Home > Baekje
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.
1 History
1.1 Hanseong period (BC 18 ~ AD 475)
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 RiverHan River is the name of four unrelated rivers: Han River is a river in Korea, passing through Seoul and entering the Yellow Sea Han River, or Han Shui is a tributary of the Chang Jiang (Yangtze) in central China Han River, or Han Jiang is a river in east region of Korea.
Baekje as a kingdom first appeared in 345Events Births John Chrysostom, Christian bishop and preacher Deaths Pachomius, early monasticist (approximate date) Bishop Nicholas of Myra, Roman priest (or 352). in Chinese records. Much earlier, according to the San Guo Zhi, one of the MahanMahan was a tribal confederation in Iron Age Korea around the beginning of the Common Era. Along with Jinhan and Byeonhan, Mahan is considered one of the Samhan, or "Three Han. At its height, the Mahan confederation covered much of the modern-day province chiefdoms in the Han RiverThe Han River located in South Korea, is the confluence of the North Han River, which originates in Mount Daedeok-san, and the South Han, which originates in Mount Geumgang-san. The Han River flows through Seoul to empty into the Yellow Sea. See also List 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 GoryeoGoryeo was the name of Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty, which lasted from the fall of Silla in 935 until the founding of the Joseon Dynasty in 1394. The name "Goryeo" is a shortened form of " Goguryeo," the name of a kingdom in northern Korea which was co dynasty.
However, according to Samguk YusaSamguk Yusa is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea ( Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period. The text was writ, 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).
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.
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) . Baekje also became a sea power, and continued mutual goodwill relationships with the rulers of Japanese Yamato period . For more information, see Relations with Japan .
