This story marks the beginning of a forgotten era in Korean history.

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Drums thundered throughout the palace (bom bom bom!), marking the commencement of a sacred ceremony. Flags were hoisted onto every corner of the palace brick walls and fluttered gracefully in the wind. The palace guards unbarred the eight wooden main gates, and people from different parts of the kingdom entered.

First class, top of all citizens next to the royalty—the nobility. Inside their servant-carried palanquins with their windows gaping open, they swanked their finest clothing and priceless, rare jewelry. Noblemen wore their silk ceremonial robes covered by dark cloaks, hair all topped by precious expensive pins and top-knot. Their pride and dignity, the symbol of their conspicuous masculinity (either to boast to other noblemen or to seduce women, well, it could be both). Their wives and daughters were elaborately clothed in intricate silk robes, with elegant looped wigs filled with braids, and sophisticated hair ornaments. Bright faces were painted with the same light powder, while their lips were various shades of red lipstick. Fake smiles with each other and a hidden frown to those who share the same facial cosmetics with them.

While these high-status nobles engaged in an unwritten competition of wealth, elegance, and hierarchical status, the commoners, in their simple, dull-colored robes, with either baggy pants or long skirts, arrived on foot, holding hands with their families. Unused to such splendor, the common folk were transfixed by the complex designs of palace pavilions, the grandeur of the courtesans' and court ladies' colorful dresses, and the impressive stature of the palace guards, acting like live action figures which would blink when poked. These sentinels carried long, sharp spears and wore iron-plated armor vests and helmets while standing like statues on every part of the palace.

The crowd began to gather in the main courtyard, where a wide, red-varnished wooden dais especially built for the ceremony, stood at the far end. A long table filled with food, candles, flowers, and incense was placed at the middle of the dais as an offering to the Heavens. From the northern gate on the opposite direction, a red carpet ran smoothly onto the holy stage. It diverged to left and right, running across the courtyard, upon kissing the base of the blessed platform.

Behold! A sacred, covered water well structure, in the middle of the stone courtyard, by the carpet. An inanimate, divine deity as such. One could look, but shall not touch.

Sitting at the table on the dais, King Jae Joong scanned the thronging crowd. Like a true son of the Heavens, his angelic hazel eyes shone as bright as his radiant smile. His high golden crown, with strands of gold and precious stones wrapped into his hair and dangling from his face, enhanced his soft facial features, while his white robe—complete with long sleeves and embroidered with black dragons—wrapped his tall, lean body. Undeniably, the begotten son of the Heavens, the father of Silla.

Beside him sat his ten noble council members or Hwabaek, five on each side, wearing their uniform purple cloaks and cylindrical black hats. Their personal court ladies and guards stood at attention behind them. The rest of the nobility stayed on elegant chairs to the left and right sides below the dais; while the commoners stood in a cramped huddle on the courtyard, and the palace guards served as human barriers between the classes. Guards also lined the red carpet and the perimeter of the palace grounds. Some were even assigned on pavilion balconies, eyeing on possible threats from the ground and from afar.

Now for the courtesans. Pretty, glamorous, young women who mastered the art of cake decorating (only the dough are their faces) and pacifying drunk, grumpy old men, crouched elegantly on the far right and left sides of the carpet, smiling to the commoners and nobility. Sweet and demure, their default faces every daytime. Behind the captivating entertainers stood the royal ladies, who kept their chins low in a reserved bow.

Indistinct, merry chattering rising from both nobility and peasants did not stop as they continued discussing the King's upcoming prediction about the occurrence of the solar eclipse, in relation to the future of their kingdom. The moment the palace guards on the pavilion balconies blew the bison horns, all mouths were stitched.

Huuuuussssh! Gates were barred. No one was allowed to enter. Shut thy mouths for someone was about to saunter.

"His Highness graces you all!" announced by the Minister of Ceremonies.

Jae Joong rose from his throne, his white robe rustled slowly as he offered his blessing to the crowd by raising his right arm and pointing his palm at the crowd. People bowed their heads and genuflected, like docile sheep following their shepherd.

"People of Silla, witness the Holy Egg from which our founder Park Hyeokgeose was born," Jae Joong announced, pointing his hand towards the northern gate at the straight, far end. Everyone stood, keeping their heads down because they were not allowed to look at the Holy Egg until it was placed on the well safe and sound. .

Coming from the wooden gate, the Head Priestess, Lady Jang, led a group of soldiers who marched behind her in two lines. She walked gracefully down the red carpet, holding a glowing oval porcelain ball that represented the Holy Egg that had birthed Silla's great founder. A godly woman sent from up above. She was a stark contrast with the soldiers with their heavy boots and clanging armor. Her long, white robe swayed in the light spring breeze, while her coal-black hair—loops in intricate braids throughout her hair and held in place with silver pins—stayed firmly in place.

Upon reaching the sacred well in the middle, she whispered an unknown chant to the egg-like structure before placing it on top. "Witness the legendary well and egg in which our founder Park Hyeokgeose was born—the Najeong!" she proclaimed, raising her arms and lifting her head to the sky. The crowd placed their palms together and uttered individual prayers to the Heavens (hoping for salvation, fruitful harvest... perhaps more handful of jewelry to flaunt?).

Lady Jang lowered her arms and bowed to the well before turning and continuing her journey to the dais. When she had reached the foot of the stage, six groups of young men wearing different colors of ceremonial robes with voluminous pants assembled at the northern gate. Each of their leaders carried a colored flag which symbolizes the six founding clans of Silla. With the accompaniment of ceremonial beats from the drums and animal blow horns, they dashed around the Najeong Well, performing fighting stunts, rolls, and backflips as part of a dance for good fortune and abundance. The audience watched silently, respecting the solemnity of the sacred dance.

When the dance came to an end and the dancers dismissed, Lady Jang called the attention of the crowd as she preached, "Your Majesty, behold the power of the Heavens as they give you their blessings to lead the kingdom of Silla. According to our founder, Park Hyeokgeose, the king holds the mandate of the Heavens and shall be the father of the nation!"

Jae Joong went down the dais through the oak-brown steps at the center. He walked ceremoniously to the Najeong Well, and picked up the Holy Egg, raising it high in the air. "People of Silla, as your king and father of the nation, I would like to send my utmost gratitude for your presence in this very sacred ceremony. This ceremony only happens very rarely, and this might serve as our guide in the future years of our kingdom. By the power of the Heavens bestowed upon me, I declare that the solar eclipse would not occur for the first time in its thirty-three year cycle. This means that we will have very bountiful and abundant years ahead!"

Cheers resonated all over the courtyard, positive energies bouncing back to the sturdy walls. Happiness and excitement lit everyone's faces, hoping they would not experience hunger, strife, or any other nefarious occurrences for the next thirty-three years. Chants began to rise in unison.

"Long live the King!"

"Long live Silla!"

In the midst of the celebration, one person stood out—a black sheep in a white flock. As the cheers grew louder and louder, the Prime Minister—leader of the King's council sat back in his chair, clapping slowly as he tried to hide his sneer of disgust.

"You did it, Sire. You won. I lost."

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NOTES:

Hwabaek (화백) - a council of nobles in the Silla Kingdom. They discuss different issues in the kingdom such as throne succession, war declarations, laws and reforms, etc.

Najeong (나정) - a legendary well where Park Hyeokgeose, the founder of Silla Kingdom was born.

Najeong (나정) - a legendary well where Park Hyeokgeose, the founder of Silla Kingdom was born