Banwolseong Fortress

Banwolseong Fortress was built during the Silla Dynasty (57 BC ~ AD 935).  Translated to mean Half moon fortress, it is located in the city of Gyeongju on the edge of the river.  There is very little left on the grounds.  An ice house, which was built in the 1700's was moved to the area, although it is believed an ice house existed in the fortress.  The earthen walls are well preserved. 

 

There is much excavation in progress at the site.  They are currently working outside the fortress to the west, which would be the village associated with the castle.  They have found evidence of a moat that surrounded the fortress, which actually moved water from pond to pond, rather than stagnant water.  It was pretty interesting.

 

The area is full of history and artifacts.  We didn't even say half of the sites in the area.  It was so interesting, I might have to go back the next time L has to go to Daegu (the nearest base to Gyeongju) for work.  I am sure the kids would be more than happy to take a road trip!

 

An x-ray image of the grounds.

Seokbinggo, the ice house inside the fortress walls.

Inside the ice house.

The fortress wall and recently excavated moat.

J with excavated stone items. 

 

Gyeongjucheomseongdae(Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju.  It is believed to be the oldest astronomical tower in Asia, built around 632 A.D.

 

Here is an interesting tidbit regarding the construction (taken from http://eguide.gj.go.kr/01_travel/ht_wolseong.jsp). "Take a closer look at the symbolic meaning of each stone of Cheomseongdae. Consisting of 27 steps except for the foundation and the upper part, there were 361.5 stones used (401 in total), which is the number of days in a year. The body piled round used 27 steps, amounting to 28 steps when the square-well-shaped stone piled up above is added. The number 27 is related to Queen Sondok who designed Cheomseongdae (Queen Sondok is the 27th ruler of Silla), while the number 28 symbolizes the number of the basic Oriental constellation, or of the 28 heavens in Buddhism. Looking from the window in the center, the 12 top and bottom steps mean 12 months and 24 seasons in the lunar calendar. Each side of the square-well-shaped stone on the top of Cheomseongdae directs accurately towards the north, south, east and west. Moreover, the window rightly heads towards the south, having light shining directly to the bottom of Cheomseongdae in the spring and autumn equinoxes while disappearing in the winter and summer solstices, enabling accurate divisions of the four seasons."

A new walking bridge under construction leading to the fortress area.