Person

Seondeok of Silla

d. 647 · 7th century

Seondeok was queen of Silla from 632 to 647, the first woman to rule a Korean kingdom. Facing attacks from Baekje and Goguryeo, she sought help from Tang China and promoted Buddhism, building the nine-storey wooden pagoda of Hwangnyongsa. The Cheomseongdae tower at Gyeongju is traditionally dated to her reign. She died during the rebellion of the noble Bidam.

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Seondeok of Silla. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/seondeok-of-silla
MLA
“Seondeok of Silla.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/seondeok-of-silla. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Seondeok of Silla.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/seondeok-of-silla.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Seondeok of Silla’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/seondeok-of-silla (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