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(1) Societies and Economies of the
Three Kingdoms |
In the Three Kingdoms, class
distinctions between the aristocracy, commoners and
menials were very rigid. The central aristocrats and
royal families were in charge of the government,
economy, and culture, and exercised many privileges. The
commoners were mostly self-sustaining farmers who
cultivated their own lands and paid taxes to the
government. The menials were slaves and villagers in
Pugok who composed the lowest stratum in society.
The
ruling classes were the families of the kings and
queens. In Koguryo the Ko clan of Kyerubu became the
royal family, and in Paekche the Puyo clan was the royal
family. In early Shilla the three clans of Pak, Sok and
Kim alternated in succeeding the throne, but after King
Naemul, the Kims inherited the throne. In Shilla there
was a strict system of personal status called Kolp'um
which was distinguished into Songgol, Chin'gol (royal
family) and 6,5,4,-tup'ums (classes of aristocrats).
Among them many aristocrats of the 6-tup'um chiefly
engaged in scholarly pursuits and religion.
In
Shilla, there was the Hwabaek system in which
representative aristocrats gathered to determine
important affairs of the state unanimously. There was
also a youth organization called Hwarang-do (Flower
Youths) which trained many capable men who, following
the five secular commandments of Won'gwang, received
mental and physical training and had loyalty to the
state inculcated in them. The Three Kingdoms developed
as ancient kingdoms readjusting their political
organizations. In Koguryo, there were 12 classes of
bureaucrats below Taedaero and in Paekche there were 16
classes below Chwap'yong.
In Shilla, there were 17
classes of bureaucrats below Ibolch'an. Advancement to
officialdom was strictly restricted to those of Kolp'um
status, and the political activities of the Three
Kingdoms were carried out through the unified efforts of
the aristocrats. Taedaero in Koguryo and Sangdaedung in
Shilla (equivalent to premier) were chosen at meetings
of aristocrats.
In the Three Kingdoms, agriculture
developed as the most important industry. In Paekche and
Shilla, irrigation facilities expanded with rice
farming. In Koguryo, millet, soybeans and other dry farm
crops were the chief crops. In addition, handicrafts
were also developed. In the Three Kingdoms, the practice
of usury boomed, and many commoners were driven to
become slaves as a result of heavy debt. In Koguryo, the
government practiced Chindae-pop, a law of loaning grain
in the spring and being repaid in the autumn, to prevent
impoverished peasants from turning into the slaves of
aristocrats. |
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Hwarang
training
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| (2) Transmission and
Development of Buddhism |
While the Three Kingdoms
developed as ancient kingdoms, they required a new
religion for spiritual unity of their people. Just at
this period, Buddhism, which began in India, was
introduced into the Three Kingdoms through China. In
Koguryo, during the reign of King Sosurim, Shundao from
Former Qin in northern China introduced Buddhism in 372.
In the kingdom of Paekche, an Indian monk named
Marananta arrived by sea through Dong-Jin China to
introduce Buddhism in 384. Buddhism was first introduced
to Shilla in 384 by Mukhoja, a priest from Koguryo, but
it was subjected to oppression. After a hundred years,
following the martydom of a famous monk named Yi
Ch'a-don, King Pophung officially recognized Buddhism in
527.
Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms flourished with
the support of the royal family and the aristocrats. In
this way, Buddhism became the state religion, which
contributed to the national defense. This was especially
true in Shilla where Buddhism was combined with the
development of the royal family to play a leading role
as the national ideology. Taoism was also introduced to
the Three Kingdoms. In the Sasindo drawn on the old tomb
of Koguryo and in the Sangyong Munjon of Paekche, traces
of Taoism can be found. |
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| (3) Popularization of
Confucianism and the Compilation of History
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Upon entering the period of
the Three Kingdoms, Chinese characters began to be
widely used, and Confucianism and Chinese literature
began to rise in popularity. In addition, the writing
system of Idu was used in which Korean words were
recorded by selecting the corresponding meaning and
sounds in Chinese characters. Shilla's Sol Ch'ong
designed this system Idu.
