Silla新羅

The country of Silla lies to the southeast of Goryeo. It dwells in the land that was Nangnang in the time of Han, and it is also called Sara (斯羅). When Guanqiu Jian, a general of Wei, punished Goryeo and broke it, the people fled to Okjeo. Afterwards they went back again to their old country, and those who stayed behind became Silla in the end. For this reason their people are mixed of the Huaxia and of Goryeo and of Baekje, and they hold together the lands of Okjeo, Bullae, Han and Ye.

Their king was by birth a man of Baekje. He fled by sea into Silla, and so came to be king of that country. The throne passed down to Kim Jinpyeong (King Jinpyeong), and in the fourteenth year of Kaihuang he sent an envoy to offer the goods of his country, and Gaozu made Jinpyeong senior kaifu, Duke of the Nangnang Commandery, and King of Silla.

In earlier times Silla was a dependency of Baekje. Afterwards, when Baekje attacked Goryeo, the people of Goryeo could not bear the service of war and came over together, one leading another, and so Silla grew strong and great. It then attacked Baekje and made the country of Gara its dependency.

In their offices there are seventeen grades. The first is the rank of ibeolgan, and it is as honoured as the chancellor; next icheokgan, next yeonggan, next pamigan, next daeacheokgan, next acheokgan, next eulgilgan, next sadolgan, next geupbokgan, next daenamagan, next nama, next daesa, next sosa, next gilto, next daeo, next soo, next jowi. Outside the capital there are commanderies and districts.

Their writing and their arms and armour are as those of China. Of the grown men they choose the strong and put them all into the army, and in the beacons, the garrisons and the patrols there are camps and companies throughout. Their customs, their punishments and their government and their clothing are much the same as those of Goryeo and Baekje.

On the first morning of every first month they give each other greetings, and the king sets out a feast and gives gifts to all his officers. On that day they bow to the spirits of the sun and the moon. When the fifteenth day of the eighth month comes they set out music and have the officers shoot with the bow, and they give horses and cloth as prizes. When there is a great matter they gather all the officers to talk it over in full and settle it.

In the colour of their clothing they esteem white. The women braid their hair and wind it about the head, and they dress it with silks of many colours and with beads. The rites of marriage are wine and food and no more, and whether they are light or heavy follows whether the house is poor or rich. On the evening of a new marriage the woman bows first to her husband's parents and next bows to her husband. When one dies the body is laid in a coffin and dressed, and a mound is raised for the burial. For the mourning of the king and of parents and of wife and children they wear the garments for one year.

The fields are very rich, and they plant both by water and on dry land. The five grains, the fruits and vegetables, and the birds and beasts of their land are much the same as in China. Since the Daye years they have sent tribute year by year. The land of Silla has many hills and is hard to enter, so although a breach has opened with Baekje, Baekje can do nothing against it.