Jijeung of Silla

King Jijeung
지증왕
智證王
King Jijeung's tomb
King of Silla
Reign500–514
Coronation500
PredecessorSoji of Silla
SuccessorBeopheung of Silla
Born437
Died514
Silla
Burial
Posthumous name
King Jijeung (智證王, 지증왕)
FatherGalmunwang Seupbo
MotherLady Kim
Jijeung of Silla
Hunminjeongeum
지증왕
Hanja
智證王
Revised RomanizationJijeung wang
McCune–ReischauerChijŭng wang
Birth name
Hunminjeongeum
김지대로
Hanja
金智大路 or 金智度路
Revised RomanizationGim Jidaero
McCune–ReischauerKim Chidaero

Jijeung (437–514) (r. 500–514) was the 22nd ruler and 1st king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is remembered for strengthening royal authority and building Silla into a centralized kingdom. On the contemporary Naengsuri silla monument, his name was inscribed as Jidoro(至都盧).

Like many Silla kings, Jijeung was of royal blood on both sides. His father was the Galmunwang Kim Seup-bo, who was a grandson of Naemul Isageum. His mother was Lady Josaeng, the daughter of Nulji Isageum.

Jijeung began his program of legal reform in 502, when he outlawed the custom of burying servants with their masters. In 503, he formally established the country's name as "Silla," it having previously been represented by a variety of Chinese characters. At the same time, he took the title of wang, meaning "king"; he had previously borne the native Silla title of maripgan.

Jijeung continued this program in the following years, with a reform of ceremonial dress in 504 and of local administration in 505. In that reform, he incorporated the old territory of Siljik-guk into the Silla administrative system. He established a market in eastern Gyeongju in 509. In 512, he sent Kim Isabu to conquer the island nation of Usan-guk.[1]

After his death, Jijeung received a temple name, the name by which he is now known. He was the first Silla king to receive a temple name.

King Jijeung's tomb is believed to be Cheonmachong.[2] The height of the deceased at Cheonmachong is estimated to be around 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm).[3]

  1. ^ "General Isabu of Silla Kingdom Incorporated Dokdo into Korean History". KBS World. December 29, 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  2. ^ "백55호 고분은 지증왕릉". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 1973-09-19. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  3. ^ ""慶州(경주) 155號(호) 古墳(고분) 金冠(금관) 「榮華(영화)의 主人(주인)」은 누구"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 1973-07-29. Retrieved 2024-01-17.