Wells in the Historical Records of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea

摘要

Many historical records document that people have manually dug wells for daily and military water use since ancient times. The oldest record of wells in Korea is from the foundation mythology of the Silla Dynasty (57 BC through 935 AD). According to the "Samguk Yusa," which was compiled at the end of the 13th century, Hyeokgeose, the founder of the Silla Dynasty, was hatched from an egg laid from a white horse near a well named Rajeong in 69 BC. When he was 13 years old, six clans recognized Hyeokgeose as king. A dragon appeared at a well named Alyoungjeong and bore a baby girl from its left armpit in 53 BC. The baby was called Alyoung after the well, and later King Hyeokgeose married her. The well where Alyoung was born is the oldest well in existing Korean historical documents.