Cheomseongdae (lit. 'star-gazing tower') is an astronomical observatory in
Gyeongju, South Korea.
Cheomseongdae is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, and
possibly even the world.
It was constructed in the 7th century in the kingdom of Silla, whose capital
was Seorabeol, or present-day Gyeongju.
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Southwest side.
Modeled on Baekje's Jeomseongdae, which now exists only in historical
records, the Cheomseongdae influenced the construction of the Japanese
Senseidai observatory in 675, and Duke Zhou's observatory in China in
723.
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Cheomseongdae stands 9.17 meters high and consists of three parts: a
stylobate, or base upon which a column is constructed, a curved
cylindrical body, and a square top.
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South side.
Midway up the body stands a square window and entrance to the inside of
the structure.
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The square stylobate base is 5.7 meters wide and built from a single
layer of 12 rectangular stones.
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The cylindrical body of the tower is built out of 365 pieces of cut
granite, symbolizing the number of days in a year.
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See also
Source
Location
