Silla新羅

The state of Silla is in origin a descendant of Byeonhan. Its land lies in what was the territory of Nangnang in the time of Han. On the east and on the south it is bounded by the great sea, on the west it borders Baekje, and on the north it neighbours Goryeo. It is a thousand li from east to west and two thousand li from north to south. It has walled towns and villages. Where the king lives is called Geumseong, and it is seven or eight li around. There are three thousand guard troops, and a Lion Corps is set up. The civil and military officers are of seventeen grades in all. Its king Kim Jinpyeong was given, in the time of Emperor Wen of Sui, the offices of Senior Commander Unequalled in Honour, Duke of Nangnang Commandery and King of Silla.

In the fourth year of Wude an envoy was sent with tribute. Gaozu comforted and questioned him in person and sent Yu Wensu, Attendant Gentleman of the Cavaliers in Ordinary, as envoy in return, bestowing a letter under the seal, a painted folding screen and three hundred lengths of brocade and coloured silk; and from this time the tribute did not cease. Their customs, their penal law and their clothing are roughly the same as in Goryeo and Baekje, but their court dress honours white. They like to sacrifice to the mountain gods. For eating vessels they make willow cups, and they use bronze and earthenware as well. Among the people of the country the two surnames Kim and Bak are many, and they do not marry with those of a different surname. They hold the first day of the year in honour, giving one another congratulations and feasting, and on that day they bow to the gods of the sun and the moon. They also hold the fifteenth day of the eighth month in honour, setting out music and drinking at a banquet, giving rewards to the assembled ministers and shooting arrows in the courtyard. The women wind their hair about their heads and adorn it with coloured silk and beads, and their hair is very long and beautiful.

Gaozu heard that the three states east of the sea had long been bound in grudge and rift and attacked one another by turns, and since all of them had attached themselves as marches he set himself to bring them to concord, and he asked their envoy how the grudge had come about. The envoy answered: "Before this, Baekje went to attack Goryeo and came to Silla asking for rescue, and Silla sent out troops and greatly broke the state of Baekje. From this it became a grudge, and they attack one another always. Silla took the king of Baekje and killed him, and the grudge began from this." In the seventh year an envoy was sent to invest Kim Jinpyeong by patent as Pillar of State and to enfeoff him as King of Nangnang Commandery and King of Silla.

In the fifth year of Zhenguan an envoy was sent who presented two women musicians, both of thick hair and fair looks. Taizong said to his attendant ministers: "I have heard that the pleasure of sound and beauty is not equal to the love of virtue. Besides, mountains and rivers block the way and it is far, and one may know how they long for their own soil. Not long ago Linyi presented a white parrot, and even that bird understood the thought of home and pleaded to be sent back to its country. If a bird is so, how much more the feelings of a human being! I pity them for coming from afar, and they must be longing for their kin. Let them be given over to the envoy and allowed to be sent home."

In that year Jinpyeong died. He had no son, and his daughter Seondeok was set up as queen, while Euljae, a great minister of the royal house, took charge of the whole government of the state. By edict Jinpyeong was granted the posthumous office of Grand Master of the Left for Splendid Happiness, and two hundred lengths of goods were sent for the funeral. In the ninth year an envoy bearing the tally was sent to invest Seondeok by command as Pillar of State and to enfeoff her as King of Nangnang Commandery and King of Silla. In the seventeenth year an envoy was sent up to say: "Goryeo and Baekje have attacked us again and again, and we have lost some tens of fortresses. The two states have joined their arms, and their mind is to destroy your servant's altars of soil and grain. We respectfully send this vassal envoy to give our lives into the great state's keeping, and we beg for even a single detachment to come to our rescue." Taizong sent Xiangli Xuanjiang bearing a letter under the seal to bestow on Goryeo, saying: "Silla has entrusted its life to the state and has not failed in tribute at court. You and Baekje should put up your arms at once. If you attack it again, next year I shall send out an army and strike your country!" When Taizong was about to attack Goryeo in person, he ordered Silla by edict to gather soldiers and horses and to join the great army, and Silla sent a great minister to lead fifty thousand troops into the southern border of Goryeo, and they attacked the fortress of Sugu and made it surrender.

