3
Reasons for this:
Korean regionalism
From the final defeat of Baekje (by Silla and Tang) onwards, the southwest region of the peninsula has supposedly been
discriminated against.
Modern North Korean historiography naturally emphasizes Goguryeo.
In turn, modern South Korean historiography has traditionally emphasized Silla as the country which unified the peninsula
(and defeated North Korea's Goguryeo).
The South Korean political establishment, starting with dictator Park Chung Hee (1961-79) hailed from the
southeastern Gyeongsang provinces, the homeland of Silla.
As a result the southwestern Jeolla provinces experienced discrimination throughout the latter half of the 20th
century culminating in the 1980 Gwangju massacre; this is still reflected in voting patterns today.
Whether retrospectively projected or not, the modern rivalry between the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces is
popularly regarded as reflecting the ancient enmity between Silla and Baekje and the subsequent bias held against the
former Baekje territory. However it should be noted that the Baekje homeland was further north around Seoul and
South Chungcheong province.
Baekje's internationalism
Baekje had close relations with Yamato Japan, as well as southern China.
민족주의
This international character has not fitted well with the ethno-nationalist (民族主義
minjok-ju'ui ) narratives of either
North or South.
Post-colonial nationalist Korean historiography is strongly predicated on refuting the previous colonial Japanese
narrative which claimed Japan had controlled peninsula territory in ancients times.
It presupposes a homogeneous Korean identity (language and ethnicity) of all three of the Three Kingdoms.
It is therefore anathema to Koreans that a non-Korean language and culture related to Japanese (associated with
Baekje origins) may have existed anywhere on the peninsula. Likewise Japanese imperial historiography does not
want to acknowledge its peninsula origins either.
"It will take a long time before a Korean historian or linguist can openly admit that the one-time homeland of the Japanese language lies
on the Korean Peninsula, and that Korea was not always the monolingual Korean entity it is today. On the other hand, the idea that Korea
has played a crucial role in the origins of Japan is not easily digestible for the Japanese historian or linguist, who would rather emphasize
the role of local innovation...
The problem is not made easier by the circumstance that Japan during its brief period of colonial rule over Korea (1910 1945) tried to
–
explain all the historical connections between the two countries as having been initiated from the Japanese side. The claim was that Korea,
or some parts of it, had been a Japanese "colony" already in protohistorical times. The reality is, of course, the opposite, since it was
Japan that was colonized from Korea. Ever since the end of the isolation of the J mon period, there has been a constant flow of
ō
demographic, cultural, and linguistic influences from Korea to Japan, which means that, historically, Japan has always been secondary to
Korea. There is one important exception, however: Japan was the first to modernize, and it was exactly this discrepancy that became the
root of the modern problems between the two countries." (Janhunen 2010:135)
4)
Baekje as a seafaring kingdom:
Maintained strong relations with southern Chinese kingdoms.
Directly contributed to - if not responsible for - the founding of Yamato Japan in 390CE.
5)
Chiljido
칠지도
seven-branched sword (
) 372CE.
七支刀
Sent to Baekje prince Homuda who had just arrived in Japan. The sword still survives and is today housed at Isonomaki-jingū
shrine (
) in Nara. Contains a 61 character inscription, some of which is indecipherable and some of which is highly open
石上神宮
to interpretation.
4) Janhunen, Juha. 2010: 'Correctness and Controversies in Asian Historiography'. in
Studia Orientalia, vol 109 (2010).
5) In English see, Hong, Wontack. 2010:
Ancient Korean-Japan Relations: Paekche and the Origin of the Yamato Dynasty. Seoul:
Kudara International.
http://www.hongwontack.pe.kr/
Note: this is only a hypothesis coloured by Korean nationalism, and doesn’t
describe the full complexity of Japanese state formation.
4
Baekje introduced Buddhism to Japan:
"Possibly the most important cultural accomplishment of [Baekje] King Seong's reign [r.523-554] was the initiation of Buddhist missionary
work in Japan. The importance of this effort and its impact on later Japanese Buddhism and culture cannot be overstated. Too often
the discussions of the introduction of Buddhism to Japan leave one with the impression that the Korean states were only passive
conveyers of the Buddhist tradition to the island nation...
On three occasions, in 538, 545, and 552, King Seong sent Buddhist statues and scriptures to the Japanese king with the request that
he give the new doctrines careful consideration. In 552, it is recorded that King Seong sent a bronze statue and a carved stone statue
of Maitreya along with various scriptures. In his letter to the King of Japan, King Seong recommended Buddhism to his counterpart on
the basis that it was a doctrine far superior to Confucianism, and that it had found great favour in India, China and Baekje... King Seong
in the final year of his reign in 554 had sent two scholarly monks, Tamhye and Tosim, and sixteen preaching monks to Japan to spread
Buddhism there." (Grayson 2006:33)
6)
Baekje capitals:
l
Like Goguryeo, the Baekje capital gradually relocated southwards.
18BCE Established at Wirye-seong
강북위례성
(
) north of the Han river (Seoul).
江北慰禮城
4CE
남한산성
Moved to Namhansan-seong mountain fortress
) to the southeast of modern Seoul.
南漢山城
475
Moved south to Ungjin (
'bear port') - present day
熊津
Gongju city in South Chungcheong province.
538
Moved
사비
southeastwards to Sabi (
, present day Buyeo)
泗沘
Renames the state
※
South Buyeo 남부여
(
) and takes Buyeo as the royal surname.
근초고왕
King Geunchogo (
r.346-375)
近肖古王
Dramatically expanded Baekje's territory killing the Goguryeo king in battle.
King Muryeong
무령왕
(
r.501-523)
武寧王
Suppressed rebellions and reasserted control over the nobility.
Continued war with Goguryeo to the north and invaded Gaya to the southeast.
In 512 Goguryeo attacked deep into Baekje territory but King Muryeong rode into battle defeating them.
v
His tomb was discovered in 1971 with its treasures remaining; greatly enhancing Baekje's brand image!
v
The Baekje foundation story of Onjo, is also tied into that of Goguryeo and Buyeo.
Famous tragic general:
Gyebaek
계백
(
612-660):
階伯
Led an army of 5,000 in the final defence of the Baekje capital against the Silla general Kim Yusin's much larger
황산벌전투
forces at the Battle of Hwangsanbeol (
). Gyebaek died fighting and Baekje was destroyed.
黃山伐戰鬪
663
부여풍
Restoration attempt led by Buyeo Pung (
), the son of the last Baekje king, departed from Japan with 27,000
扶餘豊
men; joined forces with the remnant Baekje army but was defeated by Chinese Tang army.
Subsequently
several thousand Baekje refugees were resettled in Japan, especially in Emperor Tenji's new capital of tsu
Ō
(
); the former nobility were given Japanese ranks equivalent to their Baekje titles.
大津
Silla (
신라
新羅
c.57BCE~935)
The late developer but ultimate victor!
Foundation myths associated with the three royal clans of Bak
박
(
),
朴
Seok
석
(
) and
昔
Kim
김
(
).
金
Ultimately the Kim clan came to dominance and hence is the most popular surname in Korea today!
경주
Capital: Gyeongju in the region of modern Gyeongju city (
); didn't move!
慶州
6) Grayson, James. 2002:
Korea - A Religious History: Revised edition. Abingdon: RoutledgeCurzon.