Sabi Baekje (Buyeo)
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Sabi Baekje (Buyeo) 1. Busosanseong Fortress 2. Jeongrimsaji Museum 3. Gungnam Pond - 1 - Busosanseong 1. The Last Fortification of Baekje, Busosanseong Fortress Fortress We have now arrived at Busosanseong Fortress , which was built to protect the last capital city of Baekje. Baekje was located in the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula during the period between 18 B.C and 660 A.D. Baekje established a powerful kingdom around Han River region, and also succeeded to build the foundation for diplomacy and economic relations with Japan and China. However, in 475, Baekje was threatened by emerging power of Goguryeo in the north and the capital city of Baekje was relocated to the south, Gongju. The king of Baekje then resolved a tense political situation and successfully stabilized the kingdom. Although the new capital of Gongju had a natural defensive advantage in terms of preventing enemy attacks, its location limited the kingdom’s potential for expansion into new territory. So, in 538, the king relocated the capital to the south again, this time to Buyeo. It was an area selected for its wide plains and proximity to a deep river, to enable greater development of the kingdom. Although the kingdom continued to suffer from both natural disasters and invasions by its rapacious neighboring kingdoms, the king and his people finally succeeded in constructing the new capital due to their determination and steadfast desire for a new beginning. The new capital was protected by this Busosanseong Fortress . The river surrounding the fortress was advantageous as it both obstructed - 2 - invaders and provided direct access to the main sea trade routes. The river also teamed with trading vessels from China, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries, transforming Buyeo into a city of active international exchange. Thirteen hundred years later, the palace of Baekje no longer exists, but some buildings have been restored to revive the flavor of the kingdom. The fortress also provides quiet and comfortable hiking routes for tourists. Along the network of enjoyable forest trails, you will see not only various species of trees including pine and white oak, but also squirrels and pheasants. It takes approximately two hours to look around the historic sites here. The walking route may be slightly strenuous but it is worth the effort. Let’s go to Samchung Shrine first and meet three loyalists from the Baekje kingdom. - 3 - Busosanseong 2.Samchung Shrine-Baekje Loyalists Seongchung Fortress and Heungsu [Narration] Approximately 1,700 years ago, there were three kingdoms on the Korean Peninsula. Each of these three kingdoms exerted influence on the others’ development through an ongoing series of conflicts and alliances. During the 7th century AD, Baekje attacked Silla, which was based in the southeast, in an attempt to dominate the Korean Peninsula. In desperation, Silla requested assistance from China, which was awaiting an opportunity to gain control of the peninsula. China promptly dispatched troops and the fortunes of war were reversed. Baekje was in disarray once again. However, there were three loyalists who fought for Baekje until the bitter end. This shrine was built to honor those three loyalists. If you look inside the shrine you will see their portraits. Shall we take a closer look at the portrait on the left first? This is Seongchung, a prime minister of Baekje, but he was imprisoned after getting caught up in a political struggle. He was near death due to his poor health, but he predicted that war would soon break out in Baekje. He wrote the following ardent letter to the king. [Seongchung] Your Majesty, please allow me one last chance to speak. During times of war, using geographic features to our advantage is crucial. If an enemy attacks Baekje in the near future, we should prevent them from entering the country by land at Chimhyeon and by sea at Gibeol Port. Please do not neglect to prepare for the possibility of war and please remember what I have said today. [Narration] Nevertheless, the king of Baekje did not listen to his faithful advice, and he soon passed away in prison. Four years later, Silla troops invaded Baekje and the king was so flustered and confused. He held a council to draw up countermeasures. However, his loyal subjects disagreed with each other and the state of confusion intensified. The - 4 - king finally wrote a letter to Heungsu, a wise loyal subject who was living in exile. Heungsu replied as follows to the king. [Heungsu] Your Majesty, I’m sending you a letter of regards. Because the enemy has a large number of troops and we do not, Baekje should not engage in war on a plain. Please