Biryu (?-?) was the second son of

Jumong Chumo (Hangul: 추모, Hanja: 鄒牟), posthumously Chumo the Holy (Hangul: 추모성왕, Hanja: 鄒牟聖王), was the founding monarch of the kingdom of Goguryeo, and was worshipped as a god-king by the people of Goguryeo and Goryeo. ''Chumo ...

and

So Seo-no Soseono (66/7 – 6 BCE) or Yeon Soseono () was the second wife of King Dongmyeong and a key figure in the establishment of both Goguryeo and Baekje. She was the mother of Biryu and Onjo, whom they were her sons from her first marriage with Wut ...

, and older brother of

Onjo Onjo (?–28, r. 18 BC – AD 28) was the founding monarch of Baekje (백제, 百濟), one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. According to the ''Samguk Sagi'' (삼국사기, 三國史記), he founded the royal family of Baekje. Background There ...

, the traditionally recognized founder of

Baekje Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...

(18 BCE–660 CE), which was one of the

Three Kingdoms of Korea Samhan or the Three Kingdoms of Korea () refers to the three kingdoms of Goguryeo (고구려, 高句麗), Baekje (백제, 百濟), and Silla (신라, 新羅). Goguryeo was later known as Goryeo (고려, 高麗), from which the modern name ''Kor ...

. In an alternate legend, Biryu himself is described as the founder of Baekje.

The Record of Baekje Founding

The Korean history compilation ''

Samguk Sagi ''Samguk Sagi'' (, ''History of the Three Kingdoms'') is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The ''Samguk Sagi'' is written in Classical Chinese, the written language of the literati of ancient Korea, ...

'' presents two founding legends of Baekje, one crediting Onjo, and an alternate crediting Biryu. The ''Samguk Sagi'' relays only Onjo's descendants, not Biryu's, as the royal dynasty of Baekje. However, Biryu's descendants are thought to have maintained enough influence in Baekje for this legend to survive. According to the main account given in the ''Samguk Sagi'', Biryu settled in Michuhol, thought to be today's

Incheon Incheon (; ; or Inch'ŏn; literally "kind river"), formerly Jemulpo or Chemulp'o (제물포) until the period after 1910, officially the Incheon Metropolitan City (인천광역시, 仁川廣域市), is a city located in northwestern South Kore ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. Onjo first settled north of the Han River, but later moved his capital to Hanam (meaning "south of the river")

Wiryeseong Wiryeseong was the name of two early capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Both are believed to have been in the modern-day Seoul area. According to ''Samguk Sagi'' (the oldest surviving Korean history book, written in the 12th ...

() in or near today's

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

. When the Michuhol land proved to be inhospitable, Biryu and his people went to

, demanding that he be the King of

. After Onjo refused, Biryu declared war and attacked Hanam, but failed to conquer it and committed suicide.네이버 백과사전
/ref> Later, the two groups merged to become Baekje. Biryu is also recorded in the ''Haedong goseungjeon'' ( / ). A river and a statelet absorbed into Goguryeo shared his name. The 11th king

Biryu Biryu (?-?) was the second son of Jumong and So Seo-no, and older brother of Onjo, the traditionally recognized founder of Baekje (18 BCE–660 CE), which was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In an alternate legend, Biryu himsel ...

and the 20th king Biyu of Baekje also apparently took their names from him.

Popular culture

* Portrayed by Lee Jae Suk in the 2006 MBC TV series ''

''. * Portrayed by Doo Soo in the 2010-2011

KBS1 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

TV series ''

The King of Legend ''The King of Legend'' (; literally ''King Geunchogo'') is a 2010 South Korean historical drama based on King Geunchogo of Baekje. Besides historical information from Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa, it was also inspired by a novel written by Lee M ...

''. *Portrayed by Hong Jung Hyun in the 2017 KBS TV series ''

Chronicles of Korea Chronicles may refer to: * ''Books of Chronicles'', in the Bible * Chronicle, chronological histories * ''The Chronicles of Narnia'', a novel series by C. S. Lewis * ''Holinshed's Chronicles'', the collected works of Raphael Holinshed * ''The Idhu ...

.''

Notes

References

The Academy of Korean StudiesKorea Britannica
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biryu Baekje