Silla

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This article is about the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. For the municipality of the same name in Spain, please see Silla, Valencia.

Silla

Korean name
Hangul:	신라
Hanja:	新羅
Revised Romanization:	Silla
McCune-Reischauer:	Silla

Silla (also spelled Shilla) was one of the three kingdoms of ancient Korea. It conquered the other two kingdoms in the 7th century C.E., Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668. Historians sometimes refer to Silla in the period after it conquered the other two kingdoms as Unified Silla. Silla history is traditionally divided by Korean scholars into four periods. During the first period (57 B.C.~514 A.D.), Silla evolved to a kingdom. Silla became a fully grown kingdom during the second period (514~654). During the third period (654~780), Silla unified the Korean peninsula and enjoyed peace and prosperity. During the fourth period (780~937), Silla slowly deteriorated. Silla surrended to Goryeo).

Traditionally it is said that Silla, also known as Seorabeol or Saro, was founded by Bak Hyeokgeose in 57 BC, by unifying and expanding the loose confederation known as Jinhan. The earliest recording of this date is found in the Samuk Sagi, a 12th century Korean history. Modern scholars now generally consider such a date to be too early, and likely an attempt by the author of the Samguk Sagi, Kim Bu-sik, to help legitimize Silla rule by giving it historical seniority over its rival kingdoms Baekje and Goguryeo. By the 2nd century, it existed as a distinct kingdom in the south east of Korea. King Naemul (356-402) established a hereditary monarchy. By annexing the eastern half of the kingdom of Gaya state in the 6th century, Silla emerged as a fully grown kingdom.

King Jinheung (540-576) established a strong military force. In the 7th century Silla allied itself with the Chinese Tang dynasty. In 660, under King Muyeol (654-661), Silla subjugated the kingdom of Baekje. In 668, under King Munmu (King Muyeol's successor) and the famous General Kim Yu-shin, Silla conquered Goguryeo in the north. After this Silla fought for almost a decade to expel the Chinese forces and established a unified kingdom in Korea.

Following unification Silla began to rely more upon Chinese models of bureaucracy to adminster its greatly expanded territory. This was a marked change from pre-unification days when the Silla monarchy stressed Buddhism, and the Silla monarch's role as a "Buddha-king". Another salient factor in post-unification politics were the increasing tensions between the Korean monarchy.

Since its emergence as a centralized polity Silla society had been characterized by its strict aristocratic makeup. Silla had the royal classes: "sacred bone" (seonggol 성골 聖骨) and "true bone" (jingol 진골 眞骨). Up until the reign of King Muyeol this aristocracy had been divided into "sacred bone" and "true bone" aristocrats, with the former differentiated by their eligibility to attain the kingship. This duality had ended when Queen Jindeok, the last seonggol, died in 654.

The capital of the Silla kingdom was Gyeongju. A great number of Silla tombs can still be found in the centre of Gyeongju. Silla tombs took the form of a stone chamber which was surrounded by a soil mound. A great number of remains from the Silla period can be found all over Gyeongju. The historic area around Gyeongju was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000. Much of it is also protected as part of Gyeongju National Park.

The Bronze Bell of King Seongdeok the Great attracts a large number of tourists. The bell produces a distinctive sound, about which there is a legend. Some claim Cheomseongdae near Gyeongju is the oldest extant astronomical observatory in East Asia, while there is no concensus about whether it has ever been used as one.

History of Korea
Gojoseon Samhan Three Kingdoms : Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla Unified Silla and Balhae Later Three Kingdoms Goryeo Joseon 1900-1950 Divided Korea : N. Korea, S. Korea

The importance of Buddhism is reflected by many buddhist carvings left behind by Buddhist monks, mostly importantly on Mt. Namsan. These statues and reliefs are carved in stone, being preserved over the centuries.

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Culture

Buddhism was supported by the state and flourished in Silla. A great number of temples were built, the most notable probably being Hwangyongsa, Pulguksa and Sokkuram. Silla attached great importance to the pagoda. Silla built stone pagodas as well as wooden pagodas.

From at least the 6th century, when Silla acquired a detailed system of law and governance, social status and official advancement were dictated by the bone rank system. This rigid lineage-based system also dictated clothing, house size and the permitted range of marriage.

During this period, Muslim traders brought the name "Silla" to the world outside the traditional East Asian sphere for the first time. Geographers of the Arab and Persian world, including ibn Khurdadhbih, al-Masudi, Dimashiki, al-Nuwairi, and al-Maqrizi, left records about Silla.