Royal tomb of Queen Heo Hwangok

Queen Heo Hwangok was a princess of Ayutah in India. At the age of 16, she came across the sea following her father's order. And became a queen in the 7th year of King Suro(48 A.D.). She died 10 years earlier than King Suro on Mar. 1, 189 at the age of 157. She had 12 sons. And right before she died, she asked two of her sons to take her last name, Heo. And they became the ancestors of Heo family of Gimhae. Therefore, a marriage between Kim family of Gimhae and Heo family of Gimhae has been forbidden. It is said that she brought the stone pagoda on the east of the Royal tomb from India to calm down the wind and waves. It is called Pasa Stone Pagoda. A legend says that when a person to be on board a ship passes this pagoda, he/she will be safe during the journey. The pagoda has been severely damaged and now it is protected by a pavilion. Gujibong Peak got its name from its shape that is similar to a turtle. The Royal tomb of Queen Heo Hwangok corresponds to the body of turtle and Gujibong Peak corresponds to the head. However, during the Japanese Colonial Era, the neck part of the turtle was cut on purpose by constructing a street but it was restored by boring a tunnel as part of the project connecting the power of the earth in 1995. According to the "Record of Garak Kingdom" in Samgukyusa, King Suro came down to earth from heaven in 42 A.D. He became the king of Garak with the help of people and 9 gans(tribal chiefs) including Adogan and Yucheongan. And Gujiga song sung by people and 9 gans to welcome King Suro at the Gujibong Peak was the first epic poem in Korea. It is a very important material for the research of ancient Korean literature. A southern style dolmen estimated to have been built around 4 B.C. remains at the top of the hill and reveals the long history of this place. On the lid stone of the dolmen is engraved "Gujibongseok(stone of Gujibong)". It is said that it was written by Han Seokbong, a famous calligrapher in the Joseon Period.