King Jinpyeong眞平王

King Jinpyeong ascended the throne. His name was Baekjeong (白淨), and he was the son of Dongnyun, the crown prince of King Jinheung. His mother was Lady Manho of the house of Kim, a daughter of Ipjong the Galmunwang, and his queen was Lady Maya of the house of Kim, a daughter of Bokseung the Galmunwang. From his birth the king had an uncommon look. His body was large, and his will and his understanding were firm and bright and far reaching.

In the first year, in the eighth month, Noribu, of the rank of ichan, was made sangdaedeung. His younger brothers by the same mother, Baekban and Gukban, were given after their deaths the titles of Jinjeong Galmunwang and Jinan Galmunwang.

In the second year, in spring, the second month, he sacrificed in person at the Singung, and Hujik, of the rank of ichan, was made byeongburyeong, the head of the office of the army.

In the third year, in spring, the first month, the Wihwabu (位和府) was set up for the first time, and it is like the ministry of personnel of today.

In the fifth year, in spring, the first month, the Seonbuseo (船府署), the office of ships, was set up for the first time, with one daegam and one jegam.

In the sixth year, in spring, the second month, the reign title was changed to Geonbok (建福). In the third month one jobu-ryeong (調府令) was set up to take charge of tribute and taxes, and one seungbu-ryeong (乘府令) to take charge of carriages.

In the seventh year, in spring, the third month, there was drought. The king left the main hall and cut down the dishes he ate each day, and he went to the Namdang and set down the cases of the prisoners himself. In autumn, the seventh month, the eminent monk Jimyeong went into Chen to seek the Law.

In the eighth year, in spring, the first month, two yebu-ryeong were set up. In summer, the fifth month, there was thunder and lightning, and the stars fell like rain.

In the ninth year, in autumn, the seventh month, two men, Daese (大世) and Guchil (仇柒), went out to sea.

Daese was a descendant of King Naemul in the seventh generation, and the son of Dongdae, of the rank of ichan. What he was born with was rare and fine, and from his youth he had a mind set beyond the world. He said to Damsu, a monk he went about with,

"If a man stays here among the hills and valleys of Silla and so ends his one life, how is it different from the fish in the pond and the bird in the cage, that do not know how great and wide the blue sea is, nor how open and unhurried the hills and woods are? I mean to ride a raft and float upon the sea and reach Wu and Yue, and little by little seek out a master and ask after the Way on the famous mountains. If common bones can be exchanged, and the way of the immortals can be learned, then I shall rise lightly on the wind beyond the empty sky. This is the rarest journey and the grandest sight under heaven. Can you follow me?"

Damsu was not willing, and so Daese drew back and looked for another friend. He happened to meet a man called Guchil, who was upright and unbending and had an uncommon firmness. In the end the two went together to a temple on Namsan.

All at once wind and rain brought leaves down, and they floated on the water standing in the yard. Daese said to Guchil, "I have a mind to journey west with you. Now let each of us take one leaf for a boat, and we shall see which of them goes ahead and which behind."

In a moment Daese's leaf was in front, and Daese laughed and said, "It seems that I am the one who goes."

Guchil flared up and said, "I too am a man. How should I alone be unable to do it?"

Daese knew then that this was one he could go with, and he told him his mind in secret. Guchil said, "That is my own wish." So they became friends together, and they took a boat from the southern sea and went away, and afterward no one knew where they had gone.

In the tenth year, in winter, the twelfth month, Noribu the sangdaedeung died, and Sueulbu, of the rank of ichan, was made sangdaedeung.

In the eleventh year, in spring, the third month, the dharma master Wongwang went into Chen to seek the Law. In autumn, the seventh month, there was a great flood in the west of the country. Thirty thousand three hundred and sixty households of the people were swept away and drowned, and more than two hundred people died. The king sent out officers to relieve them.

In the thirteenth year, in spring, the second month, two yeonggaekbu-ryeong were set up. In autumn, the seventh month, Namsanseong was built, and its wall went round two thousand eight hundred and fifty-four paces.

In the fifteenth year, in autumn, the seventh month, Myeonghwalseong was built anew, going round three thousand paces, and Seohyeongsanseong went round two thousand paces.

In the sixteenth year, the emperor of Sui sent down an edict appointing the king Superior Commander, Duke of the Commandery of Lelang, and King of Silla.

