1.
Silla
[edit]
Main article: Silla
Downsized replica of the famous 80-meter-
tall pagoda at Hwangnyongsa Temple which was destroyed by the Mongols
The pagoda of Bunhwangsa temple, 634 AD, which once stood
seven to nine stories in height, yet these collapsed to its current state of three stories
According to legend, the kingdom of Silla began with the unification of six chiefdoms of
the Jinhan confederacy by Park Hyeokgeose in 57 BC, in the southeastern area of
Korea.[114] Its territory included the present-day port city of Busan, and Silla later
emerged as a sea power responsible for destroying Japanese pirates, especially during
the Unified Silla period.[115]
Silla artifacts, including unique gold metalwork, show influence from the northern
nomadic steppes and Iranian peoples and especially Persians, with less Chinese
influence than are shown by Goguryeo and Baekje.[116] Silla expanded rapidly by
occupying the Nakdong River basin and uniting the city-states.
By the 2nd century, Silla was a large state, occupying and influencing nearby city-
states. Silla gained further power when it annexed the Gaya confederacy in 562. Silla
often faced pressure from Goguryeo, Baekje and Japan, and at various times allied and
warred with Baekje and Goguryeo.
Silla was the smallest and weakest of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, but it used cunning
diplomatic means to make opportunistic pacts and alliances with the more powerful
Korean kingdoms, and eventually Tang China, to its great advantage.[117][118]
In 660, King Muyeol of Silla ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin,
aided by Tang forces, conquered Baekje. In 661, Silla and Tang moved
on Goguryeo but were repelled. King Munmu, son of Muyeol and nephew of Kim,
launched another campaign in 667 and Goguryeo fell in the following year.[119]
2. Gaya
[edit]
Main article: Gaya confederacy
Gold crown and accessories. National Treasure No.138.
Gaya was a confederacy of small kingdoms in the Nakdong River valley of
southern Korea since AD 42, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of
the Samhan period. Gaya's plains were rich in iron, so export of iron tools was possible
and agriculture flourished. In the early centuries, the Confederacy was led
by Geumgwan Gaya in the Gimhae region. However, its leading power changed
to Daegaya in the Goryeong region after the 5th century.
Constantly engaged in war with the three kingdoms surrounding it, Gaya was not
developed to form a unified state, and was ultimately absorbed into Silla in 562.[120]
North and South States
[edit]
Main article: North–South States Period
The term North-South States refers to Unified Silla and Balhae, during the time when
Silla controlled the majority of the Korean peninsula while Balhae expanded
into Manchuria. During this time, culture and technology significantly advanced,
especially in Unified Silla.
3. Unified Silla
[edit]
Main article: United Silla
See also: Silla–Tang War
Bulguksa Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
After the unification wars, the Tang dynasty established outposts in the
former Goguryeo, and began to establish and administer communities in Baekje. Silla
attacked Tang forces in Baekje and northern Korea in 671. Tang then invaded Silla in
674 but Silla drove the Tang forces out of the peninsula by 676 to achieve unification of
most of the Korean peninsula.[121]
Unified Silla was a golden age of art and culture.[122][123][124][125] During this period, long-
distance trade between Unified Silla and the Abbasid Caliphate was documented by
Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbeh in the Book of Roads and Kingdoms.[126] Buddhist
monasteries such as the World Heritage Sites Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto
are examples of advanced Korean architecture and Buddhist influence.[127] Other state-
sponsored art and architecture from this period include Hwangnyongsa Temple
and Bunhwangsa Temple. Unified Silla carried on the maritime prowess of Baekje,
which acted like the Phoenicia of medieval East Asia,[128] and during the 8th and 9th
centuries dominated the seas of East Asia and the trade between China, Korea and
Japan, most notably during the time of Jang Bogo; in addition, Silla people made
overseas communities in China on the Shandong Peninsula and the mouth of
the Yangtze River.[129][130][131][132] Unified Silla was a prosperous and wealthy country,[133] and
its metropolitan capital of Gyeongju[134] was the fourth largest city in the world.[135][136][137][138]
Buddhism flourished during this time, and many Korean Buddhists gained great fame
among Chinese Buddhists[139] and contributed to Chinese Buddhism,
[140]
including: Woncheuk, Wonhyo, Uisang, Musang,[141][142][143][144] and Kim Gyo-gak, a Silla
prince whose influence made Mount Jiuhua one of the Four Sacred Mountains of
Chinese Buddhism.[145][146][147][148][149]
Silla began to experience political troubles in late 8th century. This severely weakened
Silla and soon thereafter, descendants of the former Baekje established Later Baekje. In
the north, rebels revived Goguryeo, beginning the Later Three Kingdoms period.
Unified Silla lasted for 267 years until King Gyeongsun surrendered the country
to Goryeo in 935, after 992 years and 56 monarchs.[150]
4. Balhae
[edit]
Main article: Balhae
Balhae in the north, Unified Silla in the south.
Balhae stele at the National Museum of Korea
Balhae was founded only thirty years after Goguryeo had fallen, in 698. It was founded
in the northern part of former lands of Goguryeo by Dae Jo-yeong, a former Goguryeo
general[151][152] or chief of Sumo Mohe.[153][154][155] Balhae controlled the northern areas of
the Korean Peninsula, much of Manchuria (though it didn't occupy Liaodong
Peninsula for much of history), and expanded into present-day Russian Primorsky Krai.
It also adopted the culture of Tang dynasty, such as the government structure and
geopolitical system.[156]
In a time of relative peace and stability in the region, Balhae flourished, especially
during the reigns of King Mun and King Seon. Balhae was called the "Prosperous
Country in the East".[157] However, Balhae was severely weakened and eventually
conquered by the Khitan-led Liao dynasty in 926.[156] Large numbers of refugees,
including Dae Gwang-hyeon, the last crown prince of Balhae, were welcomed by
Goryeo.[16][158] Dae Gwang-hyeon was included in the imperial family of Wang Kŏn,
bringing a national unification between the two successor nations of Goguryeo.[17]
No historical records from Balhae have survived, and the Liao left no histories of
Balhae. Goryeo absorbed some Balhae territory, welcomed between 100,000 to
200,000 Balhae refugees including its Crown Prince Dae Gwang-hyeon, and maintained
hostile relations with the Liao for destroying Balhae.[159][160][161][162][163] However, Goryeo's
official historical record, the Samguk sagi ("History of the Three Kingdoms"), includes
passages on Balhae, but did not include a dynastic history of Balhae. Balhae was first
included in Korean history by Goryeo scholar Yi Seung-hyu's Jewang ungi in 1287. The
18th century Joseon dynasty historian Yu Deuk-gong advocated the proper study of
Balhae as part of Korean history, and coined the term "North and South States Period"
to refer to this era.[156]