Pohang Naengsu-ri Silla Stele, Stone monument in Pohang, South Korea.
The Pohang Naengsu-ri Stele is a stone monument in North Gyeongsang Province that bears carved inscriptions dating to the 6th century. The memorial documents the administrative systems and social hierarchies of the Silla Kingdom through details preserved on its stone surface.
The monument was created in 503 CE and ranks among the oldest surviving written records from the Silla Kingdom. The text documents the connections between local officials and the central authority, offering crucial insight into how the state was governed during this period.
The carved text reflects how the Silla Kingdom organized its government and the terms used for officials and roles during that era. Visitors can observe the simple, direct way the characters were cut into stone, providing a tangible sense of early Korean writing practices.
The site is located near Pohang and can be reached by public transportation with some advance planning. Wearing comfortable shoes is helpful, as the ground is uneven and the memorial sits in an open outdoor setting.
The monument is one of the few remains that directly reveal the administrative titles and official positions used in early Silla Kingdom. This makes it valuable for understanding the official structure of one of the major powers in early Korean history.
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