Middle+Ages+Letter

Dear Sondok Yo Ju, Sonduk

Hi, my name is Yeil Choi and I was also born in Korea. I wanted to write a letter to you because I am very fascinated in Korean history. From my research with reference to you, I’ve learned so much about your life. I can’t believe that you were the most famous of Korea’s queens! You played a fundamental role in the Silla kingdom, which was a dynasty that emerged somewhere in southern Korea around 250 to 350 A.D. Born in the year 581 in Kumsang, Korea to Queen Ma-ya and King Chinpyong, you built the first observatory in the Far East, introduced a standard religion, and made important political contacts during your reign. As a busy queen, I can’t believe you had the time to do all of these things. No wonder why you were one of the greatest!

When you became queen in 634, Korea was split into three kingdoms, the northern Konguryo, who were the most violent, the central Paekche, and the Silla in the south. Even during Korea’s state of turmoil, you set up a military-religious school called Hwarang-do for boys. It taught a strict code of principles that included the O-gae, or Five Rules: "Il sa kun e choong," or loyalty to one's country; "E sa chin e hyo," loyalty to one's parents and teachers; "Sam kyo woo e shin," trust and brotherhood among friends; "Sa im jun moo tae," never retreat in the face of the enemy; and "Oh sal saeng you taek," never take a life without a cause. It also included the Kyo-Hoon, or Nine Virtues: In, humanity; Oui, justice; Yea, courtesy; Ji, wisdom; Shin, trust; Sun, goodness; Duk, virtue; Choong, loyalty; and Young, courage. These moral codes helped Korea’s battles. I can’t even imagine me creating something like that!

You did so much to contribute to the culture of the Silla dynasty, which ruled over Korea and which was considered the Golden Age of Korea. During your reign, you built the first observatory in the Far East, introduced a standard religion, made important political contacts, and even set up a military-religious school called Hwarang-do.

Thank you for reading my letter and I hope this didn’t bother you in any way.

Sincerely,

Yeil Choi

"Sondok." //Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement//, Vol. 25. Thomson Gale, 2005. Reproduced in //Biography Resource Center//. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC?vrsn=149&OP=contains&locID=erde79591&srchtp=name&ca=1&c=1&AI=U14088036&NA=sondok&ste=12&tbst=prp&tab=1&docNum=K1631008604&bConts=33