From the 1st century A.D., three
ancient kingdoms emerged with Koguryo at the head, and Paekche
and Shilla soon following. Koguryo developed into a powerful
nation and acted as a bulwark against the aggressive northern
nations and China. During this time, the kingdoms of Paekche
and Shilla developed rapidly. This increased friction between
the Three Kingdoms. These Three Kingdoms were unified by the
last of the developed kingdoms, Shilla, thereby marking the
first national unity. On the other hand, in Manchuria, the old
cradle of Koguryo, Parhae was firmly established and
undergoing distinct development. The Three Kingdoms developed
as aristocrat-centered societies, and the aristocrats became
the leaders of the culture. The Three Kingdoms accepted
Buddhism, which greatly advanced and expanded the scope of
their culture. In this way, the Three Kingdoms developed a
colorful and refined aristocrat-centered Buddhist culture
which was eventually introduced to Japan and greatly
influenced the development of its ancient culture.
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