Sangdaedeung

Sangdaedeung 上大等 (translated as Extraordinary Rank One) was an office of the Silla state. The Sangdaedeung was chosen from among those men of “true bone” (jingeol) lineage in Silla‘s strict aristocratic social order. He precided over the Hwabaek Council 和白, an advisory and decision–making committee composed of other high–ranking aristocrats holding the office of Daedeung 大等. The council‘s primary duties lay in rendering decisions on important state matters, such as succession to the throne and declarations of war. [Lee, Ki–baik. "A New History of Korea" (translated by Edward W. Wagner with Edward J. Shultz). (Cambridge, MA:Harvard University Press, 1984), p. 53.] Its existence dated back to the early Silla state and reflected that state‘s tribal origins. Throughout Silla history the Hwabaek Council led by the Sangdaedeung served as a check on the king‘s authority.

During the middle period of Silla, following that state‘s unification of the peninsula, the focus of government authority shifted from the Hwabaek Council and Sangdaedeung to the Chancellery Office (Jipsabu 執事部) and its Chief Minister (Sijung 侍中, or alternately Jungsi 中侍), an office instituted in Silla in 651 as the highest organ in the central government apparatus. This reflected the monarchy‘s efforts to curb the power of an independent nobility by relying on the Chinese inspired Jipsabu rather than the Council of Nobles, whose existence was predicated on age old aristocratic and clan prerogatives. In the wake of several challenges to his authority King Sinmun dared even execute the Sangdaedeung Gungwan in 681 for complicity in the revolt of Kim Heumdol 金欽突.

Despite these attempts to limit its power, the office of Sangdaedeung remained until the end of Silla the highest and most prestigious office one could attain short of the throne itself. In the later period of Silla, during which the throne was continuously contested, several monarchs emerged from the office of Sangdaedeung.

Sangdaedeung was also referred to as Sangsin 上臣.

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