Silla princess's tomb funeral recreated for UNESCO experts in Gyeongju

In Gyeongju, South Korea, the ancient burial rituals of a Silla princess were brought to life for a captivated audience of international heritage experts. At the excavation site of Tomb No. 44 in Hwangnam-dong, a detailed reenactment of the funeral ceremony for the young Silla royal, believed to have lived in the 5th century, unfolded.

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The tomb you see is Gyeongju Jokseam Tomb No. 44. Although there are no records of who the owner is, based on its location, size, and structure, as well as the excavated items, it is thought to be a Silla princess from the 5th century. It is a stone-cist tomb built with many stones, and it is very unique when compared to other tombs in the world. It was popular only in Gyeongju, Korea, in the 5th and 6th centuries AD.

Seventy-four members of the World Heritage Site Management and Operation Forum, attending the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Busan, observed the ceremony from a special viewing platform. The reenactment vividly depicted key aspects of the ancient funeral, including the placement of the deceased's body and grave goods, the establishment of an altar, and the process of covering the wooden coffin with stones.

Researchers from the National Gyeongju Cultural Heritage Research Institute explained the significance of the tomb, a unique stone-cist tomb (seok-mok-gwak-myo) prevalent only in Gyeongju during the 5th and 6th centuries AD. The tomb, distinguished by its construction using a large number of stones, yielded over 800 artifacts, including elaborate horse trappings decorated with iridescent jewel beetle wings. These luxurious items, intended to accompany the princess in the afterlife, were meticulously displayed.

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This is a special moment of bidding farewell to the princess. The space surrounding the body contains items used for decorating horses, such as saddle pads, horse trappings, and bridle decorations. The horse trappings are made from the wings of about 400 jewel beetles, creating petal-like ornaments. It seems that the Silla people created these splendid artifacts to sublimate their grief in parting with the princess who left at a young age, believing that she could freely travel on horseback in the afterlife.

The reenactment is part of ongoing research and experimental reconstruction efforts by the institute, which has been excavating and studying the tomb since 2014. The project aims to meticulously rebuild the tomb, following its original 21-step construction process. The current phase has completed nine steps, including the installation of wooden structures and the stone mound.

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It was truly moving.

International experts expressed deep admiration for the event. Matthias Lipp, former heritage manager from Regensburg, Germany, described it as "fantastic and moving." He noted that the modern performance brought the heritage to life, allowing participants to feel the emotions of both the ancient and contemporary people. Zakovsonė, an urban heritage expert from Latvia, praised the "diverse and original interpretation and utilization of ancient remains," highlighting how the site was transformed into a "living entity."

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From a seemingly dry tomb, through the reenactment performance by modern people, I could feel not only the authenticity of the heritage but also the hearts of the people of that time and the present. It was a fantastic and moving cultural heritage event.