In the eighteenth year, in spring, the third month, the eminent monk Damyuk went into Sui to seek the Law. An envoy was sent to Sui, and the products of the land were offered as tribute. In winter, the tenth month, fire broke out at Yeongheungsa and spread and burned three hundred and fifty houses, and the king went there himself and saved them.

In the nineteenth year, Samnangsa was finished.

In the twenty-second year, the eminent monk Wongwang came back, following Jemun, of the rank of nama, and Hoengcheon, of the rank of daesa, who had gone on a friendly mission to the court.

In the twenty-fourth year, Sanggun, of the rank of daenama, was sent as envoy into Sui to present the products of the land. In autumn, the eighth month, Baekje came and attacked Amakseong, and the king had his commanders and soldiers meet them in battle and beat them greatly, but Gwisan (貴山) and Chuhang (箒項) died there. In the ninth month the eminent monk Jimyeong came back, following Sanggun, the envoy to the court. The king held the keeping of the precepts by the venerable Jimyeong in high honor and made him a daedeok, an elder of great virtue.

In the twenty-fifth year, in autumn, the eighth month, Goguryeo raided Bukhansanseong, and the king led ten thousand soldiers himself and held them off.

In the twenty-sixth year, in autumn, the seventh month, Manse and Hyemun, of the rank of daenama, and others were sent as envoys to the court of Sui. Namcheonju was done away with, and Bukhansanju was set up again.

In the twenty-seventh year, in spring, the third month, the eminent monk Damyuk came back, following Hyemun, the envoy to the court. In autumn, the eighth month, troops were sent out and Baekje was raided.

In the thirtieth year, the king was troubled that Goguryeo raided the borderland again and again, and he wished to ask for Sui troops and strike Goguryeo. So he commanded Wongwang to draw up a memorial asking for an army.

Wongwang said, "To seek one's own living and destroy another is not the work of a monk. Yet this poor monk lives on the land of the great king and eats of the great king's water and grass. How should I dare not follow the command?" So he wrote it and laid it before the king.

In the second month Goguryeo raided the northern border and carried off eight thousand people. In the fourth month Goguryeo took Umyeongsanseong.

In the thirty-first year, in spring, the first month, the ground below Mojiak burned. It was four paces wide, eight paces long, and five cheok deep. It went out on the fifteenth day of the tenth month.

In the thirty-third year, the king sent an envoy to Sui and offered a memorial asking for an army, and Emperor Yang of Sui granted it. The sending out of the troops is set down in the Annals of Goguryeo.

In winter, the tenth month, the troops of Baekje came and surrounded Gajamseong for a hundred days. Chandeok (讚德), the magistrate of the district, held it fast, and when his strength was spent he died, and the fortress fell.

In the thirty-fifth year, in spring, there was drought. In summer, the fourth month, frost fell. In autumn, the seventh month, Wang Shiyi, the envoy of Sui, came to Hwangnyongsa. The assembly of the hundred high seats was set up, and Wongwang and other dharma masters were invited to expound the sutras.

In the thirty-sixth year, in spring, the second month, Sabeolju was done away with and Ilseonju was set up. Ilbu, of the rank of ilgilchan, was made its gunju. The clay Buddha of Yeongheungsa fell of itself, and not long after, the nun who had been the queen of King Jinheung died.

In the thirty-seventh year, in spring, the second month, a great feast was given for three days. In winter, the tenth month, the earth shook.

In the thirty-eighth year, in winter, the tenth month, Baekje came and attacked Mosanseong.

In the fortieth year, Byeonpum, the gunju of Bukhansanju, planned to take back Gajamseong, and he sent out troops and fought with Baekje. Haeron (奚論) went with the army, and he went at the enemy and fought with all his strength and died there. Haeron was the son of Chandeok.

In the forty-third year, in autumn, the seventh month, the king sent an envoy and offered the products of the land as tribute to Tang. Gaozu comforted him and asked after him himself, and he sent Liu Wensu, an attendant cavalier in ordinary, on a friendly mission, and gave a letter under the imperial seal, and a painting, and a folding screen, and three hundred rolls of figured silk.

In the forty-fourth year, in spring, the first month, the king went in person to Hwangnyongsa. In the second month Yongsu, of the rank of ichan, was made sasin of the Naeseong, the steward of the inner court. In the beginning, in the seventh year of the king, a sasin was set over each of the three places, the Daegung, the Yanggung and the Saryanggung. At this time one sasin of the Naeseong was set up to take charge of all three palaces together.

