Download The Korean Peninsula is not currently a unified country, and this isn`t

The Korean Peninsula is not currently a unified country, and this isn't for the first time in
its history. In this lesson, we'll look at the Three Kingdoms period of Korean history and explore
the different cultures that call Korea home.
The Three Kingdoms of
Korea
To us in the 21st century, the idea of a
divided Korea is already familiar. There's North
Korea and South Korea, so we've got two Koreas
right there. But where was the third Korea of the
Three Kingdoms? In fact, the current division of
the Koreas has nothing to do with historical
divisions, and for most of Korean history the
entire peninsula was united. But, this wasn't
always the case. For a period from roughly 57
BCE to 668 CE, the Korean Peninsula was
divided into the three independent kingdoms
of Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla.
Korea during its Three Kingdoms period
Today, the Korean Peninsula is divided between two nations, but at one point it consisted
of three different kingdoms. During the Three Kingdoms period, which lasted from 57 BCE to
668 CE, the Korean Peninsula was divided between the kingdoms of Koguryo, Paekche,
and Silla. Each of these was founded as a confederation of cities after the fall of
the Gojoseon kingdom. Koguryo was the largest, stretching into Manchuria. It fought with China
but also adopted many Chinese traditions while still developing a strong culture of its own.
Paekche was the cultural intermediary of Asia, passing ideas and customs around the region.
Silla was the smallest and most isolationist, being the last of the Korean kingdoms to adopt
Chinese cultural practices like Buddhism. In the 7th century CE, Silla joined with China to
conquer the other Korean kingdoms, eventually leading to the unification of Korea. At least for a
while.
History of the Three Kingdoms Period
Before exploring each of these kingdoms separately, let's talk about this earlier time
period in general. Before Korea broke up into three kingdoms, it was one single state, a mighty
kingdom called Gojoseon. Through a series of political entanglements, the Han Dynasty of
China ended up invading and conquering part of Gojoseon around 108 BCE. As the Gojoseon
kingdom lost power over the next century, it broke apart into several different federations of
cities that came together for mutual strength. Three of these federations grew into powerful
kingdoms of their own, and thus the Three Kingdoms period was established. For over 700 years,
Korea remained divided, until in the 7th century, the kingdom of Silla allied with China to
overthrow the others, ending the Three Kingdoms period. After a brief war to expel the Chinese,
the Korean Peninsula was reunified into a single kingdom around 676 CE.
Koguryo
Let's start with the largest of the three kingdoms. Koguryo, sometimes written as
Goguryeo, grew as a federation of cities in the area stretching from the northern Korean
Peninsula into Manchuria. We don't know for sure, but it seems that this was the first of the three
kingdoms to really solidify a firm base of power. Koguryo was a complex society with advanced
technology, political systems, and culture. Due to its strength, Koguryo became the protector of
the Korean Peninsula, guarding the smaller kingdoms against Chinese invasions and reclaiming
parts of the former Gojoseon kingdom that had been captured by China. However, Koguryo's
relationship with China was far from antagonistic. This Korean kingdom maintained very close
political, economic, and cultural ties with China, even adopting Buddhism from China in the 4th
century CE. Koguryo culture established many things to be considered traditionally Korean and,
in fact, the name of the kingdom was later shortened to Goryeo or Koryo, the basis of the name
Korea.
Buddhism entered Koguryo through China and
became an important part of their culture and art
Paekche
In the southwestern part of the peninsula, was the next of the three kingdoms. Paekche,
sometimes written in our alphabet as Baekje, was generated from what was called the Mahan
confederacy, a collection of Korean cities in that part of the peninsula. Due to its location,
Paekche was closely connected with all of the major cultures of the area, including Koguryo,
Silla, China, and Japan. Sometimes Paekche fought wars against these other cultures, but most
often held a position as the cultural intermediary between the Asian kingdoms. It was through
Paechke that Buddhism reached Japan from China, and through Paechke that Chinese characters
spread across Asia. So, unsurprisingly, their culture was also strongly influenced by the Chinese,
although it was equally influenced by Koguryo and helped standardize Korean customs.
Chinese depiction of an ambassador from Paekche
Silla
The last of the three Korean kingdoms was Silla, located in the southeastern part of the
peninsula. Like Paekche, Silla originated as a confederation of cities that came together after the
fall of Gojoseon and soon established their own kingdom. Originally, Silla had the least amount
of contact with China, preferring a more isolationist attitude, and was the last of the Korean
kingdoms to adopt Chinese Buddhism. In the 6th century CE, Silla annexed another
confederation of Korean cities that didn't belong to any of the kingdoms, prompting Koguryo and
Paekche to from an alliance against the growing Silla. In turn, Silla made the surprise move of
allying with the Tang Dynasty of China. Together, the Tang and Silla defeated the Koguryo and
Paekche kingdoms around 668 CE, ending the Three Kingdoms period and setting Korea back
on the path towards unification.
Koguryo Kingdom
Koguryŏ, the largest of the three kingdoms into which ancient Korea was divided until
668. Koguryŏ is traditionally said to have been founded in 37 bce in the Tongge River basin of
northern Korea by Chu-mong, leader of one of the Puyŏ tribes native to the area, but modern
historians believe it is more likely that the tribal state was formed in the 2nd century bce.
