Cheomseongdae

첨성대
historic building in Gyeongju
#3 in Gyeongju / #40 in South Korea
Photo
by by Junho Jung at Flickr from South Korea
/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju, South Korea, is one of the oldest surviving astronomical observatories in East Asia. Built during the 7th century under the reign of Queen Seondeok of the Silla Kingdom, it is a cylindrical stone structure composed of 362 granite stones, symbolizing the days of the lunar year. The observatory stands about 9.17 meters tall and features a square base and a round upper section, reflecting the ancient Korean cosmological belief in the harmony of square and circular shapes. Cheomseongdae was used for stargazing and observing celestial events, playing a crucial role in the agricultural calendar and the timing of rituals and festivals.


Hotels

Find hotels nearby:

Tours & Activities

Also check out