Talhae Isageum脫解尼師今

Talhae Isageum ascended the throne. He was then sixty-two years old, and his surname was Seok (昔). His queen was Lady Ahyo.

Talhae was born in the state of Dapana (多婆那國). That country lies a thousand li northeast of the state of Wa (倭國). At the start, the king of that country took the daughter of the king of the Women's Country (女國) as his wife. She was with child for seven years, and then she bore a great egg. The king said, "A human has borne an egg. This is not auspicious. It should be cast away." The woman could not bring herself to do it. She wrapped the egg in silk, placed it in a chest together with treasures, set it afloat on the sea, and left it to go where it would.

It came first to the shore of the state of Geumgwan, but the people of Geumgwan thought it strange and did not take it in. It came next to the mouth of Ajinpo in Jinhan, and this was the thirty-ninth year of the reign of Hyeokgeose, the founder. At that time an old woman of the shore drew it in with a rope and tied it at the water's edge. She opened the chest and looked, and there was a small child inside. The old woman took him in and raised him.

When he was grown he was nine cheok tall, splendid and bright in bearing, and his knowledge went beyond that of others. Someone said, "The surname of this child is not known. When the chest first came, a magpie flew after it, crying. The character jak (鵲) should be cut short and Seok (昔) taken as his surname. And he came out by loosing the chest, so he should be named Talhae (脫解)."

At first Talhae made his living by fishing, and he cared for his mother and never once showed a slack face. His mother said to him, "You are no common man. The shape of your bones is out of the ordinary. You should follow learning and make merit and a name."

So he gave his whole mind to learning, and he came to know the lay of the land as well. He looked upon the house of Hogong below Yangsan and judged the site a lucky one. He laid a trick to take it and lived there, and that ground later became Wolseong (月城).

In the fifth year of King Namhae, the king heard that he was worthy and gave him his daughter in marriage. In the seventh year he was raised up and made daebo, and the government was entrusted to him. When Yuri was about to die he said, "The former king charged us as he died, 'After I die, do not weigh son against son-in-law. Let the one who is older and worthy succeed to the throne.' That is why I took the throne first. Now the throne should be passed on."

In the second year, in spring, the first month, Hogong was appointed daebo. In the second month the king sacrificed in person at the shrine of the founder.

In the third year, in spring, the third month, the king climbed Tohamsan. A black cloud like a canopy floated above the king's head and after a long while scattered. In summer, the fifth month, friendship was made with the state of Wa (倭國), and envoys passed between them. In the sixth month a comet appeared at Tianchuan (天船).

In the fifth year, in autumn, the eighth month, Maengso (孟召), a general of Mahan, surrendered with Bogamseong.

In the seventh year, in winter, the tenth month, the king of Baekje widened his territory as far as Nangjagokseong and sent an envoy to ask for a meeting, but the king did not go.

In the eighth year, in autumn, the eighth month, Baekje sent troops and attacked Wasanseong. In winter, the tenth month, they attacked Guyangseong as well. The king sent two thousand horsemen, struck them, and drove them off. In the twelfth month the earth shook, and no snow fell.

In the ninth year, in spring, the third month, the king heard at night the sound of a cock crowing among the trees of Sirim (始林), west of Geumseong. Toward daybreak he sent Hogong to look. A small chest of golden color hung from a branch, and a white cock was crowing beneath it. Hogong returned and reported, and the king had men bring the chest and open it. A small boy was inside, and his form was rare and fine.

The king was glad and said to those about him, "Is this not heaven granting me a fine son?" So he took the boy in and raised him. When he grew he was clever and full of resource, and so he was named Alji (閼智). Because he came out of a golden chest, his surname was Kim (金氏). The name Sirim was changed to Gyerim (雞林), and that was taken as the name of the country.

In the tenth year Baekje attacked and took Wasanseong and left two hundred men to hold it, but before long it was taken back.

In the eleventh year, in spring, the first month, the noble kin of the house of Bak were given the provinces and commanderies of the country to govern in parts, and they were called juju (州主) and gunju (郡主). In the second month Sunjeong was given the rank of ibeolchan and entrusted with the government.

In the fourteenth year Baekje came and raided.

In the seventeenth year the Wa raided Mokchuldo (木出㠀). The king sent the gakgan Uo (羽烏) to hold them off, but he could not overcome them, and Uo died there.

In the eighteenth year, in autumn, the eighth month, Baekje plundered the border, and troops were sent to hold them back.

In the nineteenth year there was a great drought and the people went hungry, so the granaries were opened and grain was given out. In winter, the tenth month, Baekje attacked Wasanseong on the western edge and took it.

In the twentieth year, in autumn, the ninth month, troops were sent to strike Baekje, and Wasanseong was taken back. More than two hundred people who had come from Baekje and settled there were all put to death.

In the twenty-first year, in autumn, the eighth month, the achan Gilmun (吉門) fought the troops of Gaya at the mouth of Hwangsanjin and took more than a thousand heads. Gilmun was made pajinchan, as a reward for his merit.

In the twenty-third year, in spring, the second month, a comet appeared in the east, and it appeared in the north as well. After twenty days it went out.

In the twenty-fourth year, in summer, the fourth month, a great wind blew in the capital and the east gate of Geumseong fell of itself. In autumn, the eighth month, the king died, and he was buried on the hill of Yangjeong north of the wall.