Bell of King Seongdeok the Great

Bell of King Seongdeok the Great

The Bell of King Seongdeok the Great is located in a bell pavilion outside the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. It is a massive bronze bell and the largest extant bell in Korea. Cast by King Gyeongdeok in memory of his father, King Seongdeok, it was named after him.

The Bell of King Seongdeok the Great stands approximately 3.33 meters tall, with a diameter of 2.27 meters and a thickness ranging from 11 to 25 centimeters. It is the largest extant Buddhist bell in Korea, and on clear days, its sound can be heard up to 40 miles away. It is also one of the oldest Buddhist bells in the country, featuring exquisite ornamentation. The top of the bell has a cylindrical neck and a single dragon loop handle, while the shoulder and skirt are adorned with scrolling vine patterns. The upper part of the bell body is evenly decorated with four nipple-like embellishments, and the belly features flying apsaras figures. As a quintessential representation of Korean bells, it showcases the unique character of ancient Korean bells and carries the profound history and culture of Korea.

There is also a legendary story about the casting of the Bell of King Seongdeok the Great: despite many attempts, the bell could not be made to ring. It was said that only by melting in a young virgin could the bell produce sound. A poor old woman, whose daughter volunteered to save everyone’s hopes, threw herself into the furnace. The old woman cried until she had no more tears, and when the bell was finally completed, its chime sounded like the cry of a little girl saying “Ah-ma-mi, Ah-ma-mi,” which could be heard from far, far away.

Bell of King Seongdeok

Reason to visit: The largest extant Buddhist bell in Korea

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Korea[Korea]

Province/state where the attraction is located: North Gyeongsang [North Gyeongsang]

City where the attraction is located: Gyeongju [Gyeongju]