial temple.
This 9th century stele commemorating Ichadon's death is now in Gyeongju Museum, and a memorial bell remains in the temple.

Date Made9th century

PeriodSilla

Subject and Association KeywordsEncounters

Subject and Association DescriptionLearn More: McBride 2007; Pak and Whitfield 2003.

Medium and MaterialsStone

TechniqueCarved

Measurements1.04 m

Credit LineGyeongju Museum

Object numberEXH54: Gyeongju Museum stele