Seondeok of Silla

This episode covers Queen Seondeok of Silla, the first female monarch of the Silla kingdom (r. 632-647), outlining how she secured the throne despite disputes over her legitimacy and the resistance she faced as a woman in power. It looks at her major achievements, including the construction of Cheomseongdae-the oldest surviving observatory in East Asia-and the ambitious Hwangnyongsa pagoda project, as well as her diplomatic maneuvering with the Tang dynasty and the eventual suppression of Bidam's rebellion. The episode also addresses her family background, conflicting accounts of possible husbands, and the classic legends that demonstrate her sharp intelligence, such as the peony flowers that lacked scent and the frogs whose croaking revealed hidden enemies.