Gyeongju's Lotus Blossom Carries Rich Scent of History

Lotus flowers are ubiquitous in Korea, and particularly in Gyeongju. This ancient capital of the Shilla Kingdom that lasted about 1,000 years blossoms with various kinds of lotus flowers in the summer months and early fall, to the delight of visitors to the city.

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An especially noteworthy stretch of lotus flower is found in central Gyeongju, next to a site where aristocratic banquets were held known as Anapji, an artificial pond at the site of an old Shilla palace. The lotus field offers viewers an odd mixture of serenity and dynamism, because the deep green hue of the lotus leaves contrasts with the vibrant white, pink, and fuchsia shades of the blossoms.

The external splendor of lotus flowers led the aristocracy of Shilla to adorn their roof with lotus-patterened tiles, ordinary people to mold lotus-shaped rice cakes, and the craftsmen of the Emile Bell, Asia's largest bell and a national treasure located in the city's national museum, to shape its striking point resembling them.

But the lotus actually has distinct characteristics in Asian tradition that clarify why it is so loved. It grows in muddy marshes but is untainted by them, blooming in unsoiled beauty. No drop of water is absorbed by the leaves, and dirt purls off them without trace. It dissipates the smell of stagnant water. The shape of the bunched petals is pleasing to the eye and the mind. It is said that the lotus' appearance in dreams presages good luck. The lotus bears fruit at the same time it flowers. The flexible stems prevent easy snapping, and the seeds have been preserved for 3,000 years without losing their ability to grow. And the lotus is rarely confused with another plant as its unique long stems and large leaves make it easy to distinguish.

When Buddhism was adopted as the state religion under King Beopheung in 527 AD, the lotus became even more cherished, because it is identified with the seat of Buddha. Even in modern, religiously diverse Korea, it remains important.

The lotus field in Gyeongju serves as a venue for regular summer evening concerts held as part of Korea's efforts to promote its cultural heritage.

Lotus motifs and plant extracts are used in decorative Korean dress, inkstone, tea, rice wraps and even kimchi. Children in Gyeongju to this day use the enormous leaves as makeshift umbrellas in sudden downpours.

By Yeon Dana, a student at Columbia University