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(1) Political Advances by Paekche
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Among the Three Kingdoms,
Paekche was the most active in making advances abroad.
In the mid-4th century, when Dong-Jin was weakened,
Paekche advanced to Liaoxi and Shandong of China, and it
also made inroads into many parts of Kyushu, Japan.
Through these activities, for a time Paekche formed a
large sphere of influence connecting the peninsula with
Liaoxi, Shandong and Japan.
However, after the 5th
century, with the southward push of Koguryo and Chinese
resistence, Paekche's influence was weakened.
The
Kingdom of Kaya also, early on, advanced to Japan. In
various areas of Japan, the activities of Paekche and
Kaya are noticeable and Koguryo also left footprints of
their activities in Japan. |
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| (2) Monks' Study and Their
Activities in China |
After the introduction of
Buddhism, many monks of the Three Kingdoms went to China
to study, and some even travelled to India. A Koguryo
monk named Sungnang grasped the esoteric meanings of
Buddhism and trained a large number of students in China
to become harbingers of Sanlunzong of China.
Kyomik
of Paekche under the reign of King Song traveled to
India and brought back Buddhist books and translated
them together with other monks.
In Shilla, monks
studying abroad were also very fashionable. All of the
high monks of Shilla except Wonhyo learned the Buddhist
canon in China. Among them, Won'gwang and Chajang, after
returning home, contributed greatly to the promotion of
important state policies. |
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| (3) Emigration of People
of the Three Kingdoms to Japan |
The history of ancient
Northeastern Asian society, generally speaking, flows
from the continent toward the ocean, and from cultural
highlands to the lowlands. Riding on this current,
during the prehistoric age Korea introduced metal
civilization to Japan and taught them rice farming. Upon
entering the age of written history, many people
journeyed across to the Japanese archipelago. The
Japanese called these people Toraijin (those from the
Three Kingdoms) and greatly welcomed them for they
brought with them advanced skills and cultures to help
civilize ancient Japan. As conflicts among the Three
Kingdoms intensified and social confusion increased, a
considerable number of people emigrated to
Japan.
These emigrants resided in groups in the
Yamato district in the heart of Japan as an influencial
force of the times, taking charge of political and
cultural activities in Japan. They displayed their
ability to develop underdeveloped areas. The useable
wilderness and swamps of Musashino in today's Tokyo are
the gifts of immigrant groups from Koguryo under the
leadership of Yakkwang (Wakamitsu). |
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| (4) Diffusion of Cultures
of the Three Kingdoms to Japan |
The cultures which were
developed during the Three Kingdoms period were
propagated to Japan and greatly influenced the formation
and development of ancient Japanese culture. Especially,
the Paekche culture influenced the development of the
Asuka culture.
Ajikki and Wang In of Paekche taught
Chinese characters to the Japanese, and Tan Yang-i and
Ko An-mu, among the five-classic scholars, taught
Confucianism in Japan. Under the reign of King Song,
Norisach'igye was sent to Japan to introduce Buddhism
with Buddhist images and sutras. From Paekche, monks,
temple-building architects and Buddhist art
manufacturers were sent to influence the development of
Buddhism and culture in Japan. |
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<===
Gilt-bronze image of a seated
Maitreya, deep in thought. Designated National
Treasure No. 83.
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Wooden
image of Maitreya. Property of the Kwangboksa
Temple in Kyoto, Japan. Designated Japanese
National Treasure No. 1.
===>
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Tamjing of Koguryo taught
literature and painting in Japan. The fresco in the
Golden Hall of Horyuji Temple, of which Japan is proud,
is believed to have been painted by him. The Koguryo
monk Hyeja and Paekche monk Hyech'ong became the royal
tutors of Crown Prince Shotoku and led the spread of
Buddhism in Japan.
The frescos in the Takamatsu old
tomb best display the relationship between Koguryo and
ancient Japan.
Particularly Paekche, among the Three
Kingdoms, introduced many kinds of learnings and
technology to Japan and became the driving force of the
golden age of the Asuka culture.
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