Lady Aryeong (; 53 BC – 4 BC) was married to Hyeokgeose of Silla who was the founder of Silla. According to ''

Samguk Yusa ''Samguk yusa'' (; ) or ''Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms'' is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, d ...

'' (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), Aryeong was born from the ''left'' side of the dragon which appeared near the well. However, the ''

Samguk Sagi ''Samguk sagi'' () is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Completed in 1145, it is well-known in Korea as the oldest surviving chronicle of Korean history. The ''Samguk sagi'' is written in Classical ...

'' (History of the Three Kingdoms), says it was the ''right'' side.

History

According to the

Samguk sagi ''Samguk sagi'' () is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Completed in 1145, it is well-known in Korea as the oldest surviving chronicle of Korean history. The ''Samguk sagi'' is written in Classical ...

, In the spring of the 5th year (B.C. 53) a dragon appeared in the Alyeongjeong (),

Gyeongju Gyeongju (, ), historically known as Seorabeol (, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of ...

. A girl was born on the right side. But

portarys the episode of birth of Aryeong from the left side of the hen-dragon (''gyeryong''; ). Either way, an old age woman found it bizarre and raised the girl. As she grew up, her virtue and appearance were outstanding, and King greeted her when he heard the news and made her his queen. At this time, people called them two saints.

Historical context

According to the

, A ship carrying Talhae reached Azin Port (阿珍浦口). That was 39th year (B.C.19). At that time, an old mother (老母) on the beach collected and raised him. The old mother's name is Ahjinuisun (阿珍義先). The Hyukgeose's fishing grandmother (海尺之母) is Ahjinuisun (阿珍義先) too. In record "she didn't know if it was good or bad, so she went to the sky". Based on this record, Old mother(老母) is

Jinhan Jinhan () was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BCE to the 4th century CE in the southern Korean peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong River valley, Gyeongsang Province. Jinhan was one of the Samhan (or "Th ...

shaman Shamanism is a spiritual practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritual energies into ...

and Aryeong's old age woman (老嫗) may also symbolize the same shaman group. addition, it can be inferred that Aryeong is highly related to shaman based on the record of Namhae Chachaung(南解次次雄) who is Aryeong's son, a Silla dialect, "Chachaung"(次次雄) calling a shaman. It can also be interpreted that Alyeong has the character of representing the natives in the early days of the foundation of Saro, from being described as another saint(聖人).

Outline

Lady Aryeong was a daughter of Lady Saso who was said to come from the Chinese royal family and moved to the

Jinhan confederacy Jinhan () was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BCE to the 4th century CE in the southern Korean peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong River valley, Gyeongsang Province. Jinhan was one of the Samhan (or "T ...

according to legends. However, whether Lady Saso was of Chinese origin is attested and is highly unlikely, considering the fact that deitifications were common back in the days when the ' Middle Kingdoms (中原)' was considered the center of civilization. The sources of these claims also comes from China during the Song Dynasty, roughly a thousand years later; something highly respected scholars and bureaucrats such as Kim Bu-sik (who is of royal Silla descent) has never heard of. She was married to Hyeokgeose of Silla who was the founder of Silla and he was also a son of Lady Saso. According to ''

'' (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), Aryeong was born from the left side of the dragon which appeared near the well. However, the ''

'' (History of the Three Kingdoms), says it was the ''right'' side. According to the Buddhist monk

Il-yeon Il-yeon (; 1206–1289), also spelled Iryeon, was a Korean Buddhist monk and All-Enlightened National Preceptor () during the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. His birth name was either Kim Gyeong-myeong () or Jeon Gyeon-myeong (), and his courtesy name w ...

, the "dragon" in these histories refers to Lady Saso. The following description is from the ''

'' (Memorabilia of the three Kingdoms), volume 5, clause 7. However, the first mention of "Gye-Rim (), Gye ()" is mentioned for the first time in the Kim Al-ji legend.

Worship

She was worshipped as a goddess after death. She was worshipped during droughts, as it was believed she could pour water to stimulate rain. Her holy well was a place of pilgrimage for women who wished to become pregnant.Judika Illes: Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses, 2009

Family

* Husband - Park Hyeokgeose, King of Silla (; 69 BC – 4 BC) * Issue ** Son - Park Teuk () ** Son - Park Namhae, King of Silla (; 50 BC – 24 BC) *** Daughter-in-law - Lady Woonje () or Lady Ahru () **** Grandson - Park Yuri, King of Silla (; ? – 57 BC) **** Granddaughter - Lady Ahyo of the Miryang Park clan () ***** Grandson-in-law - Seok Talhae, King of Silla (; 19 BC/5 BC – 80 BC August) ** Daughter - Princess Ahro () ** Son - Il-ji King Galmun () *** Granddaughter - Lady Yiri of the Miryang Park clan () **** Grandson-in-law - Park Yuri, King Silla (; ? – 57 BC) ***** Great-Grandson - Park Pasa, King of Silla (; ? – October 112) ***** Great-Grandson - Park Ilseong, King of Silla (; 44 BC – 154 BC) ****** Great-Great-Grandson - Park Adalla, King of Silla (; ? – 184 BC) ** Son - Park Heo-ru, King Galmun ()

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aryeong, Lady Silla people Royal consorts of Silla Legendary Korean people