remember the advice you received from Seongchung four years ago. [Narration] Unfortunately, the king did not accept Heungsu’s faithful advice either. Other loyal subjects were opposed to his suggestion, and they asserted that his resentment at being exiled may have led him to be disloyal and untrustworthy. Meanwhile, Silla troops advanced on and captured the castle of Baekje. Only then did the king of Baekje lament his rejection of good advice. [King] I regret not listening to the advice of Seongchung and Heungsu. [Narration] Although Seongchung and Heungsu were abandoned by the king, they remained loyal and sincere toward Baekje until their deaths. Even today, they are praised as the last great loyalists of Baekje. Now let’s learn about the third loyalist, Gyebaek. ●Gyebaek, the Great General of Baekje [Narration] Do you know the story about Sparta’s King Leonidas, who led 300 Spartans in a battle against a million Persian soldiers? The story was made into the movie titled 300. Then, do you know that Baekje also had a great general named Gyebaek? He is the only one shown in the portrait on the right. In 660, Gyebaek fought with just 5,000 soldiers against 50,000 invading troops from Silla. Standing before his soldiers, he delivered a rousing speech. [Gyebaek] Many years ago, 5,000 soldiers from the state of Yue in China defeated 700,000 troops from the state of Wu. If we are prepared to die for our kingdom, there is no reason why we cannot win this battle! My leadership, together with your desperate courage, will give us the strength to defeat the 50,000 Silla troops, and Baekje will emerge victorious! [Narration] It was actually a hopeless war. Before entering the battlefield, Gyebaek stopped by his house to kill his wife and children, - 5 - choosing an honorable death over losing their kingdom and risking enslavement. Wearing his blood-stained armor, Gyebaek ran towards the battlefield, thus beginning one of the fiercest battles in the history of Korea. The desperate fighting by Baekje resulted in four consecutive victories, thereby raising the morale of Baekje’s soldiers. For its part, Silla dispatched a lone 16-year-old soldier to the enemy camp as part of the Silla general’s secret scheme to boost his troops’ morale. The young soldier was apprehended by Baekje soldiers, but when General Gyebaek saw the brave young soldier, he exclaimed: [Gyebaek] How could Silla send a soldier as young as you to this cruel battlefield? I do not want to spill your young blood on Baekje’s land. I will let you return alive. [Narration] However, following the young soldier’s return to the Silla camp, Silla troops, including the young soldier, again attacked Baekje. Gyebaek could not spare his life twice and so he cut off the boy soldier’s head and sent it to Silla. The death of the 16-year-old boy changed the atmosphere of battle completely. The grueling battle ended at last with the death of General Gyebaek and a victory for Silla. There’s a saying that a winner is remembered but a loyalist is permanently imprinted on the mind. Gyebaek, the last loyalist of Baekje and a great symbol of devotion and fidelity, is honored at this shrine. - 6 - Busosanseong 3. Flowers Fall at Nakhwa Rock Fortress The cliffs at the end of the northern side of Buso Mountain Fortress are known as the cliffs of ‘falling flowers’. Where did that name come from? There is a story that explains the origin of the name. In 660, Baekje’s Sabi Castle fell and the collapse of the kingdom was imminent. Sabi Castle was destroyed after the invasion, and acts of arson and plunder were commonplace. A group of Baekje women were being pursued by the enemy and finally reached these rocky cliffs. With the enemy close behind them and no way of escape, the women chose death over dishonor. One by one, they threw themselves from the top of the cliff into the river. Later, people described the sight of the Baekje women falling into the river as being akin to falling flower petals, and so these cliffs were called ‘Nakhwa Rock’, meaning ‘Falling Flowers Rock’. The immeasurable sorrow of the Baekje women who shared the grim fate of fallen Baekje has been made the subject of tragic literature throughout the years. The background to their story is right here at Falling Flowers Rock. - 7 - Busosanseong 4. Goransa Temple Fortress If such a thing as the elixir of life existed, would you refuse to drink it? In the film Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Jack Sparrow found the spring of eternal youth, but he declined to drink it and instead gave it to his lover. Here in Goransa Temple, there’s a mystical spring just like in the film. We will tell you about it just once, so listen carefully. The mineral spring behind Goransa Temple is the secret source.