Queen Seondeok of Silla

Hello, my name is Princess Deokman, but you may know me by the name I took as a ruler: Queen Seondeok. I was born into the royal family of the Silla kingdom around the year 606. My father was the great King Jinpyeong. In those days, it was expected that a king’s son would take the throne after him, but my father had no sons. This was very unusual and worried many people in our kingdom. From a young age, I showed that I had a sharp mind. I remember a time when my father received a gift of peony seeds and a painting of the flowers. As everyone admired the beautiful painting, I looked at it closely and said, 'The flowers are lovely, but they will have no scent.' When the seeds were planted and bloomed, my prediction was correct. The beautiful peonies had no smell. I knew this because the painting did not show any bees or butterflies around the flowers, and those insects are always drawn to fragrant blossoms. This moment showed my father and his court that I was clever and paid close attention to the world around me.

When my father, King Jinpyeong, passed away in the year 632, it was time for a new ruler. Because he had no sons, I was chosen to lead. I became Queen Seondeok, the very first reigning queen of Silla. This was a very big change for our kingdom. Many people were not happy about having a woman as their ruler, and they doubted if I could lead them. They believed that only a king could be strong enough to rule a kingdom, fight its battles, and make important decisions. I knew I had to prove them wrong. I had to be strong and confident. I was determined to show everyone that my mind and my heart were just as capable of leading our kingdom as any king's. My rule would not be defined by my gender, but by my wisdom and my dedication to my people.

As queen, I wanted to use knowledge to make Silla a stronger and better kingdom. I had a great love for learning, especially for science and art. During my reign, which lasted from 632 to 647, I ordered the construction of a special stone tower called Cheomseongdae. This was an observatory, a place built specifically to watch the stars and the sky. By studying the movements of the stars, our astronomers could better predict the seasons. This knowledge was very important because it helped our farmers know the best times to plant and harvest their crops, which meant more food for everyone. I also believed in the power of faith and art to bring people together. I was a strong supporter of Buddhism, and in the year 643, I began the construction of a magnificent nine-story pagoda at the Hwangnyongsa Temple. Each story of the tower was meant to represent a neighboring kingdom that Silla hoped to unify one day. These projects were not just beautiful buildings; they were symbols of our kingdom's growing knowledge and cultural strength.

My reign as queen lasted for 15 years and ended in the year 647. During that time, I worked hard to build a kingdom that was smart, strong, and united. The projects I started and the stability I brought helped lay the foundation for the Silla kingdom to later unite the entire Korean peninsula. I lived a full life, always trying to make my kingdom a better place. Today, people remember me as a wise queen who proved that leadership comes from the mind and heart, not just from being a man. My star-gazing tower, Cheomseongdae, still stands, reminding everyone to look up and be curious about the world.