Ancient Female Leadership
Cheomseongdae
GYEONGJU, SOUTH KOREA
Cheomseongdae is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia. It was ordered built by Queen Seondeok, the first queen of the kingdom, in the early 7th century, and today sits near Woljeong Bridge and Donggung Palace. The queen was a champion of farmers and peasants and eventually laid the groundwork for the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. She was succeeded by her cousin, who became the second female ruler of the kingdom. (See #11 on following spread)