In the forty-fifth year, in spring, the first month, two daegam of the Byeongbu were set up. In winter, the tenth month, an envoy was sent to Tang with tribute. Baekje fell upon the district of Neungno.

In the forty-sixth year, in spring, the first month, six daegam of the Siwibu were set up, with one daejang of the Sangsaseo and one daejeong of the Dadoseo. In the third month Gaozu of Tang sent down an envoy and invested the king as Pillar of State, Duke of the Commandery of Lelang, and King of Silla.

In winter, the tenth month, the troops of Baekje came and surrounded six fortresses of Silla, Sokham, Aengjam, Jam, Bongjam, Gihyeon and Hyeolchaek. Of these, three fortresses either fell or surrendered. Nulchoe (訥催), of the rank of geupchan, joined the troops of the three fortresses of Bongjam, Aengjam and Gihyeon and held them fast, but he could not overcome the enemy and died there.

In the forty-seventh year, in winter, the eleventh month, an envoy was sent to Tang with tribute, and with him a complaint. "Goguryeo blocks the road so that our envoys cannot come to court, and it enters and raids us again and again."

In the forty-eighth year, in autumn, the seventh month, an envoy was sent to Tang with tribute. Gaozu of Tang sent Zhu Zishe, and with him an edict urging that peace be joined with Goguryeo. In the eighth month Baekje attacked Jujaeseong, and Dongso, the lord of the fortress, stood against them in battle and died. Goheoseong was built.

In the forty-ninth year, in spring, the third month, a great wind blew and a rain of dust fell for more than five days. In summer, the sixth month, an envoy was sent to Tang with tribute. In autumn, the seventh month, Sageol, a general of Baekje, took two fortresses of the western borderland and carried off more than three hundred men and women. In the eighth month frost fell and killed the grain. In winter, the eleventh month, an envoy was sent to Tang with tribute.

In the fiftieth year, in spring, the second month, Baekje surrounded Gajamseong, and the king sent out an army and struck them and beat them. In summer there was a great drought. The market was moved, and a dragon was painted and rain was prayed for. In autumn and winter the people went hungry and sold their sons and daughters.

In the fifty-first year, in autumn, the eighth month, the king sent Yongchun and Seohyeon, the great generals, and Yusin (庾信), the second general, to raid Nangbiseong of Goguryeo. The men of Goguryeo came out of the fortress and drew up their lines, and the force of their army was very great. The Silla soldiers looked at it and were afraid, and they had no heart at all for the fight.

Yusin said, "I have heard it said, 'Shake the collar and the fur robe hangs straight. Lift the main rope and the net spreads open.' I shall be that rope and that collar."

Then he got on his horse and drew his sword and went straight at the enemy lines. Three times he went in and three times he came out, and each time he went in he cut down a commander or pulled up a flag. The several armies rode on his victory, and they beat the drums and shouted and went forward and struck, and they cut down more than five thousand heads, and that fortress then surrendered.

In the ninth month an envoy was sent to Tang with tribute.

In the fifty-second year, the ground of the courtyard of the Daegung split open.

In the fifty-third year, in spring, the second month, a white dog climbed onto the palace wall.

In summer, the fifth month, Chilsuk (柒宿), of the rank of ichan, plotted a revolt together with Seokpum (石品), of the rank of achan. The king learned of it and seized Chilsuk and beheaded him in the eastern market, and with him his kin to the ninth degree were put to death.

Seokpum, of the rank of achan, fled and reached the border of Baekje, but he longed to see his wife and children. He hid by day and walked by night, and he came back as far as Chongsan. There he met a woodcutter, and he took off his clothes and changed them for the woodcutter's worn ones and put them on, and he carried firewood on his back and came in secret to his house. There he was seized and put to punishment.

In autumn, the seventh month, an envoy was sent to Tang and two beautiful women were offered. Wei Zheng said they ought not to be received, and the emperor was pleased and said, "When Linyi offered a parrot, even the bird complained of the bitter cold and longed to go back to its own country. How much more, then, two women parted far from their kin." He gave them over to the envoy and sent them back.

A white rainbow drank from the palace well. Saturn trespassed on the moon.

In the fifty-fourth year, in spring, the first month, the king died. His posthumous name was given as Jinpyeong (眞平), and he was buried at Hanji (漢只). Taizong of Tang sent down an edict giving him after his death the title of Left Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and he sent two hundred rolls of silk as a funeral gift.

The Samguk sagi, volume four.