Wolji

A pond across from Wolseong Palace has long been beloved by the people of Gyeongju as a place of rest. Appreciating the beautiful landscape of this pond year-round, poets and artists named it “Anapji,” meaning the pond where wild geese and ducks may frolic in peace. According to historical records, the construction of the pond was overseen by King Munmu of Silla, and the fact that foundation stones and stone steps remain between adjacent fields indicates that there may have been a building here a long time ago.
During dredging work to renovate the pond in 1974, roof tiles were discovered with inscriptions such as “Seupbibu Magistracy” (one of six magistracies in Gyeongju, Silla) and “Hanji Pond.” Inspired by this discovery, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage began excavating the pond and its surroundings in 1975. As a result of this excavation work, the institute uncovered 26 building sites, 8 wall sites, water supply and drainage systems, masonry, and nearly 33,000 cultural assets.