Jisu has ruled the Kingdom of Silla as regent since King Beopheung died, keeping her young son Sammaekjong hidden outside of the capital Seorabeol and safe from enemies and assassins. As Sammaekjong comes of age, nobles, citizens, officials and Sammaekjong himself have all grown impatient for her to cede power. However the powerful nobles that tried to usurp power in the Kingdom continue to eye the throne and Ji-so fears the consequences of her ceding it.
In order to break the power of the nobles, who have grown accustomed to their privileges under the bone rank system, Jisu plans to create a new elite, the Hwarang, that will cut across the existing power factions, and to bind them to Sammaekjong and the throne. As this new elite of male youths bond and grow[13] they are unaware that within their number is their future king, Sammaekjong, and Kim Sun-woo, a commoner with a secret even he is not aware of.
封建时代的新罗在严苛的骨品制度约束下,阶级分化愈发严重,王京以外的贱民不得入内,国事须经国王和高级骨品的贵族参加的"和白"会议来决定,摄政的只召太后为了强化王权计划着召集王京贵族的俊美男子,并将他们训练成忠于新罗政权的勇士。无名为帮助挚友莫文寻找亲人,偷偷进入王京,却无意间救下了酩酊大醉的阿卢,两人的缘分也由此开始。莫文因见到了真兴王彡麦宗的真容而惨遭杀害,无名为了替好友报仇决心改变自己的人生,顶替先雨的身份加入“花郎”