Baekje

Baekje
百濟 (Hanja)
백제 (Hangul)
18 BCE–660 CE
Baekje in the 4th century, during the reign of King Geunchogo
Baekje in the 4th century, during the reign of King Geunchogo
StatusKingdom
Capital
Common languagesBaekje,
Classical Chinese (literary)
Religion
Official Religion: Buddhism
[2]
Demonym(s)Yemaek
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
• 18 BCE – 28 CE
Onjo (first)
• 346–375
Geunchogo
• 523–554
Seong
• 600–641
Mu
• 641–660
Uija (last)
LegislatureJeongsaam Council [ko]
Historical eraAncient
• Establishment
18 BCE
• Campaigns of King Geunchogo
346–375
• Introduction of Buddhism
385
• Fall of Sabi
18 July 660 CE
Population
• 7th century
Approximately 3,800,000 (760,000 households) [5]
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Buyeo
Goguryeo
Mahan confederacy
Unified Silla
Today part ofNorth Korea
South Korea
Korean name
Hangul
백제
Hanja
百濟
Revised RomanizationBaekje
McCune–ReischauerPaekche
IPA[pɛk̚.tɕ͈e]

Baekje or Paekche[6] (Korean백제; Hanja百濟; Korean pronunciation: [pɛk̚.tɕ͈e]) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BCE[1] to 660 CE. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the highest population of approximately 3,800,000 people (760,000 households), which was much larger than that of Silla (850,000 people) and similar to that of Goguryeo (3,500,000 people).[5]

Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jumong and Soseono, at Wiryeseong (present-day southern Seoul). Baekje, like Goguryeo, claimed to succeed Buyeo, a state established in present-day Manchuria around the time of Gojoseon's fall.

Baekje alternately battled and allied with Goguryeo and Silla as the three kingdoms expanded control over the peninsula. At its peak in the 4th century, Baekje controlled most of the western Korean peninsula, as far north as Pyongyang, and may have even held territories in China, such as in Liaoxi, though this view is controversial. It became a significant regional sea power, with political and trade relations with China and Japan.

Baekje was a great maritime power;[7] its nautical skill, which made it the Phoenicia of East Asia, was instrumental in the dissemination of Buddhism throughout East Asia and continental culture to Japan.[8][9]

In 660, it was defeated by the Tang dynasty and Silla, and was ultimately submitted to Unified Silla.

  1. ^ a b "Korea, 1–500 A.D." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. October 2000. Archived from the original on 14 November 2015.
  2. ^ Lee Injae, Owen Miller, Park Jinhoon, Yi Hyun-Hae, 2014, Korean History in Maps, Cambridge University Press, pp. 44–49, 52–60.
  3. ^ "Koguryo". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  4. ^ Il-yeon (1281). Samgungnyusa.
  5. ^ a b Chosun Education (2016). "[ 기획 ] 역사로 살펴본 한반도 인구 추이".
  6. ^ "Paekche". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  7. ^ Ebrey, Walthall & Palais 2006, p. 123.
  8. ^ Kitagawa, Joseph (2013). The Religious Traditions of Asia: Religion, History, and Culture. Routledge. p. 348. ISBN 9781136875908.
  9. ^ Ebrey, Walthall & Palais 2013, p. 104.