King Beopheung法興王

King Beopheung ascended the throne. His name was Wonjong (原宗), and he was the eldest son of King Jijeung. His mother was Lady Yeonje, and his queen was Lady Bodo of the house of Bak. The king was seven cheok tall, broad and generous, and he loved the people.

In the third year, in spring, the first month, he sacrificed in person at the Singung. A dragon appeared in the middle of the well at Yangsan.

In the fourth year, in summer, the fourth month, the Byeongbu (兵部), the office of the army, was set up for the first time.

In the fifth year, in spring, the second month, Jusanseong was built.

In the seventh year, in spring, the first month, the code of law was proclaimed and shown forth. For the first time the official dress of all the officials was set, with its order of crimson and purple.

In the eighth year, an envoy was sent to Liang, and the products of the land were offered as tribute.

In the ninth year, in spring, the third month, the king of the state of Gaya sent an envoy and asked for a marriage, and the king sent the younger sister of Bijobu, of the rank of ichan.

In the eleventh year, in autumn, the ninth month, the king went out to the southern border to widen the land, and the king of the state of Gaya came and met him.

In the twelfth year, in spring, the second month, Ideung, of the rank of daeachan, was made gunju of Sabeol province.

In the fifteenth year, the Buddhist law was practiced for the first time.

In the beginning, in the time of King Nulji, the monk Mukhoja (墨胡子) came from Goguryeo to the commandery of Ilseon, and Morye (毛禮), a man of that district, made a cave room inside his house and lodged him there. At that time Liang sent an envoy and bestowed robes and incense, and the ruler and his ministers did not know the name of the incense nor what it was used for. A man was sent out with the incense to ask everywhere.

Mukhoja saw it and told its name. "When this is burned, the fragrance of it spreads, and by it sincerity reaches the holy ones. Among the holy ones there is nothing that goes beyond the Three Jewels. The first is the Buddha, the second is the Dharma, the third is the Sangha. If a man burns this and makes a vow, there will surely be an answer from the spirits."

At that time the king's daughter was gravely ill, and the king had Mukhoja burn the incense and make a vow, and the illness of the king's daughter was soon healed. The king was greatly pleased and gave him gifts more richly still. Mukhoja came out and saw Morye, and gave him the things he had received, and said, "I have somewhere to go now. I ask leave to depart." Soon after, no one knew where he had gone.

When the time of King Bicheo came, the monk Ado (阿道) came with three attendants, again to the house of Morye. His look and bearing were like those of Mukhoja. He stayed some years and died without illness. His three attendants stayed on there and expounded and read the sutras and the rules, and from time to time there were those who believed and followed.

By this time the king too wished to raise up the teaching of the Buddha, but the ministers did not believe in it and raised their voices against it again and again, and the king found it hard.

Ichadon (異次頓), a close minister, spoke to the king. "I ask that your small servant be beheaded, so that the many voices may be settled."

The king said, "It was my wish to raise up the Way. To kill one who is without guilt is not right."

He answered, "If the Way can be made to go forward, your servant will die without regret."

The king then called his ministers and asked them, and all of them said, "We look now at these monks. Their heads are shaved and their clothes are strange, and their talk is odd and uncanny. This is no ordinary Way. If they are let be now, we fear there will be regret hereafter. Though we be given heavy punishment, we dare not take up the command."

Ichadon alone said, "The words of the ministers are wrong. Only when there is a man out of the ordinary are there deeds out of the ordinary. I hear now that the teaching of the Buddha is deep and hidden. I fear we must not fail to believe it."

The king said, "The words of the many are firm and cannot be broken. You alone speak otherwise. I cannot follow both." So he handed him over to the officers and was about to have him put to death.

Ichadon, facing death, said, "I go to the punishment for the Law. If the Buddha has power in him, there will surely be a strange thing after I die."

When he was beheaded, blood gushed from the cut place, and the color of it was white as milk. The people marveled at it, and they no longer spoke against the affairs of the Buddha.

In the sixteenth year, an order was sent down forbidding the taking of life.

In the eighteenth year, in spring, the third month, the officers in charge were commanded to mend and keep the embankments. In summer, the fourth month, Cheolbu of the rank of ichan was appointed sangdaedeung (上大等) and given charge of all the affairs of the state. The office of sangdaedeung began here, and it is like the prime minister of today.

In the nineteenth year, Kim Guhae (金仇亥), the ruler of the state of Geumgwan, came and surrendered with his queen and his three sons. The eldest was Nojong, the second Mudeok, the youngest Muryeok (武力). They brought with them the treasures of the state's storehouse. The king received him with courtesy, gave him the rank of sangdeung (上等), and made his own former state his estate. His son Muryeok rose in office as far as gakgan.

In the twenty-first year, Cheolbu the sangdaedeung died.

In the twenty-third year, a reign title was named for the first time, and it was called the first year of Geonwon (建元).

In the twenty-fifth year, in spring, the first month, an instruction was sent down allowing officials of the provinces to take their households with them to their posts.

In the twenty-seventh year, in autumn, the seventh month, the king died. His posthumous name was given as Beopheung (法興), and he was buried on the northern peak by Aegongsa.