Michu of Silla

Michu of Silla
Tomb of King Michu located in the neighborhood of Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea.
Korean name
Hangul	미추 이사금
Hanja	味鄒尼師今
Revised Romanization	Michu Isageum
McCune–Reischauer	Mich'u Isagŭm

Michu of Silla was the thirteenth ruler of the Korean state of Silla (r. 262–284). He was the first king of the Kim clan to sit on the Silla throne; this clan would hold the throne for most of Silla's later history. He was the son of Gudo, a leading Silla general, and the sixth-generation descendant of the clan founder Kim Alji.

During Michu's reign, the Samguk Sagi reports numerous attacks from Baekje, and does not mention any contact with the other neighboring states.

Michu's tomb is preserved in central Gyeongju today. Various legends pertain to this burial mound, which is known as the Jukjangneung, or "Bamboo chief tomb."

Achievement

Although records of his era are not abundant, he seemed to have large interests on agriculture. In 264, he visited the peasant people to encourage them during a severe famine. In 268, subjects were dispatched by Michu to hear concerns of people.

Additionally, he was quite compassionate in that he turned down the requirement of rebuilding palaces for the reason that the people shouldn't labor too much.

Legend

It is a legend that the spirit of King Michu helped Silla and protected the country by appeasing the spirit of Kim Yu-sin, who unified the Three Kingdoms. During the reign of King Yurye of Silla, people from Iseoguk (伊西國) attacked Gyeongju, and Silla was powerless. Then, soldiers with bamboo leaves in their ears appeared and turned the state of war around. After the enemy's retreat, a pile of bamboo leaves piled up in front of the tombs of the King Michu. So, the tomb of Michu was called Jukhyeongneung or Jukjangneung, meaning "the tomb of bamboo generals."

See also

• Three Kingdoms of Korea
• Rulers of Korea
• History of Korea
• List of Korea-related topics