Gwisil Boksin (鬼室福信, ? – 663) was a military general 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 ...
, 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 ...
. He is remembered primarily as a leader of the Baekje Revival Movement to restore the kingdom after the capital fell in 660 to the
Silla–Tang alliance.
Background
The
Gwisil clan
The Gwisil clan (Kwi-sil; 鬼室氏, Japanese: Kishitsu) were a collateral branch of the royal family of the Korean kingdom of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea who settled in Japan. They descended from the third son of the 26th king, S ...
was a collateral branch of the royal family descending from a younger son of the 26th king,
Seong of Baekje
Seong of Baekje (also ''Holy King'', died 554) (r. 523–554) was the 26th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was a son of Muryeong of Baekje and is best known for making Buddhism the state religion, moving the national ca ...
. Boksin was therefore a distant cousin of Baekje's last recognized king,
Uija of Baekje
Uija of Baekje (599?–660, r. 641–660) was the 31st and final ruler of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. His reign ended when Baekje was conquered by an alliance of the rival Korean kingdom Silla and China's Tang dynasty.
Backg ...
. His father was named Gwisil Jeongin (鬼室貞仁) and seems to be the first to take the name "''Gwisil''". His name is also romanized as "''Kwisil Poksin''" and in Japan his name is read "''Kishitsu Fukushin''". As a relative to the royal family he held the highest rank in court as a minister (''Sahe'', 佐平).
The earliest mention of him is dated August 627 when a certain 'nephew' of King
Mu of Baekje
King Mu of Baekje (580–641) (r. 600–641) was the 30th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the 4th son of King Wideok.
Background
During his reign, the Three Kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla) were at war with e ...
named Boksin (福信) or Shinbok (信福) is dispatched as an envoy to the court of the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...
. At this time he held the rank of Dalsol (達率, 2nd court rank).
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang (28January 59810July 649), previously Prince of Qin, personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is traditionally regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty ...
dictated that
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 ...
and
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
would stop their attacks on
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...
but in February, 628 Baekje underwent a military coup and they attacked Silla, breaking the agreement.
Fall of Baekje
In 660, Baekje was attacked by the allied armies of
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...
and
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...
China. The capital, Sabi, was taken, but Boksin resisted near modern-day
Yesan
Yesan () is a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Famous people from Yesan include independence fighter Yoon Bong-Gil.
Sudeoksa, a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, is located on the southern slopes of Deoksung ...
. After King Uija's surrender to Tang dynasty China, Boksin and the monk
Dochim
Dochim (died 661) was a Buddhist monk of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is remembered primarily as a leader of a movement for the restoration of Baekje after the kingdom fell in 660 along with Gwisil Boksin.
In 660, Baekje was ...
kindled a restoration movement. They sent for the prince
Buyeo Pung
Buyeo Pung (扶餘豊, 623–668) was a prince of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was son of the last king, Uija of Baekje. When Baekje fell to the Silla–Tang alliance in 660, he was a hostage who mortgaged the alliance of Bae ...
, who had been living as a hostage in
Yamato period
The is the period of Japanese history when the Imperial court ruled from modern-day Nara Prefecture, then known as Yamato Province.
While conventionally assigned to the period 250–710, including both the Kofun period (–538) and the Asuka ...
Japan, an important Baekje ally. With some Japanese aid, they gathered the remnants of the Baekje army and launched a series of attacks on the Silla-Tang forces.
Death
![Juryu Fortress](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Juryu_Fortress.jpg)
In 663, Silla and Tang counterattacked, and besieged the restoration movement at a fortress known as Juryu Castle (주류성/周留城). At this point Boksin appears to have betrayed the restoration movement. He had
Dochim
Dochim (died 661) was a Buddhist monk of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is remembered primarily as a leader of a movement for the restoration of Baekje after the kingdom fell in 660 along with Gwisil Boksin.
In 660, Baekje was ...
killed and sought to slay Prince Pung as well. However, Pung killed him first, and fled to
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
. The restoration movement was destroyed shortly thereafter at the
Battle of Baekgang
The Battle of Baekgang or Battle of Baekgang-gu, also known as Battle of Hakusukinoe ( ja, 白村江の戦い, Hakusuki-no-e no Tatakai / Hakusonkō no Tatakai) in Japan, as Battle of Baijiangkou ( zh, c=白江口之战, p=Bāijiāngkǒu Zhīzh ...
.
Excerpt from ''
Nihon Shoki'':
*"''Vanguard shogun Kamitsukeno no Kimi Wakako took Silla’s twin castles in Sabikinue. The Baekje King Pungjang suspected Boksin of treachery, and so made holes in the palms of his hands and bound him with a leather cord. Then he asked the myriad ministers, “Boksin’s crime is this. Shall we behead him or no?” Then Tatsusotsu Deok Jipdeuk said, “This evil betrayer cannot be released.” Then Boksin spat on Jipdeuk and said, “You rotten dog.” The king ordered a strong man to behead Boksin and pickle his neck.''"