In Koguryo, a school called
T'aehak was established in P'yong'yang to teach
Confucianism, and schools called Kyongdang were set up
in many districts to teach Chinese characters and
military arts to the youth. In Paekche, the Ogyong
scholars taught the Confucian classics to
students.
All three kingdoms tried to compile their
own histories. In Koguryo, 100 volumes of Yugi were
compiled and under the reign of King Yongyang, Yi
Mun-jin compiled them into five concise volumes. Ko Hung
of Paekche compiled Sogi during the reign of Kunch'ogo,
and Koch'ilbu of Shilla compiled Kuksa, a record of the
national history under the reign of King Chinhung. But
the history books compiled during the Three Kingdoms
period have not survived to today. |
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Image of Buddhas etched into a stone
wall. Ch'ilbulsa Temple on Mt.Namsan in Kyongju
city. Designated Treasure No.
200.
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| (4) Art Activities of the
Three Kingdoms |
With an aristocrat-centered
culture rising, refined and colorful aristocratic art
developed, and simple traditional artwork remained among
the people.
The arts of the Three Kingdoms developed
in two fields-old tomb art and Buddhist art. Physical
strength and passion overflowed in the Koguryo art work
while elegant and refined beauty was characteristic of
Paekche art objects, and Shilla art objects gradually
displayed a beauty of harmony.
The famous old tombs
of Koguryo are Changgun-ch'ong (Tomb of the Generals),
Muyong-ch'ong (Tomb of the Dancers and Hunters),
Ssangyong-ch'ong (The Double Pillar Tombs) and the
Kangso-daemyo (The Great Tombs).
Among them, the
Changgun-ch'ong is believed to be the tomb of King
Kwanggaet'o. It is a big stone tomb with steps of
seven-stories. The hunters and dancers drawn in the
Muyong-ch'ong, pictures of warriors and their genre
painted in the Ssangyong-ch'ong, and the pictures of 4
guardian spirits as embodied by different animals in the
Kangso Big Tombs are all brilliant frescos which
represent the ambitious spirit and customs of the
Koguryo people at that time. Paekche's old tombs possess
a powerful beauty in their architecture and frescos. The
tomb of King Munyong is famous for the many burial
accessories and the slate inscribed with the record of
the deceased. Gold crowns and beautiful art works have
been excavated from the old tombs of Shilla and the
picture of a heavenly horse which represents Shilla's
emblem has been found in the Ch'onmach'ong.
Among the
stone pagodas of Paekche, the pagoda located on the site
of Maitreya Temple in Iksan and the five-story stone
pagoda on the site of Chongnimsa Temple in Puyo are the
most renowned. In particular, the five-story pagoda on
the site of Chongnimsa Temple, which is representative
of Paekche art, is well balanced and is a beautifully
executed masterpiece. The most distinct stone
constructions of Shilla are the pagodas in Punhwangsa
Temple and the Ch'omsongdae observatory.
Remarkable
Buddha figures include the gold-plated figure of Buddha
sitting with his legs half-crossed and Sosan's Three
Buddhas of Ma'e. The former expressed elegance
(frequently produced in each of the Three Kingdoms), and
the latter represents the typical features of Buddhist
images present in Paekche. It shows a thin mild smile on
its face called "Paekche's smile."
From ancient
times the Korean people have loved songs and dances.
Among the songs of the Three Kingdoms, Hyesongga, a
Hyangga (folk song) of Shilla, remains. Wang San-ak of
Koguryo improved the seven-string instrument of China,
Ch'ilhyongum, into Komungo and U Ruk of Kaya introduced
the Kayagum to Shilla. Paekche music was introduced to
Japan and influenced the development of Japanese music.
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5-story
stone pagpda at Chongnimsa Temple.
7th
century. |
Ch'omsongdae in
Kyongju. | |
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| Image og three Buddhas etched into a
stone wall. Sosan. South Ch'ungchong province.
Designated National Treasure No.
84. |
The
brick tomb og King
Munyong(501-523) | | |
