HISTORY, TRADITIONS & CULTURE

The Battle of the Salsu River

Display at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, South Korea.

The Battle of the Salsu River is one of the Great battles of antiquity. It occurred in the year 612 during the second campaign of the Goguryeo-Sui war  between Goguryeo  and Sui of China.

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The Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok the Great / 성덕대왕신종

The Bell of King Seongdeok is Korean National Treasure Number 29.
It is stored in the National Museum of Gyeongju.

 

It is the largest extant bell in Korea weighing 18.9 tons.
Notice the depression below the bell.
It acts as an amplifier.

It is the largest extant bell in Korea weighing 18.9 tons. It measures 3.33 meters high, 2.27 meters in diameter, and 11 to 25 centimeters in wall thickness. A bronze bell commissioned by King Gyeongdeok to honor his father, King Seongdeok. The bell was cast in 771 A.D first housed in Bongdeoksa Temple, Silla region. It is stored in the National Museum of Gyeongju. Considered as a masterpiece of Unified Silla art, the hook of the bell is in the shape of a dragon's head. There are many relief patterns on the bell, including are flower patterns, lotus flowers, grass reliefs, and a pair of two heavenly maidens, over a thousand hanja inscriptions are carved on the bell.

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National Foundation Day - OCTOBER 3

According to Korean mythology, as recounted in a 13th century book "Samguk yusa" , Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE by Dangun Wanggeom. He was the offspring of the god Hwanung and a female bear transformed into a woman. This myth may symbolise the arrival of Bronze Age culture in Korea. Some say that Dangun was born on the third day of the tenth month, and so today the 3rd of October is celebrated as National Foundation Day in South Korea. Others say that, on what is now October 3, in 2333 B.C., Dangun moved to Pyongyang, built a walled city and established the ancient Gojoseon kingdom.  

National foundation day aka Gaecheonjeol ( 개천절 ) is a public holiday in South Korea.In 1909, Gaecheonjeol was enacted as a national holiday.