Hyeokgeose of Silla
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2023) |
Hyeokgeose 혁거세 赫居世 | |
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Silla Dynasty | |
Mother | Lady Saso |
Hyeokgeose of Silla | |
Hunminjeongeum | 박혁거세 거서간 |
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Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Bak Hyeokgeose Geoseokan |
McCune–Reischauer | Pak Hyŏkkŏse Kŏsŏkhan |
Monarchs of Korea |
Silla |
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(Pre-unification) |
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Hyeokgeose of Silla (69 BC – 4 AD, r. 57 BC–4 AD), also known by his personal full name as Bak (Park, Pak) Hyeokgeose (朴赫居世), was the founding monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the progenitor of all Bak (Park) clans in Korea.
Name
His title Geoseo-khan (거서간; 居西干) or Geoseul-han (거슬한; 居瑟邯), means "Emperor" or "king" in the language of the
"Hyeokgeose" was not a
Founding legend
The
Refugees of Gojoseon lived in the valleys of present-day Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, in six villages called Yangsan (양산촌; 楊山村), Goheo (고허촌; 高墟村), Jinji (진지촌; 珍支村), Daesu (대수촌; 大樹村), Gari (가리촌;; 加利村), and Goya (고야촌;; 高耶村).[3]
In 69 BC, the heads of the six chiefdoms gathered to discuss forming a kingdom and selecting a king. In the forest, at a
Sobeolgong raised him, and the six chieftains revered him. The chieftains made him king when he became 13 years old. The state was named Seorabeol.
Upon becoming king, he married Lady Aryeong, who is said to have been born from the ribs of a dragon.
Historical context
This legend reflects developments in the city-state stage, the six chieftains representing a loose group of Gojoseon refugees. The story implies the ascendency of the Bak clan over the native peoples, and may indicate horse and sun worship.
The founding date is widely questioned today, as the . Silla in this traditional thinking is thought to have been founded first, followed by Goguryeo, and then Baekje. Archaeological evidence, however, paints a different picture, and it is suspected that Goguryeo is the oldest of the three kingdoms, with Silla developing either concurrently with Baekje or after it.
Reign
According to the
In 37 BC Hyeokgeose built Geumseong (금성; 金城) in the capital city (present-day Gyeongju), and in 32 BC he built a royal palace inside.
In 20 BC, the king of the Mahan confederacy demanded a tribute. Silla sent Hogong, who was a minister of Silla. The king was angry that Silla sent Hogong and not a tribute. Hogong criticized the king's impoliteness with fortitude. The king was angry at him and tried to kill him, but nearby subordinates stopped the king, and he was permitted to return to Silla.
In 19 BC, Hyeokgeose also sent an emissary upon the death of the Mahan king. In 5 BC, East Okjeo (a small state to the north, later conquered by Goguryeo) sent an emissary, and Hyeokgeose presented him with 20 horses.
According to Samguk Yusa, in the 61st year(4 CE), one day he went up to the sky, and eight days later, his body was scattered on the ground. And the queen also follows the king and dies. The people of the country tried to bury them, but a large snake appeared and disturbed them. Accordingly, the head and limbs were buried separately to create five tombs (五陵), and the name of the tomb was called Sareung. It is called Sareung (蛇陵) because snake (蛇) protect the tomb.
Death and succession
Hyeokgeose ruled for around 60 years, and set the foundation for a kingdom that would unify much of the
Hyeokgeose maintained control over his kingdom and was one of the few Park rulers to hold complete power over Silla. He died at age 73, and was buried in Sareung, north of Dameomsa (south of Namcheon). Hyeokgeose was succeeded by his eldest son Namhae. According to the Samguk Yusa, Namhae had violently usurped Hyeokgeose' throne and killed him.[5] Modern historians also believe that Hyeokgeose's successor Namhae may have actually been a Baekje priest who had been expelled from Baekje and had settled in Silla before becoming king.[6]
Legacy
Though not much is known about Hyeokgeose, his many legacies and reminders survive to this day. One of them being his numerous descendants, the
Family
N/A | 사소부인 Saso | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
혁거세 거서간 Hyeokgeose | 알영부인 Aryeong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
남해 차차웅 Namhae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In popular culture
- Portrayed by The Legend of Evil Lake
See also
References
- ^ Daum Encyclopedia (Korean)
- ^ 三國遺事 > 因名赫居世王。蓋郷言也。或作弗矩内王。言光明理世也。
- ^ 박혁거세, 朴赫居世, Naver Encyclopedia
- ^ The Academy of Korean studies
- ^ 정, 재수 (August 20, 2021). "백제인 출신 신라 2대왕 남해왕". Sky Daily. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ 박, 찬우 (September 17, 2019). "초기신라의 대혼란, 남해왕 반란의 수수께끼". The Korea History Times. Retrieved 30 March 2024.