In the twenty-first year Seondeok died, and she was granted the posthumous office of Grand Master for Splendid Happiness, while her other offices and fiefs were all left as before. Her younger sister Jindeok was then set up as queen, Pillar of State was added to her, and she was enfeoffed as King of Nangnang Commandery.

In the twenty-second year Jindeok sent her younger brother Kim Chunchu, prime minister of the state and of the rank of ichan, and Chunchu's son Munjeong, to come to court. By edict Chunchu was given the office of tejin and Munjeong was made General of the Left Militant Guard. Chunchu asked to go to the National Academy and watch the sacrifice to Confucius and the expounding of texts, and Taizong thereupon bestowed on him the Wentang and the Jinci stele inscriptions that he had composed himself, together with the newly compiled Jin shu. When he was about to return to his country, officials of the third rank and above were ordered to hold a farewell feast for him, and the honour shown him was very great.

In the first year of Yonghui Jindeok greatly broke the host of Baekje and sent her younger brother Beommin to report it. Jindeok then wove in brocade an Ode of Great Peace in lines of five words and presented it. Its words were these: "Great Tang opens a mighty enterprise, and lofty, lofty, the emperor's plan is flourishing. Arms are stayed, the war robe (戎衣) settles all; letters are cultivated, and he succeeds a hundred kings. He rules heaven and honours the giving of rain; he orders all things and embodies the hidden glory. His deep benevolence goes with the sun and the moon; his hand upon the age goes beyond Tao Tang, the emperor Yao. The banners already blaze and blaze; the gongs and the drums, how they ring and ring! Those of the outer tribes who go against the command shall be cut down and overturned and take the calamity of heaven. Pure custom gathers in the hidden and the seen; far and near they vie in offering good omens. The four seasons are harmonious as the jade candle; the sun and the moon and the five stars go round the ten thousand quarters. The great peaks send down ministers to aid him; the emperor employs the loyal and the good. The virtue of the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors is made one, and it lights up our house of Tang." The emperor praised it and appointed Beommin Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues.

In the third year Jindeok died, and mourning was held for her. By edict Chunchu succeeded her and was set up as King of Silla, Commander Unequalled in Honour was added to him, and he was enfeoffed as King of Nangnang Commandery. In the sixth year Baekje, with Goryeo and the Malgal, led troops and invaded his northern border and attacked and took more than thirty fortresses, and Chunchu sent an envoy up with a memorial asking for rescue. In the fifth year of Xianqing Su Dingfang, Grand General of the Left Militant Guard, was ordered to be grand commander of the Ungjin road, leading a hundred thousand men by water and by land; and Chunchu was ordered to be commander of the marching army of the Uui road. With Dingfang he chastised and subdued Baekje, took its king Buyeo Uija captive and presented him below the palace gates. From this time Silla little by little held the lands of Goryeo and Baekje. Its borders grew larger, and in the west they reached the sea.

In the first year of Longshuo Chunchu died, and by edict his son Beommin, Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues, succeeded to the throne and was made Commander Unequalled in Honour, Supreme Pillar of State, King of Nangnang Commandery and King of Silla. In the third year, by edict, his country was made the governor-generalship of Gyerimju and Beommin was given the post of governor-general of Gyerimju. Beommin died in the first year of Kaiyao, and his son Jeongmyeong succeeded to the throne. In the second year of Chuigong Jeongmyeong sent an envoy to court, and with him sent up a memorial asking for one set of the Tang li (唐禮) and for miscellaneous writings. Zetian ordered the offices concerned to copy out the Jixiong yaoli, and to pick from the Wenguan cilin those pieces whose words touched on rule and admonition, and had them bound into fifty scrolls and bestowed on him.

