Baekje
Baekje or Paekche (Korean: 백제; Hanja: 百濟; RR: Baekje, Korean pronunciation: [pɛk̚.tɕ͈e]) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the highest population of approximately 3,800,000 people (760,000 households), which was similar to that of Goguryeo (3,500,000 people) and much larger than that of Silla (850,000 people).
Baekje | |||||||||||||
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| 18 BC–660 AD | |||||||||||||
Approximate extent of Baekje during the reign of King Geunchogo in the 4th century. Kingdom of Baekje | |||||||||||||
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| Common languages | Baekje (Koreanic), Classical Chinese, (literary) | ||||||||||||
| Religion | Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shamanism | ||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||
| King | |||||||||||||
• 18 BC – 28 AD | Onjo (first) | ||||||||||||
• 346–375 | Geunchogo | ||||||||||||
• 523–554 | Seong | ||||||||||||
• 600–641 | Mu | ||||||||||||
• 641–660 | Uija (last) | ||||||||||||
| Legislature | Jeongsaam council | ||||||||||||
| Historical era | Ancient | ||||||||||||
• Establishment | 18 BC | ||||||||||||
• Campaigns of King Geunchogo | 346–375 | ||||||||||||
• Introduction of Buddhism | 385 | ||||||||||||
• Fall of Sabi | 18 July 660 AD | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
• 7th century | Approximately 3,800,000 (760,000 households) | ||||||||||||
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| Today part of | North Korea South Korea | ||||||||||||
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 백제 |
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| Hanja | 百濟 |
| Revised Romanization | Baekje |
| McCune–Reischauer | Paekche |
| IPA | [pɛk̚.tɕ͈e] |
Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jumong and Soseono, at Wiryeseong (present-day southern Seoul). Baekje, like Goguryeo, claimed to succeed Buyeo, a state established in present-day Manchuria around the time of Gojoseon's fall.
Baekje alternately battled and allied with Goguryeo and Silla as the three kingdoms expanded control over the peninsula. At its peak in the 4th century, Baekje controlled most of the western Korean peninsula, as far north as Pyongyang, and may have even held territories in China, such as in Liaoxi, though this view is controversial. It became a significant regional sea power, with political and trade relations with China and Japan.
Baekje was a great maritime power; its nautical skill, which made it the Phoenicia of East Asia, was instrumental in the dissemination of Buddhism throughout East Asia and continental culture to Japan.
In 660, it was defeated by the Tang dynasty and Silla, and was ultimately submitted to Unified Silla.