By the reign of King T’aejo (53–146 ce), a royal hereditary system had been established.
With the promulgation by King Sosurim (reigned 371–384) of various laws and decrees aimed at
centralizing royal authority, Koguryŏ emerged as a full-fledged aristocratic state. Its territory was
extended greatly during the reign of King Kwanggaet’o (391–412) and further by Changsu
(reigned 413–491). The entire northern half of the Korean peninsula and, in what is now China,
the Liaodong Peninsula and a considerable portion of Manchuria (Northeast China) were under
Koguryŏ rule during the kingdom’s peak period.
The central bureaucracy had 12 grades, with a tae-daero (prime minister) at the top who
was elected by his fellow officials every three years. The officials ruled through a series of
military garrisons erected at strategic points throughout the state.
As a result of Chinese influence, Buddhism was introduced in 372 ce as an ideological
backing for the newly developed centralized bureaucracy, and, at about the same time, Confucian
education began to be emphasized as a means of maintaining the social order. Daoism was also
widespread in the later years. The numerous surviving tomb paintings give a good picture of the
life, ideology, and character of the Koguryŏ people.
With the establishment of the unifying Sui (581–618) and Tang (618–907) dynasties in
China, Koguryŏ began to suffer incursions from China. The kingdom was defeated in 668 by the
allied forces of the southern Korean kingdom of Silla and the Tang dynasty, and the entire
peninsula came under the Unified Silla dynasty (668–935). Several locations in far southern Jilin
province, China, containing early Koguryŏ ruins and tombs were collectively designated a
UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.
Paekche Kingdom
Paekche, one of three kingdoms into which ancient Korea was divided before 660.
Occupying the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula, Paekche is traditionally said to have
been founded in 18 bc in the Kwangju area by a legendary leader named Onjo. By the 3rd
century ad, during the reign of King Koi (234–286), Paekche emerged as a fully developed
kingdom. By the reign of King Kŭnch’ogo (346–375), it had established control over a region
that included the whole Han River basin in central Korea.
In the late 5th century the northern Korean kingdom of Koguryŏ deprived Paekche of its
territory in the Han River basin, and it moved its capital south to Ungjin (present Kongju). In the
reign of King Sŏng (523–554), the kingdom was forced to move its capital even further south to
Sabi (present Puyŏ), as more of its territory was occupied by Koguryŏ.
The kingdom was divided into five administrative districts. There were 16 official grades
in the central government, and the 6 officials of the first grade formed a kind of cabinet. The
highest-ranking official, called sangjwapyong, was elected every three years.
Buddhism flourished, and many temples were built. Confucianism also prospered,
producing a large number of eminent scholars. Paekche visual arts reveal technical maturity
along with warm human qualities, sometimes held to reflect the influence of southern Chinese art
of the Six Dynasties period. These qualities are evident, for example, in softly modeled Buddha
statues in relaxed poses, with their distinctive and expressive “Paekche smile.”
In an attempt to contain Koguryŏ’s attacks and recover some of its lost territory in the
Han River basin, Paekche allied itself with Silla, the other southern Korean state, but it
eventually lost this territory to Silla. In 660 its defeat by the allied forces of Silla and the Chinese
T’ang dynasty (618–907) brought an end to its rule. Eight years later Silla’s forces defeated the
northern Korean state of Koguryŏ and united the Korean peninsula under the Unified Silla
dynasty (668–935).
Silla Kingdom
Silla, one of the three kingdoms of ancient Korea and the one that in 668 unified Korea
under the Unified Silla dynasty (668–935). Silla is traditionally believed to have been founded
by Hyŏkkŏse in 57 bc. By the 2nd century ad, a distinct confederation of local tribes was
definitely in existence in the southeastern portion of the Korean peninsula. With the
establishment of the hereditary monarchy of the Kim family during the reign of King Naemul
(356–402), the promulgation of state laws and decrees, and the annexation of the eastern half of
the Kaya state on the eastern tip of the peninsula in the reign of King Pŏphŭng (514–540), Silla
emerged as a full-fledged kingdom.
Its aristocracy was endowed with various privileges, and the aristocrats monopolized all
important official posts. The excavations of extravagant ornaments, such as gold crowns and
gold belts, indicate the luxury in which they lived. Sculpture and the decorative arts showed a
tendency toward abstraction. A Silla crown, for example, is designed in simple, angular lines
unlike the curvilinear floral designs characteristic of Paekche openwork. Granite was a frequent
medium for both architecture and sculpture. Old Silla pottery is unglazed, grayish stoneware
with a texture almost like that of slate. Vessel forms have clean-cut, functional lines, and
decorations are incised geometric patterns.
Encouraged by the state, Buddhism flourished, and many temples were erected, the most
prominent of which were the Hwangyong-sa, Pulguk-sa, and Sokkuram (a grotto shrine).
In the reign of King Chinhŭng (540–576) a unique military corps, called the Hwarangdo,
was organized, and the military system was realigned. In the following century this powerful
military machine allied itself with the Chinese T’ang dynasty (618–907) and subjugated the
southeastern Korean state of Paekche in 660 and the northern Korean state of Koguryŏ in 668.
This was followed by almost a decade of fighting, in which Silla expelled the T’ang forces and
established a unified kingdom in the Korean peninsula.