In the third year of Tianshou Jeongmyeong died. Zetian held mourning for him and sent envoys to condole and to sacrifice, and invested his son Ihong as King of Silla. He was also ordered to succeed to his father's office of Great General Who Upholds the State, and to act as Grand General of the Leopard Strategy Guard and governor-general of Gyerimju. Ihong died in the second year of Chang'an. Zetian held mourning for him and suspended the court for two days. She sent to set up his younger brother Heunggwang as King of Silla, and he succeeded to his elder brother's titles of general and governor-general. Heunggwang's original name was the same as Taizong's, and in the Xiantian period Zetian changed it.

In the sixteenth year of Kaiyuan an envoy was sent who presented local products, and a memorial was sent up asking that men be allowed to go to China and study the teaching of the classics, and the emperor allowed it. In the twenty-first year the Balhae Malgal crossed the sea and raided Dengzhou. At that time Kim Saran, a kinsman of Heunggwang, had earlier come to court and had stayed in the capital and been appointed Supernumerary Chamberlain of the Imperial Stud; now he was sent back to his country to call out troops and chastise the Malgal. Commander Unequalled in Honour and commissioner of the Ninghai army were also added to Heunggwang.

In the twenty-fifth year Heunggwang died, and by edict he was granted the posthumous office of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Xing Shu, Grand Master Admonisher of the Left, was sent, acting as Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, to go to Silla and condole and sacrifice, and also to invest his son Seunggyeong to succeed to his father's offices of Commander Unequalled in Honour and King of Silla. When Shu was about to set out, the emperor composed a preface to a poem, and the crown prince and all the officials below him wrote poems to send him off. The emperor said to Shu: "Silla is called a land of gentlemen. It knows books and records well and has something like China about it. Because of your learning you are good at expounding and discussing, and so you have been chosen to fill this mission. When you get there you should set forth the classics and make them know how flourishing the teaching of the scholars is in the great state." He also heard that many of their people were good at the game of go, and so he made Yang Jiying, an officer of arms in the Guard Command who was good at go, Shu's second. When Shu and the others reached that country they were greatly honoured by the people of the march. The go players of that country were all below Jiying, and so they gave Shu and the others rich gifts of gold and jewels and medicines and the like.

In the second year of Tianbao Seunggyeong died, and by edict Wei Yao, Grand Master Admonisher, was sent to go and condole and sacrifice for him. His younger brother Heonyeong was invested as King of Silla and succeeded to his elder brother's offices and ranks as well.

In the second year of Dali Heonyeong died, and the people of the country set up his son Geonun as king; and they sent their great minister Kim Eungeo bearing a memorial to court, presenting local products and asking that a patent of investiture be granted. In the third year the emperor sent Gui Chongjing, Director in the Granaries Bureau and also Vice Censor-in-chief, to whom the crimson robe and the golden fish pouch had been given, to bear the tally and carry the patent and go to condole and invest him. Geonun was made Commander Unequalled in Honour and King of Silla, and Geonun's mother was invested as Grand Consort. In the seventh year the envoy Kim Pyoseok came to give new year greetings, and he was given the office of Supernumerary Vice Chamberlain for the Palace Garrison and sent back. In the eighth year an envoy came to court and presented gold, silver, ox bezoar, and eoaju and johaju silks and the like. From the ninth year to the twelfth year envoys came to court year after year, and sometimes twice in one year.

In the fourth year of Jianzhong Geonun died without a son, and the people of the country set up Kim Yangsang, the chief minister (上相), as king. In the first year of Zhenyuan Yangsang was given the offices of Acting Grand Commandant, governor-general and prefect of Gyerimju, commissioner of the Ninghai army, and King of Silla, and Gai Xun, Director in the Ministry of Revenue, was ordered to bear the tally and invest him by command. In that year Yangsang died, and the chief minister Gyeongsin was set up as king and ordered to succeed to his offices and ranks. Gyeongsin was his cousin.

In the fourteenth year Gyeongsin died. His son had died before him, and the people of the country set up Junong, Gyeongsin's grandson by the principal line, as king.

In the sixteenth year Junong was given the offices of Commander Unequalled in Honour, Acting Grand Commandant and King of Silla, and Wei Dan, Director in the Bureau of Honours and also Vice Censor-in-chief, was ordered to bear the tally and invest him by command. When Dan reached Yunzhou he heard that Junong had died and that his son Junghung had ascended the throne, and by edict Dan was called back. In the first year of Yongzhen, by edict, Yuan Jifang, Director in the Ministry of War, was sent to bear the tally and invest Junghung as king.