The location of Juryu Castle, at which Boksin's life came to an end, is now generally believed to be
Ugeumam Mountain Fortress in
Buan County
Buan County (''Buan-gun'') is a county in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is bounded by the city of Jeongeup on the east, the county of Gochang on the south, the city of Gimje on the north, and Yellow Sea on the west. Buan is divided into 1 ...
,
North Jeolla
North Jeolla Province (; ''Jeollabuk-do''), also known as Jeonbuk, is a province of South Korea. North Jeolla has a population of 1,869,711 (2015) and has a geographic area of 8,067 km2 (3,115 sq mi) located in the Honam region in the southwest ...
br>
Rites to propitiate the spirits of Boksin and Dochim are still held annually at the village of
Eunsan-ri in
Buyeo County
Buyeo County (''Buyeo-gun'') is a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Buyeo-eup, the county's capital, was the site of the capital of Baekje from 538-660 AD, during which it was called Sabi Fortress.
Famous people associated with B ...
, near the ancient Baekje capital.
Legacy
He had two sons, Gwisil Jipsin (鬼室集信) and
Gwisil Jipsa
Gwisil Jipsa (鬼室集斯, ? – 688), was the son of Gwisil Boksin (鬼室福信), a general of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The Gwisil clan was a collateral branch of the royal family, the Buyeo clan (扶餘氏). He settled in ...
(鬼室集斯) who both settled in Japan. Jipsa is recorded in the ''
Nihon Shoki'' as coming to Japan in the eight year of Emperor Tenji (676) and became ancestor of several Japanese clans including the
Kikuchi clan
The of Higo Province was a powerful daimyō family of Higo, Kyūshū. The lineage was renowned for valiant service in defense of the emperor and against foreign invaders. They initially distinguished themselves during the Jürchen invasion of ...
of
Higo Province,
Kyushu
is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surroun ...
.
Hong Hong may refer to:
Places
*Høng, a town in Denmark
*Hong Kong, a city and a special administrative region in China
*Hong, Nigeria
*Hong River in China and Vietnam
*Lake Hong in China
Surnames
*Hong (Chinese name)
*Hong (Korean name)
Organiz ...
, Wontack. (1994). ''Paekche of Korea and the Origin of Yamato Japan''. Seoul: Kudara International.
Popular culture
* Portrayed by Kim Young-ki in the 2012-2013
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 ''
Dream of the Emperor
''Dream of the Emperor'' () is a South Korean television series that aired on KBS1 from September 8, 2012 to June 9, 2013 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:40 for 70 episodes.
Plot
Kim Chun-chu is the grandson of King Jinji, but when his grandfat ...
''.
See also
*
Gwisil
The Gwisil clan (Kwi-sil; 鬼室氏, Japanese: Kishitsu) were a collateral branch of the royal family of the Korean kingdom of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea who settled in Japan. They descended from the third son of the 26th king, Se ...
*
History of Korea
The Lower Paleolithic era in the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago.
Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825.
The earlies ...
*
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 ...
*
Dochim
Dochim (died 661) was a Buddhist monk of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is remembered primarily as a leader of a movement for the restoration of Baekje after the kingdom fell in 660 along with Gwisil Boksin.
In 660, Baekje was ...
*
Uija of Baekje
Uija of Baekje (599?–660, r. 641–660) was the 31st and final ruler of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. His reign ended when Baekje was conquered by an alliance of the rival Korean kingdom Silla and China's Tang dynasty.
Backg ...
*
Buyeo Pung
Buyeo Pung (扶餘豊, 623–668) was a prince of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was son of the last king, Uija of Baekje. When Baekje fell to the Silla–Tang alliance in 660, he was a hostage who mortgaged the alliance of Bae ...
*
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 ...
*
List of monarchs of Korea
This is a list of monarchs of Korea, arranged by dynasty. Names are romanized according to the South Korean Revised Romanization of Korean. McCune–Reischauer romanizations may be found at the articles about the individual monarchs.
Gojoseon
...
Notes
References
*
Hong Hong may refer to:
Places
*Høng, a town in Denmark
*Hong Kong, a city and a special administrative region in China
*Hong, Nigeria
*Hong River in China and Vietnam
*Lake Hong in China
Surnames
*Hong (Chinese name)
*Hong (Korean name)
Organiz ...
, Wontack. (1994). ''Paekche of Korea and the Origin of Yamato Japan''. Seoul: Kudara International.
* https://web.archive.org/web/20061220223926/http://gias.snu.ac.kr/wthong/
* https://web.archive.org/web/20080827190959/http://www.himemiko.info/2006/01/
* https://web.archive.org/web/20071113135549/http://www.kansai.gr.jp/culture_e/ibunka/monuments/siga/index.html
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gwisil, Boksin
663 deaths
Baekje people
Year of birth unknown