Yuri Isageum儒理尼師今

Yuri Isageum (尼師今) ascended the throne. He was the crown prince of Namhae, and his mother was Lady Unje. His queen was the daughter of Ilji Galmunwang.

At the start, when Namhae died, Yuri should have taken the throne, but the daebo Talhae had long had a name for virtue, and so Yuri yielded the place to him and held back. Talhae said, "The divine vessel and the great treasure are not what a common man can bear. I have heard that a man of wisdom and sagehood has many teeth. Let us bite a rice cake and test it." The lines of Yuri's teeth were many, so those about him raised him up and set him on the throne, and he was called isageum.

So the old telling goes. Kim Daemun said this. "Isageum is a word of this land and means the lines of the teeth. Long ago, when Namhae was about to die, he said to his son Yuri and his son-in-law Talhae, 'After I die, let the two houses of Bak and Seok succeed to the throne by age.' Later the house of Kim also rose, and the three houses succeeded one another by seniority of age, and so they were called isageum."

In the second year, in spring, the second month, he sacrificed in person at the shrine of the founder, and a great pardon was granted.

In the fifth year, in winter, the eleventh month, the king was going about the country when he saw an old woman starving and frozen and near death. He said, "I am a slight thing, yet I stand above the people, and I have failed to nourish them, so that the old and the young have come to this. It is my fault." He took off his robe and covered her with it, and he pushed his own food to her and fed her. Then he ordered the officials to visit and console the people in every place, and to provide food and care for the widower and the widow, the orphan and the old without children, and those who were sick and could not live of themselves. At this, many of the people of neighboring countries heard of it and came.

In that year the ways of the people were glad and at peace, and the Dosolga (兜率歌) was made for the first time. This was the beginning of song and music.

In the ninth year, in spring, the names of the six divisions were changed and surnames were granted with them. Yangsan division became Yang division (梁部) with the surname Yi (李). Goheo division became Saryang division (沙梁部) with the surname Choe (崔). Daesu division became Jeomnyang division (漸梁部) with the surname Son (孫). Ganjin division became Bonpi division (本彼部) with the surname Jeong (鄭). Gari division became Hangi division (漢祇部) with the surname Bae (裴). Myeonghwal division became Seupbi division (習比部) with the surname Seol (薛).

Offices were also set up, in seventeen grades. First was the rank of ibeolchan, second icheokchan, third japchan, fourth pajinchan, fifth daeachan, sixth achan, seventh ilgilchan, eighth sachan, ninth geupbeolchan, tenth daenama, eleventh nama, twelfth daesa, thirteenth sosa, fourteenth gilsa, fifteenth daeo, sixteenth soo, seventeenth jowi.

After the king had settled the six divisions, he cut them down the middle into two and had his two daughters each lead the women within their divisions, forming them into sides and bands. From the sixteenth day of the seventh month in autumn they gathered early each day in the courtyard of the greater division to spin hemp, and they broke off at the second watch of the night. When the fifteenth day of the eighth month came, they reckoned how much each side had done, and the losing side set out wine and food to thank the side that won. At this, song and dance and games of every kind were all performed, and this was called the Gabae (嘉俳).

At that time a woman of the losing side rose and danced and sighed, "Hoeso, hoeso." The sound of it was sad and graceful. Later people made a song from that sound and named it the Hoesogok (會蘇曲).

In the eleventh year the ground in the capital split open and a spring welled up. In summer, the sixth month, there was a great flood.

In the thirteenth year, in autumn, the eighth month, Nangnang raided the northern border and attacked and took Tasanseong (朶山城).

In the fourteenth year Muhyul (無恤), the king of Goguryeo, fell upon Nangnang and destroyed it. Five thousand of its people came and gave themselves over, and they were settled among the six divisions.

In the seventeenth year, in autumn, the ninth month, the people of the two counties of Hwaryeo (華麗) and Bullae (不耐) plotted together, led out cavalry, and raided the northern border. The chieftain of the state of Maek (貊國) met them with troops west of the Gokha (曲河) and broke them. The king was glad, and he made friendship with the state of Maek.

In the nineteenth year, in autumn, the eighth month, the chieftain of Maek hunted and presented the birds and beasts he had taken.

In the thirty-first year, in spring, the second month, a comet appeared at Zigong (紫宮).

In the thirty-third year, in summer, the fourth month, a dragon appeared in a well at Geumseong. A little later a violent rain came in from the northwest. In the fifth month a great wind blew and tore up trees.

In the thirty-fourth year, in autumn, the ninth month, the king was unwell, and he said to his officials, "Talhae is bound to the royal house by marriage, he holds the place of a minister who supports the throne, and he has shown merit and made his name many times. My two sons fall far short of him in ability. After I die, let him take the great seat, and do not forget the teaching I leave behind."

In winter, the tenth month, the king died, and he was buried within the grounds of Sareung.