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===Origins of the Hwarang===
It is conjectured that the foundation of the Hwarang system originated from the mid 6th century during the King [[Jinheung of Silla]] era, but the exact date of establishment is ambiguous: while [[Samguk sagi]] reports the year of 576 AD, Sadaham is already recorded as a Hwarang in 562 AD according to [[Samguk sagi#Biographies|Samguk sagi yeoljeon]] and [[Dongguk
[[File:Hwarang.jpg|thumb|left|A modern-day Korean representing a Silla hwarang]]
The youths who were chosen by the Silla Kingdom became the knights and warriors for the Silla dynasty within the age of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]]. A close relationship did exist between the Hwarang and [[Buddhism]] because Buddhism was accepted as a state religion by the royalty and aristocrats within the Silla Kingdom.<ref>Silla Buddhism and the Hwarang Segi Manuscripts, 2007</ref> The Buddhist monks were often mentors for the Hwarang in both physical and spiritual ways. The Hwarang would seek the teachings of these Buddhist monks because they knew that the martial arts practiced by these Buddhist monks were a source through which they could strengthen themselves for greater success in the future and for the benefit of the Silla Kingdom.<ref>Silla Buddhism and the Hwarang, 2010</ref> The monks would train themselves in physical fitness exercises through self-defense techniques, countering the weakening effects of long-term [[Buddhist meditation|meditation]] and enabling them to protect themselves from bandits and robbers who tried to steal the donations and charities that were collected by the monks on their pilgrimages.<ref>ACTA Black Belt Manual, 2007</ref> Both the Buddhist monks and the Hwarang would go on journeys to famous mountains to heighten their training and would seek encounters with supernatural beings for protection and the success/prosperous of the Silla Kingdom. [[Won-gwang|Won Gwang Beop Sa]] (圓光法士) was a Buddhist monk who was asked by the Hwarang to teach them ways to develop aspirations, bravery, and honor, in order to protect the Silla Kingdom from the other kingdoms inhabiting the peninsula. Won Gwang trained these youths in three areas:
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