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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 AD 660.
According to Samguk Sagi, Baekje was founded in 18 BC by King Onjo, who led a group of people from the kingdom of Buyeo in Manchuria, to the Han River region in the middle of Korea.
According to Samguk Yusa King Onjo is the son of Jumong (King Dongmyeongseong), the founder of Goguryeo. Jumong escapes from Buyeo, where he was persecuted, to areas of Jolbon, where he marries the daughter of local leader and founds the kingdom of Goguryeo. When Jumong's son from original marriage (Yuri) in Buyeo arrived at the palace of Goguryeo, after finding out his true origin, and became the crown prince, the sons of Jumong from a new marriage (Onjo & Biryu) became aware that they would not be welcome in Goguryeo when Yuri succeeds Jumong. So, the two brothers decide to leave Goguryeo and head south with their followers. Following the advice of their followers, Onjo builds a town in Wiryeseong (current-day Seoul, South Korea) and calls his country Sipje (meaning 10 vassals), but Biryu ignores the advice and decides that it is better to live by the sea and builds a town in Michuhol (current-day Incheon, South Korea). However, the salty water and marshes in Michuhol make life unbearable for many, while the people of Wirye live prosperously. In shame of ignoring the advice, Biryu kills himself. The people of Michuhol then move to Wirye and King Onjo in happiness accepts them and renames the country Baekje (meaning 100 vassals).
During the reign of King Goi (234-286), the state systems of the kingdom were consolidated. And also according to Samguk Sagi, one of small city-states in the Han River basin in Mahan was called Baekje (伯濟). Baekje as a kingdom first appeared in 345 in Chinese records.
King Geunchogo (346-375) expanded its territory to the north through the war against Goguryeo--killing the King of Goguryeo in the process--whilst annexing the Mahan societies in the south. During this period Chinese culture and technology were actively adopted. It is at this time that Baekje reached the peak of its power. During King Geunchogo's reign, the territories of Baekje included most of current-day western Korea (except the two Pyeongan provinces) and parts of Shantung Peninsula. Baekje also became a strong naval nation, with its continued mutual goodwill relationships with the rulers of Kyushu in Japan. It was also during this period that 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. Such examples include the two great wonders of Nara, a city named after the Baekje word for "kingdom", which were designed and built by Baekje immigrants; the Great Buddha and the wooden temple of Horyuji. In addition, the Baekje royalty recived tutoring in Japanese, while the royalty in Japan was tutored in the Baekje language. It has also been widely acknowledged that many members of the Baekje nobility and royalty married into the Japanese imperial line. Even the current emperor, Akihito, has recognized the fact that he is descended from Emperor Kammu, whose mother was a direct descendant of King Muryeong of Baekje.
After that period, Baekje retreated under the continuous, southward, military threat of Goguryeo, and in 475, the capital, Hanseong, 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.
In 538, King Seong moved his capital to Sabi (in modern-day Buyeo County), and re-strengthened the royal power, rebuilding his kingdom as a strong state. From this time, the official name of the country was known as Nambuyeo (meaning South Buyeo—a reference to the country Buyeo from which Baekje is supposed to have originated). The Sabi Period witnessed the florescence of the Baekje culture, alongside the development of Buddhism, which Baekje transmitted to Japan, along with craftspeople, artifacts, and royal customs.
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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.
In the mid 7th century, with the growing influce 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. It is believed that some of the royals eventually fled to Japan, where Baekje nobility had already established a foothold through its close relationships to the Japanese royalty.
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 Baekje gilt-bronze incense burner |
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ja:百済
ko:백제
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