Unified Silla
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| Unified Silla | |
 Anapji pavilion | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 통일 신라 |
| Hanja | 統一新羅 |
| Revised Romanization | Tong(-)il Silla |
| McCune–Reischauer | T'ongil Silla |
Unified Silla (668 CE – 935 CE) or Later Silla is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, when it conquered Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668, unifying the southern portion of the Korean peninsula. Its last king, ruling over a state in name only, submitted to the emerging Goryeo in 935, bringing the dynasty to an end.
Name
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The name "Unified Silla" is a term that likely dates from after the division of Korea in 1945, and to some degree reflects modern-day political longings.[original research?] Because of this, some historians suggest the term North-South States Period (남북국 시대, 南北國時代) to better reflect the fact that Silla did not unify the entire region. Although Silla did contribute to bring down Goguryeo, it was Tang Dynasty China (the kingdom founded by Sunbi or Xianbei)[citation needed] that invaded with its allied forces from Kyrgyz tribes.[citation needed] The Tang assigned Kyrgyz to take control over most former Goguryeo territory under its supervision,[citation needed] and refugees of Goguryeo found Balhae state a few years later.
Unification
In 660, King Munmu of Silla ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, defeated General Gyebaek and conquered Baekje. In 661, he moved on Goguryeo but was repelled. King Munmu was the first ruler ever to look upon the south of the Korean Peninsula as a single political entity after the fall of Gojoseon. As such, the post-668 Silla kingdom is often referred to as Unified Silla. Unified Silla lasted for 267 years until, under King Gyeongsun, it fell to Goryeo in 935.
Culture
Buddhism
Unified Silla and the Tang maintained close ties. This was evidenced by the continual importation of Chinese culture. Many Korean monks went to China to learn about Buddhism. The monk Hyech'o went to India to study Buddhism and wrote an account of his travels.[1] Different new sects of Buddhism were introduced by these traveling monks who had studied abroad such as Son and Pure Land Buddhism.[1]
Confucianism
A national Confucian college was established in 682 and around 750 it was renamed the National Confucian University.[1] The university was restricted to the elite aristocracy.
Woodblock printing
Woodblock printing was used to disseminate Buddhist sutras and Confucian works. During a refurbishment of the Pagoda That Casts No Shadows, an ancient print of a Buddhist sutra was discovered. The print is dated to 751 CE and is the oldest discovered printed material in the world.[1]
Economy
At first, Silla decreased agriculture output tax to one-tenth before unification and assigned tributary payment per town with special products.
Unified Silla conducted a census of all towns' size and population, as well as horses, cows and special products and recorded the data in Minjeongmunseo (민정문서). The reporting was done by the leader of each town.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Stearns, Peter N., ed. (2001). The Encyclopedia of World History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern, Chronologically Arranged (6th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. pp. 155–6. ISBN 0395652375. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ Korean history for high school p.141, issued by The National History Compilation Committee of the Republic of Korea.