Difference between revisions of "Unified Silla" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Unification== | ==Unification== | ||
| + | [[Image:Posokchong.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Posokchong Historical Site #1]] | ||
{{History of Korea}} | {{History of Korea}} | ||
:Main Article: [[Silla]] | :Main Article: [[Silla]] | ||
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:Main Article: [[Gyeongju]] | :Main Article: [[Gyeongju]] | ||
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. Unified Silla's, and Balhae's for that matter, exchange with Tang China took place economically and culturally. | 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. Unified Silla's, and Balhae's for that matter, exchange with Tang China took place economically and culturally. | ||
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[[King Sinmun]] (681-692) firmly established the throne of the Unified Silla dynasty in [[Gyengju]]. He eliminated a faction of nobles, the [[sangdaedung]] that derived from the "[[hallow bone]]" and "[[True bone rank|true bone]]" lineages, intent upon overthrowing the throne. Establishing his authority, Sinmun restructed the government and military. His son, [[Songdok]] solidified the power of the throne over the noble class further, introducing a remarkable period of national peace. Although the power of the throne became paramount, the system of [[True bone rank]] still powerfully persisted. | [[King Sinmun]] (681-692) firmly established the throne of the Unified Silla dynasty in [[Gyengju]]. He eliminated a faction of nobles, the [[sangdaedung]] that derived from the "[[hallow bone]]" and "[[True bone rank|true bone]]" lineages, intent upon overthrowing the throne. Establishing his authority, Sinmun restructed the government and military. His son, [[Songdok]] solidified the power of the throne over the noble class further, introducing a remarkable period of national peace. Although the power of the throne became paramount, the system of [[True bone rank]] still powerfully persisted. | ||
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[[Image:Pressapochista1.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Vairocana Buddha]] | [[Image:Pressapochista1.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Vairocana Buddha]] | ||
===Buddhism=== | ===Buddhism=== | ||
| − | :Main | + | :Main Article: [[Bulguksa]] and [[Seokguram]] |
:Main Article: [[Korean Buddhism]] | :Main Article: [[Korean 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 [[ | + | 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 [[Hyecho]]'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 Seon 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]. The aristocratic class embraced the [[Hwaom]] doctrine. |
| + | [[Wonhyo]] (617-686) espoused the Buddha-Nature school, consternated by the division and rivalry of the sects in Silla and Unified Silla. Pure Land Buddhism found an especially enthusiastic following. A faith for the common person, an educated person could adhere and understand the basic principles easily. Commoners had hope that their suffering would end upon death in the Western Paradise where Amitabha lived, the "Pure Land." Thousands left their farms to practice in the mountains as monks. | ||
===Confucianism=== | ===Confucianism=== | ||
| − | + | Confucianism entered unified Silla at this time, beginning to rival Buddhism. In 682, Confucians established the National Confucian College, the name chaning to National Confucian University (Taehakkam)[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. | |
| + | |||
| + | The Confucian university introduced a curriculum of the Confucian classics, setting the precedent for the national exam system for the selection of government officals in 1788. The Confucian religion struck at the root of the true bone rank system and the Buddhist religion that supported it. The Silla faction that supported Confucianism, called the head-rank six faction, sought a religion that applied to every day affairs over the Buddhist focus on paradise after death. [[Kangsu]] and [[Seol Chong]] emerged as two leaders of the Confucian religion in Silla. | ||
| − | === | + | ===Science and Technology=== |
| − | Woodblock printing | + | '''Astronomy and Math.''' Maintaining a harmony between the forces of yin and yang embered during this period, leading to the development of calendars in unified Silla. The [[Cheomseongdae]] obseratory, built at the end of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea|Three Kingdoms period]]. Mathematical knowledge advanced in other areas as well, including the design for the "Pagoda of Many Treasures" (Dabota) and Pagoda That Casts On Shadow (Seokgatap) at [[Bulguksa]]. |
| + | |||
| + | '''Woodblock printing'''. Woodblock printing disseminated Buddhist sutras and Confucian works. During a refurbishment of the Pagoda That Casts No Shadows, archeologists discovered an ancient print of a Buddhist sutra. The print of the Dharani sutra dated to 751 C.E., the world's oldest woodblock printing. [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&vid=ISBN0395652375&id=MziRd4ddZz4C&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=unified+silla&sig=PtHzeMj5shwKqi4tWeHY7aIPbZE]. | ||
===Life of the People=== | ===Life of the People=== | ||
In a dynasty with so much wealth and splendor among the aristocracy, the contrast of the poverty of the common people contrasted starkly. Slavery played a dominate role. Most people lived and worked on small farms clustered in villages. They had obligations to give a share of their crop to the governor, covee duty. Free commoners and slaves worked the farm land, giving money to the state and the government officials themselves. The aristocracy used every means to take money from the commoners. | In a dynasty with so much wealth and splendor among the aristocracy, the contrast of the poverty of the common people contrasted starkly. Slavery played a dominate role. Most people lived and worked on small farms clustered in villages. They had obligations to give a share of their crop to the governor, covee duty. Free commoners and slaves worked the farm land, giving money to the state and the government officials themselves. The aristocracy used every means to take money from the commoners. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Economy== |
| + | Before unification, Silla had awarded "tax village" (sigup) to nobles for meritorious service while government officials received pay by governing "stipend villages" (nogup)in which they received taxes and the services of peasants. Shortly after unification, the throne abolished the "stipend villages" replacing them with "office-land" in which governor's received only grain tax. The reform failed, though, with the "stipend village" system returing thus reenhancing noble power over the peasants and the throne. | ||
| − | + | ==Decline and Fall of Unified Silla== | |
| + | Silla's political troubles began in 780 when rebel leaders assassinated kings. That 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.<ref name=multiple>http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm#The%20Ko%20Choson</ref> | ||
| + | Unified Silla lasted for 267 years until, under [[Gyeongsun of Silla|King Gyeongsun]], it fell to [[Goryeo]] in 935. | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 17:50, 3 August 2007
| Unified Silla | ||||||||
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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
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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
- Main Article: Gyeongju
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. Unified Silla's, and Balhae's for that matter, exchange with Tang China took place economically and culturally.
