Beopheung of Silla

King Beopheung
법흥왕
法興王
King of Silla
Reign514–540
Coronation514
PredecessorJijeung of Silla
SuccessorJinheung of Silla
Died540
Silla
SpouseQueen Kim
Posthumous name
King Beopheung (法興王, 법흥왕)
HouseKim
FatherKing Jijeung of Silla
MotherQueen Yeonje of the Park Clan
Beopheung of Silla
Hangul
법흥왕
Hanja
法興王
Revised RomanizationBeopheung wang
McCune–ReischauerPŏphŭng wang

Beopheung of Silla (r. 514–540 AD) was the 23rd monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was preceded by King Jijeung (r. 500–514) and succeeded by King Jinheung.[1] His name was inscribed on Bongpyeong Silla Stele and Cheonjeonri Petroglyphs as Mojeukji (牟卽智, 另卽智). In chinese literature, his name was written as Mojin (募秦) as well.

By the time of his reign, Buddhism had become fairly common in Silla, as it had been introduced much earlier by Goguryeo monks during King Nulji's reign. One of King Beopheung's ministers, a man named Ichadon, was a Buddhist convert who had even shaved his head and took the tonsure. He constantly implored the king to adopt Buddhism as the state religion, and in fact King Beopheung himself had become fond of Buddha's teachings.[2] However, the other ministers of Silla were greatly opposed to this, and expressed such defiance to the king. Beopheung, having been persuaded by his ministers, was at a crossroads, and encountered great reluctance to change. At this time, Ichadon suggested his own martyrdom and pleaded with the king to execute him in public for the cause of Buddhism. This the king refused to do, and so Ichadon deliberately insulted the ministers of the kingdom, thus provoking the anger of the king. In the end, Ichadon was executed in public, but before his head was cut off, he stated that the blood spilled from his body would not be red but milky white.[3] According to the Samguk Yusa, his predictions proved correct, and Ichadon's milky blood horrified the ministers of the kingdom. As a result of Ichadon's martyrdom, King Beopheung finally chose Buddhism as the state religion. However, true Buddhist freedom in Silla would not begin until the reign of King Jinheung.

Beopheung sent a tribute mission to the Emperor Wu of Liang in 523. This envoy visited Liang China with the help of Baekje. In this tribute, Baekje represents Silla as a subordinate to Baekje. However, Silla acknowledges this because Baekje is needed to guard against Goguryeo and Japan.

  1. ^ "법흥왕" [Beopheung of Silla]. terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  2. ^ "Buddhism: A New Tradition". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Nara to Norwich". Sainbury Institute for the study of Japanese Arts and Cultures. Retrieved 30 August 2023.