Tomb of General Kim Yu-sin

The tomb of Kim Yu-sin, the Silla general who masterminded the military campaigns that unified the Korean peninsula in 668 AD and is revered as the greatest warrior in Korean history. The burial mound, decorated with carved stone figures of the twelve zodiac animals in warrior costume, is one of the finest examples of Silla tomb sculpture still in situ.

The tomb sits on a hillside northwest of the city centre with views across the Gyeongju basin. The carved stone figures — rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, and the rest — are unusually detailed and expressive. The site is free to enter and uncrowded.

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A story
Kim Yu-sin died in 673 AD at the age of 79, having spent his life unifying the Korean peninsula under Silla. He is one of the most revered figures in Korean history. During a military campaign, he is said to have executed his own horse, which had stumbled, as an example to his troops that weakness would not be tolerated — including in his own equipment. He was later deified and is still venerated.

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