Queen Seondeok of Silla

First reigning queen of Silla, a pivotal figure in Korean history.

Chronology: 606 – 0647-02-17

Origins & Early Life

Queen Seondeok (Korean: 선덕여왕 Korean pronunciation: [sʌn.dʌk jʌ.waŋ]; Unknown – 20 February [O.S. 17 February] 647; 8th day of the 1st lunar month of the 14th year of Inpyeong [인평 14년 정월 8일; 仁平14年正月8日]) reigned as Queen Regnant of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first reigning queen. In the Samguk sagi, Queen Seondeok was described as "generous, benevolent, wise, and smart".

Pivotal Works & Achievements

According to the Legend of Jigwi, she was also beautiful. == Titles == In texts, Queen Seondeok is indicated not only as Seondeok yeowang (선덕여왕; 善德女王), but also as Seondeok wang (선덕왕; 善德王), Seondeok yeodaewang (선덕여대왕; 善德女大王) and Seongjohwanggo (성조황고; 聖祖皇姑). Yeowang (여왕; 女王; lit. 'female king') – Yeowang ("female king") is the title of queen regnant in Korean. Because there is no feminine equivalent to king and emperor in East Asian languages, different titles are used for female monarchs and female consorts.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Wang (왕; 王; lit. 'king') – Unlike European languages, in East Asia, the titles of female monarchs can also be abbreviated as "king" or "emperor", much like their male counterparts. However, to avoid confusion with male monarchs, they...

Source: Wikipedia