Mu of Baekje

Mu of Baekje
Hangul	무왕
Hanja	武王
Revised Romanization	Mu-wang
McCune–Reischauer	Mu-wang
Birth name
Hangul	장, also 무강 or 헌병
Hanja	璋, also 武康 or 獻丙
Revised Romanization	Jang, also Mugang or Heonbyeong
McCune–Reischauer	Chang, also Mugang or Hŏnbyŏng
Childhood name
Hangul	서동
Hanja	暑童
Revised Romanization	Seodong
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏdong

Monarchs of Korea Baekje

Onjo 18 BCE–29 CE Daru 29–77 Giru 77–128 Gaeru 128–166 Chogo 166–214 Gusu 214–234 Saban 234 Goi 234–286 Chaekgye 286–298 Bunseo 298–304 Biryu 304–344 Gye 344–346 Geunchogo 346–375 Geungusu 375–384 Chimnyu 384–385 Jinsa 385–392 Asin 392–405 Jeonji 405–420 Guisin 420–427 Biyu 427–455 Gaero 455–475 Munju 475–477 Samgeun 477–479 Dongseong 479–501 Muryeong 501–523 Seong 523–554 Wideok 554–598 Hye 598–599 Beop 599–600 Mu 600–641 Uija 641–660

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 son of King Wideok.^[1][2]

Background

During his reign, the Three Kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla) were at war with each other, as alliances shifted and the neighboring China also experienced a change of dynasties.

Because reliable historical sources are hard to find for the Three Kingdoms period, the specifics of Mu's policies are not known.

Reign

Early in his reign, Mu attacked Silla several times. He also requested assistance from Sui Dynasty of China to attack Goguryeo. Following the Goguryeo-Sui War, the Sui was replaced by the Tang Dynasty in China in 618.

In 627, he attempted to recover land lost to Silla, but stopped when Tang intervened diplomatically. The same year, he sent the Buddhist monk Gwalleuk to Japan with texts on Buddhism, astronomy, history, and geography.

He formally established the Mireuksa temple in 602. He is also said to have ordered the repair of Baekje's Sabi Palace in 630, and the construction near his palace of the earliest known artificial lake in Korea ^[3]. His policies in the latter half of his reign, which emphasized construction projects at the expense of national defence, are often thought to have contributed to the fall of Baekje which took place twenty years after his death.

There is reason to believe that he moved the capital of Baekje from Sabi in Buyeo County to Iksan, at least briefly. Archaeological evidence in Iksan, including tombs attributed to Mu and his wife Queen Seonhwa, appears to confirm this. ^[4]

Mu retained close ties with Tang China, but Tang later allied with Silla in the wars that ultimately unified the Korean Peninsula under Silla's rule by 668.

Seodong-yo

The Samguk Yusa relates a legend regarding Mu's marriage to a princess of Silla, although historians consider it unlikely to be true, given the hostilities between the rival kingdoms. In this story, the young Seodong (Mu's childhood name) falls in love with Silla princess Seonhwa, and intentionally spreads a song about the princess and himself among the people^[5]. Thanks to this song ("Seodong-yo," or "Seodong's Song") king Jinpyeong of Silla banishes the princess, and Mu marries her and becomes the king of Baekje.

Mu is one of the main characters of the South Korean television drama Seo Dong Yo (서동요) (aka Ballad of Suh Dong). In the drama, Mu appears as the hidden fourth son of King Wideok of Baekje. After his mother's death, Mu meets his future wife, Princess Seonhwa of Silla, and falls in love with her.

Notes and references

1. ^ Baekje Bon-gi 5, Samguk Yusa.
2. ^ as written in the Samguk Sagi say the translators of Il-yeon's: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 124. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5
3. ^ 네이버 백과사전
4. ^ http://www.ocp.go.kr:8091/visit/english/theme/theme06_3.html
5. ^ Il-yeon: Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 122f. Silk Pagoda (2006). ISBN 1-59654-348-5

See also

• Rulers of Korea
• History of Korea
• Three Kingdoms of Korea