The Roof-end Tile with Human Face Motif (Korean: 경주 얼굴무늬 수막새; Hanja: 慶州人面文圓瓦當), nicknamed the Silla smile (신라의 미소), is a Silla-era ornamental roof tile that went on the end of a roof.[1] It was made a Treasure of South Korea No. 2010[2] on November 27, 2018.[1]
The smiling face depicted in the tile is considered iconic, and has become a symbol of Gyeongju.[2] It is now located in the Gyeongju National Museum.[3]
It is the only known handmade Korean ornamental roof-end tile; all other known roof-end tiles were made with molds.[1]
- ^ a b c "The Roof-end Tile with Human Face Motif of Gyeongju - Heritage Search". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ a b 보물 '얼굴무늬 수막새' 사연 깃든 곳. Gyeongju Sinmun (in Korean). 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "얼굴무늬 수막새" [Roof-end Tile With Human Face Motif]. Gyeongju National Museum (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-01-23.