Lady Saso facts for kids

Lady Saso (Hangul: 사소부인; Hanja: 娑蘇夫人) is a legendary figure from ancient Korea. Many people believe she was the mother of Hyeokgeose of Silla, who became the very first king of the Silla kingdom. She is also known as the Sacred Mother of Mt. Seondo (Hangul:선도산).

According to old stories, Lady Saso was a princess from a Chinese royal family. The legends say she traveled from China and settled in an area called the Jinhan Confederacy. It was there that she gave birth to Hyeokgeose. Later, a king named King Gyeongmyeong honored her as a great queen.

Some historians have wondered about her true origins. For example, a scholar named Kim Bu-sik from the Goryeo kingdom wrote a history book called the Samguk Sagi. He said he had never heard of these tales about Lady Saso. However, other stories about her were written down later.

The Legend of the Sacred Mother

The most famous story about Lady Saso comes from a book called the Samguk Yusa. This book was written by a monk named Il-yeon much later. It tells a magical tale about her journey and powers.

A Princess from China

The legend says that the Sacred Mother, whose name was Saso, was a princess from the Chinese royal family. She learned special magical skills, like those of a fairy. She then traveled across the sea to a place called Hae Dong, which is what Korea was sometimes called. She lived there for a very long time and did not return to China.

Finding a New Home

Her father, the Chinese emperor, missed her very much. He sent her a letter tied to the foot of a kite. The letter said, "Make your home wherever this kite lands." Lady Saso read the letter and released the kite. It flew until it landed on a mountain near Gyeongju. This mountain became known as West Kite Mountain because of the story.

The Protector of the Land

Lady Saso decided to live on this mountain. She became like a powerful fairy or goddess of the land. She stayed on Mt. Seondo for a long time. People believed she protected the country and performed many amazing miracles there.

The First King of the East

The legend also says that when Lady Saso first arrived in the Jinhan Confederacy, she gave birth to special children. These children were believed to be Hyeokgeose and Aryeong, who became the first sacred rulers of the eastern country, Silla. This is why some old names for Silla, like Gye-Nong, Gye-Rim, and Baek-Ma, are related to the word "Gye" (which means chicken or rooster). This word was sometimes linked to the west.

A Magical Gift

One day, Lady Saso asked a heavenly fairy to weave a special silk cloth. She then dyed it a bright scarlet color and made it into a traditional Korean robe. She sent this beautiful robe to her husband. This was one of the first times people in the country truly saw her magical powers.

Family Tree

This chart shows how Lady Saso is connected to the first kings of Silla.