A Visit to General Shin Sung-gyeom Memorial

A famous general, Shin Sung-gyeom of the Silla Kingdom, is memorialized with his portraits in this place. In 927, General Shin Sung-gyeom saved the life of Goryeo’s King Wang Geon when Wang Geon came to help Silla against Hubaekje’s attack. At the Dongsu battlefield (near Donghwasa Temple at present), General Shin pretended to run away in Wang Geon’s helmet and armor to lure Hubaekje’s soldiers to follow him at a time when Wang Geon faced a potentially fatal crisis. Hubaekje’s army took the bait, chased General Shin (assuming he was Wang Geon) and killed him. Meanwhile the real Wang Geon, disguised in a soldier’s uniform, returned to his kingdom of Goryeo safely. Later in life, Wang Geon achieved great work by unifying the post Three Kingdoms to a new era in Korean history, the Goryeo Dynasty. Daegu Monuments No. 1

Address :

526 Jimyo-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu

Phone :

82-53-985-1330

Related Information

 

Shin Sung-gyeom (died 927) was a Korean general during the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms period in the early 10th century. Born in Gwanghaeju (present-day Chuncheon), he became a general in the kingdom of Taebong. He was instrumental in helping Wang Geon, who later founded the state of Goryeo, to achieve power.

Shin is remembered today for giving his life for Wang Geon in the aftermath of a rout of their forces by Hubaekje near present-day Daegu. According to the legend, the two exchanged armor so that the king would be able to escape the battlefield. While Wangeon escaped the battle field, Shin and the remaining army fought bravely against the Hubaekje army. But eventually his army was routed and in the woods Shin was shot with arrows and was killed by the enemy. He was beheaded and his head was sent to Gyeon Hwon, King of Hubaekje
Shin Sung-gyeom is widely viewed as the founder of the Pyeongsan Shin clan.