Hyeokgeose of Silla - Founding Legend

Founding Legend

The Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa describes the founding of Silla by Hyeokgeose.

Refugees of Gojoseon lived in the valleys of present-day Gyeongsang-do, South Korea, in six villages called Yangsan (양산촌, 楊山村), Goheo (고허촌, 高墟村), Jinji (진지촌, 珍支村), Daesu (대수촌, 大樹村), Gari (가리촌, 加利村), and Goya (고야촌, 高耶村).

In 69 BC, the heads of the six chiefdoms gathered to discuss forming a kingdom and selecting a king. In the forest, at a well called Najeong (나정, 蘿井) at Yangsan (양산, 楊山), a strange light shone from the sky, and a white horse was bowed down. Chief Sobeolgong of the Goheo village discovered a large egg there. A boy came out of the egg, and when bathed, his body radiated light and birds and beasts danced.

Sobeolgong raised him, and the six chieftains revered him. The chieftains made him king (Geoseogan) when he became 13 years old. The state was named Seonabeol (서나벌, 徐那伐) (also called as Seorabeol, Seobeol, Sara, or Saro).

Upon becoming king, he married Lady Alyeong (알영, 閼英), who is said to have been born from the ribs of a dragon.