Difference between revisions of "Unified Silla" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Unification== | ==Unification== | ||
{{History of Korea}} | {{History of Korea}} | ||
− | :Main | + | :Main Article: [[Silla]] |
+ | :Main Article: [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]] | ||
+ | :Main Article: [[Balhae]] | ||
− | During the wars near the end of the Three Kingdoms Period , Tang Dynasty China established strong administrative cities in the defeated Goguryeo dynasty as well as in Baekje. Silla launched a campaign against Tang China in 671.<ref name=multiple>http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm#The%20Ko%20Choson</ref> Tang countered with an unsuccessful invasion of Silla in 674, defeated by General [[Kim Yu-shin]]'s forces. Tang forces withdrew to the | + | During the wars near the end of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea|Three Kingdoms Period]], [[Tang Dynasty]] China established strong administrative cities in the defeated [[Goguryeo]] dynasty as well as in [[Baekje]]. [[Silla]] launched a campaign against Tang China in 671.<ref name=multiple>http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm#The%20Ko%20Choson</ref> Tang countered with an unsuccessful invasion of Silla in 674, defeated by General [[Kim Yu-shin]]'s forces. Tang forces withdrew their administrative centers to the Liaoyang region in Manchuria, leaving Silla to rule most the southern peninsula by 676. |
+ | |||
+ | Silla's defeat of Tang China stands tall in the scope of Korean history, equal to the defeat of the Islamic forces by Charlemagne in France. If Silla had been conquered by Tang China, Korea may have ceased to exist. The regard Koreans have for Chinese culture and civilization may have weakened their will to wage war. Korea, from that time, could have been incorporated into the Chinese empire. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Silla only succeeded in unifying the southern region of the [[Korean peninsula]], leaving the northern region for refugees of the fallen Gogoryeo kingdom to establish the kingdom of [[Balhae]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Government== | ||
+ | After Silla unified the south, and Balhae establish a firm government in the north, they both established peaceful relations with Tang China. Unified Silla and Balhae carried on economic and cultural exchange with Tang China. | ||
==Culture== | ==Culture== | ||
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Korean arts and Buddhism flourished during the Unified Silla dynasty. The royal throne sponsored the construction and support of Buddhist temple compounds like [[Bulguksa]], [[Seokguram]] Grotto, [[Hwangnyongsa]] and [[Bunhwangsa]] temples. [[Bulguksa]] and [[Seokguram]] present an exceptional example of Unified Silla Buddhist architecture and scupture, receiving the designation of [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]]. | Korean arts and Buddhism flourished during the Unified Silla dynasty. The royal throne sponsored the construction and support of Buddhist temple compounds like [[Bulguksa]], [[Seokguram]] Grotto, [[Hwangnyongsa]] and [[Bunhwangsa]] temples. [[Bulguksa]] and [[Seokguram]] present an exceptional example of Unified Silla Buddhist architecture and scupture, receiving the designation of [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]]. | ||
− | + | ===Buddhism=== | |
+ | Although enemies during the unification wars, Unified Silla maintained close ties Tang as evidenced by the continued influence of Chinese culture and Silla civilization. Korean monks traveled to China to study Buddhism in the Chinese tradition. India, also, influenced Silla Buddhism as shown that monk [[Hyech'o]]'s written accounts of his stay in India studying Buddhism[http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0395652375&id=MziRd4ddZz4C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=unified+silla&sig=PtHzeMj5shwKqi4tWeHY7aIPbZE]. Those traveling monks who had studied abroad introduced new Buddhist sects of to Silla such as Son and Pure Land Buddhism [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0395652375&id=MziRd4ddZz4C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=unified+silla&sig=PtHzeMj5shwKqi4tWeHY7aIPbZE]. | ||
[[Image:Pressapochista1.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Vairocana Buddha]] | [[Image:Pressapochista1.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Vairocana Buddha]] | ||
− | |||
− | + | ===Confucianism=== | |
+ | Unified Silla founded a national confucian college in 682, bestowing the name National Confucian University [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0395652375&id=MziRd4ddZz4C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=unified+silla&sig=PtHzeMj5shwKqi4tWeHY7aIPbZE] around 750. Only the elite [[Bone rank system|True Bones]] of Unified Silla society could attend. | ||
+ | ===Woodblock printing=== | ||
+ | Woodblock printing was used to disseminate Buddhist sutras and Confucian works. During a refurbishment of the Pagoda That Casts No Shadows, an ancient print of a Buddhist sutra was discovered. The print is dated to 751 C.E. and is the oldest discovered printed material in the world. [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0395652375&id=MziRd4ddZz4C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=unified+silla&sig=PtHzeMj5shwKqi4tWeHY7aIPbZE]. | ||
==Politics== | ==Politics== |
Revision as of 14:50, 3 August 2007
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Anapji pavilion Anapji pavilion | ||||||||
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Unified Silla (668–935) refers to the unification of the Three Kingdoms of southern Korea, Baekche, Koguryo, and Silla. The fall of Baekche to Silla in 668 marks the recognized beginning the the Unified Silla dynasty. Balhae (698-926) ruled the northern region of Korea, from just south of Pyongyang. The Unified Silla dynasty and Balhae both fell to Goryeo by 935, creating a unification of the northern and southern halfs of Korea.[1] Due to the north-south split during this period of Korean history, some historians have preferred to call the time of the Unified Silla dynasty the period of the North-South States (nambukguk sidae = 남북국 시대 = 南北國時代) .
