Ayodhya, which is best known as the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram, also however, holds special significance for some South Koreans - many believe they can trace their ancestry to the city. This belief comes from several historical Korean stories, which tell the story of an Indian princess - Suriratna - who married a South Korean king and started a dynasty.
According to the legend, Princess Suriratna, also known as Heo Hwang-ok, went to Korea in 48 AD, some 2000 years ago, and started the Karak dynasty by marrying a local king. Some Chinese-language texts claim that the then King of Ayodhya had a dream where God ordered him to send his 16-year-old daughter to South Korea to marry King Kim Suro.
A popular South Korean book comprising fables and historical stories, Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), mentions that Queen Hwang-ok was the princess of "Ayuta" kingdom. The royal couple prospered. They had 10 sons and both lived to be over a 150 years old.
An anthropologist named Kim Byung-mo Ayuta appeared to confirm the widely held belief that Ayuta was actually Ayodhya, as the two names are phonetically similar. But there is no clear evidence to show that the princess even actually existed
"There have been several fictional renditions of the story as there is plenty of room for imagination."
The Karak dynasty
Kim is a common surname in Korea and King Kim Suro is considered to be the father of the Kim clan which is based in Gimhae. While traditionally children in Korea take their father's surname, the queen is said to have been sad that her children could not bear her surname.
"The legend says that therefore King Suro allowed two of their sons to take her name (Heo), which is used to this day." Today, historians say, descendants of the couple number more than six million, which is roughly about 10% of the South Korean population.
People from the Karak dynasty have also preserved the rocks that are said to have been used by the princess during her sea voyage to Korea to keep her boat stable.
Former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung and former prime minister Kim Jong-pil claim their ancestry to the Karak dynasty.
According to the legend, Princess Suriratna, also known as Heo Hwang-ok, went to Korea in 48 AD, some 2000 years ago, and started the Karak dynasty by marrying a local king. Some Chinese-language texts claim that the then King of Ayodhya had a dream where God ordered him to send his 16-year-old daughter to South Korea to marry King Kim Suro.
A popular South Korean book comprising fables and historical stories, Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), mentions that Queen Hwang-ok was the princess of "Ayuta" kingdom. The royal couple prospered. They had 10 sons and both lived to be over a 150 years old.
An anthropologist named Kim Byung-mo Ayuta appeared to confirm the widely held belief that Ayuta was actually Ayodhya, as the two names are phonetically similar. But there is no clear evidence to show that the princess even actually existed
"There have been several fictional renditions of the story as there is plenty of room for imagination."
The Karak dynasty
Kim is a common surname in Korea and King Kim Suro is considered to be the father of the Kim clan which is based in Gimhae. While traditionally children in Korea take their father's surname, the queen is said to have been sad that her children could not bear her surname.
"The legend says that therefore King Suro allowed two of their sons to take her name (Heo), which is used to this day." Today, historians say, descendants of the couple number more than six million, which is roughly about 10% of the South Korean population.
People from the Karak dynasty have also preserved the rocks that are said to have been used by the princess during her sea voyage to Korea to keep her boat stable.
Former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung and former prime minister Kim Jong-pil claim their ancestry to the Karak dynasty.
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