King Sinmun (681-692) firmly established the throne of the Unified Silla dynasty in Gyengju. He eliminated a faction of nobles, the sangdaedung that derived from the "hallow bone" and "true bone" lineages, intent upon overthrowing the throne. Establishing his authority, Sinmun restructed the government and military. His son, Songdok solidified the power of the throne over the noble class further, introducing a remarkable period of national peace. Although the power of the throne became paramount, the system of True bone rank still powerfully persisted.
Silla, having expanded its territory, established an provincial and local government system to rule the unified dynasty, creating a province (chu, -ju), prefecture (kun), and county (hyoen) system. The throne resettled nobles to new secondary capitals. The capital remained in Gyeongju, although a strong faction lobbied for a move to Daegu. Silla absorbed the conquered territories into the system of government, granting government positions to local people while reserving governorships to nobles from Gyeongju.
Gyeongju, meaning "city of gold", thrived as the center of life for the noble, aristocratic class of Unified Silla. Imhaejon ("Pavilion of the Sea," set on the man made Anapchi Lake) and Posokchong's winding channel carrying nobles wine glasses while reciting poety testify to the royal life in Gyeongju. The splendor of Gyeongju at its height has been described as a town with tiled roofs, not a thatched roof in the city. Nearly 180,000 households, with 35 mansions of royal splendor laid withint the city walls.
Culture
- Main Article: Culture of Korea
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
- Main Article: Bulguksa and Seokguram
- Main Article: Korean 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 Hyecho'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 Seon and Pure Land Buddhism [2]. The aristocratic class embraced the Hwaom doctrine.
Wonhyo (617-686) espoused the Buddha-Nature school, consternated by the division and rivalry of the sects in Silla and Unified Silla. Pure Land Buddhism found an especially enthusiastic following. A faith for the common person, an educated person could adhere and understand the basic principles easily. Commoners had hope that their suffering would end upon death in the Western Paradise where Amitabha lived, the "Pure Land." Thousands left their farms to practice in the mountains as monks.
Confucianism
Confucianism entered unified Silla at this time, beginning to rival Buddhism. In 682, Confucians established the National Confucian College, the name chaning to National Confucian University (Taehakkam)[3] around 750. Only the elite True Bones of Unified Silla society could attend.
The Confucian university introduced a curriculum of the Confucian classics, setting the precedent for the national exam system for the selection of government officals in 1788. The Confucian religion struck at the root of the true bone rank system and the Buddhist religion that supported it. The Silla faction that supported Confucianism, called the head-rank six faction, sought a religion that applied to every day affairs over the Buddhist focus on paradise after death. Kangsu and Seol Chong emerged as two leaders of the Confucian religion in Silla.
Science and Technology
Astronomy and Math. Maintaining a harmony between the forces of yin and yang embered during this period, leading to the development of calendars in unified Silla. The Cheomseongdae obseratory, built at the end of the Three Kingdoms period. Mathematical knowledge advanced in other areas as well, including the design for the "Pagoda of Many Treasures" (Dabota) and Pagoda That Casts On Shadow (Seokgatap) at Bulguksa.
Woodblock printing. Woodblock printing disseminated Buddhist sutras and Confucian works. During a refurbishment of the Pagoda That Casts No Shadows, archeologists discovered an ancient print of a Buddhist sutra. The print of the Dharani sutra dated to 751 C.E., the world's oldest woodblock printing. [4].
Life of the People
In a dynasty with so much wealth and splendor among the aristocracy, the contrast of the poverty of the common people contrasted starkly. Slavery played a dominate role. Most people lived and worked on small farms clustered in villages. They had obligations to give a share of their crop to the governor, covee duty. Free commoners and slaves worked the farm land, giving money to the state and the government officials themselves. The aristocracy used every means to take money from the commoners.
Economy
Before unification, Silla had awarded "tax village" (sigup) to nobles for meritorious service while government officials received pay by governing "stipend villages" (nogup)in which they received taxes and the services of peasants. Shortly after unification, the throne abolished the "stipend villages" replacing them with "office-land" in which governor's received only grain tax. The reform failed, though, with the "stipend village" system returing thus reenhancing noble power over the peasants and the throne.
Decline and Fall of Unified Silla
Silla's political troubles began in 780 when rebel leaders assassinated kings. That 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]
Unified Silla lasted for 267 years until, under King Gyeongsun, it fell to Goryeo in 935.
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
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