Hyeokgeose of Silla, also known by his personal full name as Bak Hyeokgeose, was the founding monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the progenitor of all Bak clans in Korea. His other names in Japanese historical records include,, in 日本書紀 and in 古事記.
Name
His title Geoseogan or Geoseulhan, means "king" in the language of the Jinhan confederacy, the group of chiefdoms in the southeast of the Korean Peninsula. "Hyeokgeose" was not a personal name, but the hanja for his honorific name, pronounced "Bulgeunae" in archaic Korean, meaning "bright world." 赫 hyeok, a Chinese character that means "bright, radiant, glowing", is used to transcribe the Korean adjective stem 븕 bylg- > 붉 bulg- "red". 居 geo, a Chinese character that means "live, dwell, reside, sit," is used to transcribe the Korean prenominal adjective inflection ㄴ -n ~ 은 -eun "~ that is, ~ which is." 世 se, a Chinese character that means "generation; world; era," is used to transcribe an ancient word related to the obsolescent Korean word 뉘 nuy ~ 누리 nuri "world."
Founding legend
The Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa describe the founding of Silla by Hyeokgeose. Refugees of Gojoseon lived in the valleys of present-day Gyeongsang-do, South Korea, in six villages called Yangsan, Goheo, Jinji, Daesu, Gari, and Goya. In 69 BC, the heads of the six chiefdoms gathered to discuss forming a kingdom and selecting a king. In the forest, at a well called Najeong at Yangsan, a strange light shone from the sky, and a white horse was bowed down. Chief Sobeolgong of Goheo discovered a large egg there. A boy came out of the egg, and when bathed, his body radiated light and birds and beasts danced. Sobeolgong raised him, and the six chieftains revered him. The chieftains made him king when he became 13 years old. The state was named Seorabeol. Upon becoming king, he married Lady Aryeong, who is said to have been born from the ribs of a dragon. Hyeokgeose is a son of Lady Saso who is from Chinese royal family and moved to Jinhan confederacy.
Historical context
This legend reflects developments in the city-state stage, the six chieftains representing a loose group of Gojoseon refugees. The story implies the ascendency of the Bak clan over the native peoples, and may indicate horse and sun worship. The founding date is widely questioned today, as the Samguk Sagi was written from the viewpoint of Silla, claiming Silla's superiority and antiquity over Goguryeo and Baekje. Silla in this traditional thinking is thought to have been founded first, followed by Goguryeo, and then Baekje. Archaeological evidence, however, paints a different picture, and it is suspected that Goguryeo is the oldest of the three kingdoms, with Silla developing either concurrently with Baekje or after it.
Reign
According to the Samguk Sagi, Hyeokgeose and his queen traveled the realm in 41 BC, helping the people improve their harvests. The people praised them as the Two Saints or Two Holy Ones. In 37 BC Hyeokgeose built Geumseong in the capital city, and in 32 BC he built a royal palace inside. The Chinese Lelang commandery invaded in 28 BC but seeing that the people enjoyed piles of grain and did not lock their doors at night, called Silla a moral nation and retreated. In 20 BC, the king of the Mahan confederacy demanded a tribute. Silla sent Hogong, who was a minister of Silla. The king was angry that Silla sent Hogong and not a tribute. Hogong criticized the king's impoliteness with fortitude. The king was angry at him and tried to kill him, but nearby subordinates stopped the king, and he was permitted to return to Silla. In 20 BC, Hyeokgeose also sent an emissary upon the death of the Mahan king in 19 BC. In 5 BC, East Okjeo sent an emissary, and Hyeokgeose presented him with 20 horses.
Death and succession
Hyeokgeose ruled for around 60 years, and set the foundation for a kingdom that would unify much of the Korean Peninsula in 668. Hyeokgeose maintained control over his kingdom and was one of the fewPark rulers to hold complete power over Silla. He died at age 73, and was buried in Sareung, north of Dameomsa. Hyeokgeose was succeeded by his eldest son Namhae.
Legacy
Though not much is known about Hyeokgeose, his many legacies and reminders survive to this day. One of them being his numerous descendants, the Park clans of Korea, who are numbered as the third largest group of people with a common last name. All the Park clans in Korea trace their ancestry back to the first king of Silla, Bak Hyeokgeose. Another legacy was the kingdom that he established. The fact that he founded the Silla kingdom remained under high respects and great consideration by Gyeongju Gim clan and Wolseong Seok clan throughout Silla's history.
