Anapji is an artificial pond in Gyeongju National Park, Gyeongju, South Korea. Anapji means 'Goose and Duck Lake'. The pond is situated at the northeast edge of the Banwolseong palace site in central Gyeongju and it contains three small islands. It was part of the palace complex of ancient Silla (57 BCE - 935 CE).
It was originally constructed in February in 674 during the reign of Munmu, the 30th king of Silla. Munmu was the deserving successor of a dynasty with an illustrative history bearing the legacy of his royal family in an impressive fashion. His father, King Muyeol, unified the Korean peninsula in 668, masterminding the defeat of the Baekje and Goguryeo kingdoms which fell in 660 and 668 respectively.
Features of Anapji Pond in South Korea
- Today's Anapji Pond in South Korea is a mere echo of its original form with very little of the vegetation remaining and none of the original architecture existing. During Munmu's time, Anapji served as a resort garden verdant with rare plants and teeming with animals.
- To impress the Tang dynasty Chinese envoys, miniature models of the twelve famous peaks of China's Wushan Mountain were terraced around the lake. Envoys could relax in an atmosphere inspired by the scenery of their homeland.
- This pleasant and relaxing ambience of Anapji served often as a center of Silla diplomacy.
- The pavilion of Imhaejeon seated over one-thousand people and is probably the place where the surrender of Silla to Goryeo took place in 935.
- After the fall of Silla, the pond fell into disrepair and negligence for many centuries.
- Time has wrecked havoc on all the pavilions, but some of the original foundation stones are still visible by the lakeside.
- As part of the comprehensive Gyeongju valley archaeological study, the Korean government temporarily drained Anapji pond in 1972 revealing thousands of Silla artifacts that had fallen into the lake or were thrown in.
- The pond was dredged and re-built in 1974 as part of a general program of restoration and excavation of Gyeongju-area relics.
- Many of these were restored and relocated to the Gyeongju National Museum.
- The Donghae Nambu Line railroad was constructed along the edge of the pond in the early 20th century.