Baekje
| Baekje | |
|---|---|
| Korean Name | |
| Revised Romanization | Baekje |
| McCune-Reischauer | Paekche |
| Hangul | 백제 |
| Hanja | 百濟 |
Baekje was a kingdom in southwestern Korea. In Korea, it is known as one of the Three Kingdoms, along with Goguryeo and Silla. It was destroyed by an alliance of Silla and the Tang Empire in 660 AD.
Beginnings
Baekje as a kingdom first appeared in 345 in Chinese records. Much earlier, according to the San Guo Zhi, one of the Mahan chiefdoms in the Han River basin in the early Common Era was called Baekje (伯濟). The early history of Baekje is, thus, attested only through Korean chronicles compiled much later, in the Goryeo dynasty.
There are two different accounts of the founding of Baekje. According to the Samguk Sagi, Baekje was founded in 18 BC by King Onjo, who led a group of people from Buyeo in Manchuria to the Han River region of Korea.
However, according to Samguk Yusa, King Onjo was the son of Jumong (King Dongmyeongseong), the founder of Goguryeo. Jumong escaped from Buyeo, where he was persecuted, to the Jolbon area, where he married the daughter of a local leader and founded the kingdom of Goguryeo. After finding out his true origins, Yuri, Jumong's son from his original marriage in Buyeo, arrived at the palace of Goguryeo and became the crown prince. The sons of Jumong from his new marriage (Onjo and Biryu) became aware that they would not be welcome in Goguryeo when Yuri succeeded Jumong. So, the two brothers decided to leave Goguryeo and head south with their followers. On the advice of their followers, Onjo built a town in Wiryeseong (current-day Seoul, South Korea) and called his country Sipje (meaning 10 vassals), but Biryu chose to live by the sea, building a town in Michuhol (current-day Incheon, South Korea). However, the salty water and marshes in Michuhol made life unbearable for many, while the people of Wiryeseong lived prosperously. In shame of ignoring the advice, Biryu killed himself. The people of Michuhol then moved to Wiryeseong and King Onjo happily accepted them and renamed the country Baekje (meaning 100 vassals).
During the reign of King Goi (234-286), the state systems of the kingdom were consolidated. King Geunchogo (346-375) expanded its territory to the north through war against Goguryeo, whilst annexing the Mahan societies in the south. During this period Chinese culture and technology were actively adopted. At this time Baekje reached its greatest geographic extent. During King Geunchogo's reign, the territories of Baekje included most of current-day western Korea (except the two Pyeongan provinces) and the Shandong peninsula in present-day China. Baekje also became a sea power, and continued mutual goodwill relationships with the rulers of Yamato period [[Japan]. During this period large numbers of Japanese royals and scholars came to Baekje for education and culture, while a large influx of Baekje immigrants went to Japan and eventually contributed a great amount to the development of the Japanese culture. In addition, the Baekje royalty received tutoring in Japanese, while the royalty in Japan was tutored in the Baekje language. Many members of the Baekje nobility and royalty married into the Japanese imperial line.
Throughout this early period of Baekje, the capital was frequently moved from one point to another for strategic reasons. King Onjo moved the capital from south of the river, to north of the river, and then south again under the pressure of attacks from other Mahan states. The northern and southern locations came to be known as Habuk (north-of-the-river) Wiryeseong and Hanam (south-of-the-river) Wiryeseong. King Gaeru is believed to have moved the capital to the Bukhan Mountain Fortress in 132.
Ungjin period
In the 5th century, Baekje retreated under the southward military threat of Goguryeo, and in 475, the capital, Hanseong (present day Seoul), was overrun by the invading troops of Goguryeo. After this invasion, the capital of Baekje was moved to Ungjin (present-day Gongju), and a military solidarity treaty was made with Silla against Goguryeo.