Unification
History of Korea |
---|
Jeulmun Period
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- Main Article: Silla
- Main Article: Three Kingdoms of Korea
- Main Article: Balhae
During the wars near the end of the Three Kingdoms Period, Tang Dynasty China established strong administrative cities in the defeated Goguryeo dynasty as well as in Baekje. Silla launched a campaign against Tang China in 671.[2] Tang countered with an unsuccessful invasion of Silla in 674, defeated by General Kim Yu-shin's forces. Tang forces withdrew their administrative centers to the Liaoyang region in Manchuria, leaving Silla to rule most the southern peninsula by 676.
Silla's defeat of Tang China stands tall in the scope of Korean history, equal to the defeat of the Islamic forces by Charlemagne in France. If Silla had been conquered by Tang China, Korea may have ceased to exist. The regard Koreans have for Chinese culture and civilization may have weakened their will to wage war. Korea, from that time, could have been incorporated into the Chinese empire.
Silla only succeeded in unifying the southern region of the Korean peninsula, leaving the northern region for refugees of the fallen Gogoryeo kingdom to establish the kingdom of Balhae.
Government
After Silla unified the south, and Balhae establish a firm government in the north, they both established peaceful relations with Tang China. Unified Silla and Balhae carried on economic and cultural exchange with Tang China.
Culture
Korean arts and Buddhism flourished during the Unified Silla dynasty. The royal throne sponsored the construction and support of Buddhist temple compounds like Bulguksa, Seokguram Grotto, Hwangnyongsa and Bunhwangsa temples. Bulguksa and Seokguram present an exceptional example of Unified Silla Buddhist architecture and scupture, receiving the designation of World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Buddhism
Although enemies during the unification wars, Unified Silla maintained close ties Tang as evidenced by the continued influence of Chinese culture and Silla civilization. Korean monks traveled to China to study Buddhism in the Chinese tradition. India, also, influenced Silla Buddhism as shown that monk Hyech'o's written accounts of his stay in India studying Buddhism[1]. Those traveling monks who had studied abroad introduced new Buddhist sects of to Silla such as Son and Pure Land Buddhism [2].
Confucianism
Unified Silla founded a national confucian college in 682, bestowing the name National Confucian University [3] around 750. Only the elite True Bones of Unified Silla society could attend.
Woodblock printing
Woodblock printing was used to disseminate Buddhist sutras and Confucian works. During a refurbishment of the Pagoda That Casts No Shadows, an ancient print of a Buddhist sutra was discovered. The print is dated to 751 C.E. and is the oldest discovered printed material in the world. [4].
Politics
Silla began to experience political troubles in 780 when kings began to be assassinated by rebel leaders. 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.[2]
In 660, King Munmu the Great ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, defeated General Gyebaek and conquered Baekje. In 661, Goguryeo repelled his attack. King Munmu stands as the first ruler to look upon the southern Korean Peninsula as a single political entity after the fall of Gojoseon. As such, the post-668 Silla kingdom is often referred to as Unified Silla. Unified Silla lasted for 267 years until, under King Gyeongsun, it fell to Goryeo in 935.
Economy
Since Silla unified Korea, they can earned more territory and controled more people. So, Silla is need to change their economy policy. At first, Silla decreased agriculture output tax to 1/10 before unified and assigned tributary payment per town with their special products.
Unified Silla inquiried all town's real estate size and the number of people and horse,Cow and special products per every year and wrote it to documents called Minjeongmunseo(민정문서, The documents for the realities of the people´s life) per three years. It was done by 촌주(leader of town). [3]
See also
- Three Kingdoms of Korea
- List of Korea-related topics
- History of Korea
Reference
- ↑ http://www.rootsinfo.co.kr/history/king08.html Wang Geon changed the name of dynasty to Goryeo
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm#The%20Ko%20Choson
- ↑ Korean history for highschool p.141, issued by National History Compilation Committee of the Republic of Korea, The
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