Gyeongmun of Silla (r. 861–875) was the 48th ruler of the Korea

Korea

Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

n kingdom of Silla

Silla

Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...

. He was the grandson of King Huigang

Huigang of Silla

Huigang of Silla was the 43rd ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the grandson of King Wonseong and the son of ichan Kim Heon-jeong by Lady Podo. He married Lady Munmok, who was the daughter of daeachan Chunggong....

, and the son of the Achan

Achan

Achan may refer to the below definitions* Achan means father in Malayalam language.* Achan means teacher in Thai language.* Achan, meaning Lord in Sanskrit...

Kim Gye-myeong. His mother was Lady Gwanghwa, the daughter of King Sinmu

Sinmu of Silla

Sinmu of Silla was the 45th monarch of the Korean kingdom of Silla. His reign was the briefest in the state's history, lasting only from the fourth to the seventh lunar month of 839....

. Gyeongmun married Queen Munui, who was the daughter of King Heonan

Heonan of Silla

Heonan of Silla was the 47th king of the Silla kingdom of Korea. He was the younger half-brother of King Sinmu. What little we know of his reign comes from the Samguk Sagi....

.

Gyeongmun's reign saw intensifying internal strife and rebellion. He sought to strengthen the kingdom within and without, but was generally unsuccessful. Famine was widespread. In 869, he sent the Crown Prince (who would become King Heongang

Heongang of Silla

Heongang of Silla was the 49th to rule the Korean kingdom of Silla. According to the Samguk Sagi, he excelled at civil affairs. Heongang was the eldest son of King Gyeongmun; his mother was Queen Munui...

) to Tang China together with Kim Yun.

The Samguk Yusa

Samguk Yusa

Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...

 tells that Gyeongmun became a Hwarang

Hwarang

The Hwarang, or "Flower Boys"., were an elite group of male youth in Silla, an ancient Korean kingdom that lasted until the 10th century. There were educational institutions as well as social clubs where members gathered for all aspects of study, originally for arts and culture steeped mainly in...

 with 18 years.

The book also shows a story which is similar to that of king midas

Midas

For the legend of Gordias, a person who was taken by the people and made King, in obedience to the command of the oracle, see Gordias.Midas or King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold. This was called the Golden touch, or the...

' ears. Royal crownmaker appears instead of the barber. The crownmaker shouted the secret at a bamboo forest. After the crownmaker's death, the king noticed that when the wind blows, his secrest echoed from the forest. He felt unpleasant so destroyed the bamboo forest and planted dogwoods

Korean Dogwood

The Korean Dogwood is a deciduous shrub or small tree 8–16 m tall, native to eastern Asia in Korea and adjacent northeastern China. It has opposite, simple leaves, 5–12 cm long....

. However, it didn't stopped.