Sabi period
In 538, King Seong moved his capital to Sabi (in modern-day Buyeo County), and rebuilt his kingdom as a strong state. From this time, the official name of the country was Nambuyeo (meaning South Buyeo), a reference to the country of Buyeo from which Baekje is supposed to have originated). The Sabi Period witnessed the flowering of Baekje culture, alongside the development of Buddhism, which Baekje transmitted to Japan, along with craftspeople, artifacts, and royal customs.
In the 7th century, with the growing influence of Silla in the southern and central Korean peninsula, Baekje began to lose influence. Finally, in 660, the coalition troops of Silla and Tang of China launched a attack on Baekje and its ally in Japan. The capital Sabi eventually fell to Silla troops, resulting in annexation of Baekje by Silla. King Uija and his son were sent into exile in China. Some of the royals probably fled to Japan, where Baekje nobility had already established a foothold through its close relationships to the Japanese royalty.
Political system
The establishment of a centralized state in Baekje is usually traced to the reign of King Geunchogo. He may also have been the first to establish patrilineal succession. Baekje was a monarchy, but like most monarchies a great deal of power was held by the aristocracy. The kings frequently struggled with the nobles for power. For example, King Seong strengthened royal power, but after he was slain in a disastrous campaign against Silla the nobles took much of that power away from his son.
According to the Samguk Yusa, during the Sabi period the chief minister (or jaesang, 재상) of Baekje was chosen by a unique system. The names of several candidates were placed under a rock(Cheonjeongdae, 天政臺) near the Hoamsa temple located close to Sabi. After a few days, the rock was moved and the candidate whose name had a certain mark was chosen as the new chief minister. Whether this was a form of selection-by-lot or a covert selection by the elite is not clear.
Arts
| Baekje artists adopted many Chinese influences and synthesized them into a unique and brilliant artistic tradition. Buddhist themes are extremely strong in Baekje artwork. The beatific "Baekje smile" found on many Baekje sculptures of Buddhas and bodhisattvas expresses the warm feeling found in most Baekje carvings. In addition, Taoist and other Chinese influences are widespread. Chinese artisans were sent to the kingdom by the Liang Dynasty in 541, and this may have given rise to an increased Chinese influence in the Sabi period.
The tomb of King Muryeong (501-523), although modelled on Chinese brick tombs and yielding some imported Chinese objects, also contained many funerary objects of the Baekje tradition, such as the gold diadem ornaments, and gold earrings. Mortuary practices also followed the unique tradition of Baekje. This tomb may be seen as a representative tomb of the Ungjin period. A splendid gilt-bronze incense burner (백제금동대향로) excavated from an ancient Buddhist temple site at Neungsan-ri, Buyeo County, and considered to be the essence of the Baejke culture, vividly demonstrates the peak of Baekje achievements. The creativity and excellence of the Baekje culture can be appreciated through the delicate and elegant lotus designs of the roof-tiles of this culture, the splendid and beautiful brick patterns, the beauty of the flowing curves of the pottery style, and the flowing and elegant epitaph writing. The mildly smiling Buddha faces in the Buddhist sculptures, and the magnificent, but refined, pagodas of Baekje show this creativity linked with the religion. |
Legacy
In the Later Three Kingdoms Period after the decline of Silla, the Baekje state was briefly revived. In 892, the general Gyeonhwon established the kingdom of Later Baekje based in Wansan (present-day Jeonju). In 936, Later Baekje was overthrown by Wanggeon, who founded the Goryeo kingdom.
In contemporary South Korea, Baekje relics are often symbolic of the local cultures of the southwest, especially in Chungnam and Jeolla. For example, the gilt-bronze incense burner is a key symbol of Buyeo County, and the Baekje-era Buddhist rock sculpture of Seosan Maaesamjonbulsang is an important symbol of Seosan city.
Baekje's role in shaping Yamato period Japanese culture has been a symbolic issue in contemporary relations between South Korea and Japan. The exact nature of the relation between Baekje and Japan has been a flashpoint of controversy. However, the close bonds between the two nations are not in dispute. The current emperor, Akihito, has acknowledged that he is descended from Emperor Kammu, whose mother was a direct descendant of King Muryeong of Baekje.