In the eleventh month of the first year of Yuanhe the prince Kim Heonchung, who had been serving in the imperial guard, was released to return to his own country, and the acting office of Director of the Palace Library was added to him. In the third year the envoy Kim Yeokgi came to court. In the seventh month of that year Yeokgi sent up a statement: "In the sixteenth year of Zhenyuan an edict was received investing your servant's late lord Kim Junong as King of Silla, his mother of the Sin clan as Grand Consort and his wife of the Suk clan as Queen. The investing envoy Wei Dan, half way on the road, learned that Junong had died, and the patent was carried back and is now in the Secretariat. Now that your servant is returning to his country, he humbly asks that it be given to him to take home." An edict said: "The patents for Kim Junong and the rest should be received by the Court of State Ceremonial from the Secretariat, and when they reach the court they shall be declared and given over to Kim Yeokgi, that he may carry them back to his country. Gate halberds (門戟) shall also be bestowed on his uncle Eonseung, and his own country shall issue them according to precedent." In the fourth year the envoy Kim Yukjin and others came with tribute to court, and in the fifth year the prince Kim Heonjang came with tribute to court.

In the seventh year Junghung died, and his minister Kim Eonseung was set up as king, and envoys Kim Changnam and others were sent to announce the mourning. In the seventh month of that year Eonseung was given the offices of Commander Unequalled in Honour, Acting Grand Commandant, and Commissioner Bearing the Tally and grand governor-general of all military affairs of Gyerimju, and also, bearing the tally, commissioner of the Ninghai army, Supreme Pillar of State and King of the state of Silla; and Eonseung's wife of the Jeong clan was invested as consort. Halberds (戟) were also bestowed on three men, Kim Sungbin his chief minister and the rest, and his own country was likewise ordered to issue them according to precedent. Cui Ting, Supernumerary Vice Director of the Bureau of Operations and acting Vice Censor-in-chief, was also ordered to bear the tally and to condole, to sacrifice and to invest, with Kim Sasin, their hostage son, as his second.

In the eleventh month of the eleventh year the prince Kim Sasin and others, on their way to court, met a fierce wind and were driven to the border of Yancheng district in Chuzhou, and Li Yong, military commissioner of Huainan, reported it. In that year there was famine in Silla, and a hundred and seventy of their people sought food in Zhedong. In the eleventh month of the fifteenth year an envoy was sent with tribute.

In the twelfth month of the second year of Changqing the envoy Kim Jupil was sent with tribute, and in the first year of Baoli their prince Kim Heun came to court. In the fourth month of the first year of Taihe envoys were sent with tribute in each case. In the fifth year Kim Eonseung died, and his heir Kim Gyeonghwi was made Commander Unequalled in Honour, Acting Grand Commandant, and Commissioner Bearing the Tally and grand governor-general of all military affairs of Gyerimju, and also, bearing the tally, commissioner of the Ninghai army and King of Silla; and Gyeonghwi's mother of the Bak clan was made Grand Consort and his wife of the Bak clan consort. Yuan Ji, Mentor of the Left to the Heir Apparent and also Vice Censor-in-chief, was ordered to bear the tally and to condole, to sacrifice and to invest. In the first year of Kaicheng the prince Kim Uijong came to give thanks for favour and served in the imperial guard as well. In the fourth month of the second year he was released to return to his march, and gifts were bestowed on him as he was sent off. In the fourth month of the fifth year the Court of State Ceremonial reported that the state of Silla had announced a mourning, and that the hostage sons and the students whose term was full and who were due to return home, a hundred and five in all, were all released to go back. In the seventh month of the first year of Huichang an edict said: "Kim Ungyeong, the Silla officer returning to his country, formerly vice commissioner for proclamation and comfort who went into Silla, formerly filling the post of adjutant of the governor-general's office of Yanzhou, to whom the crimson robe and the fish pouch were given, may be made administrative aide of Zizhou."