Biryu of Baekje

Biryu of Baekje (died 344, r. 304–344) was the eleventh king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

For other people named Biryu, see Biryu (disambiguation).
Biryu of Baekje
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationBiryu-wang
McCune–ReischauerPiryu-wang
Monarchs of Korea
Baekje
  1. Onjo 18 BCE–28 CE
  2. Daru 28–77
  3. Giru 77–128
  4. Gaeru 128–166
  5. Chogo 166–214
  6. Gusu 214–234
  7. Saban 234
  8. Goi 234–286
  9. Chaekgye 286–298
  10. Bunseo 298–304
  11. Biryu 304–344
  12. Gye 344–346
  13. Geunchogo 346–375
  14. Geungusu 375–384
  15. Chimnyu 384–385
  16. Jinsa 385–392
  17. Asin 392–405
  18. Jeonji 405–420
  19. Guisin 420–427
  20. Biyu 427–455
  21. Gaero 455–475
  22. Munju 475–477
  23. Samgeun 477–479
  24. Dongseong 479–501
  25. Muryeong 501–523
  26. Seong 523–554
  27. Wideok 554–598
  28. Hye 598–599
  29. Beop 599–600
  30. Mu 600–641
  31. Uija 641–660

Background

He was the second son of the 6th king King Gusu and the younger brother of the 7th king Saban. However, since this would make him rule until at least the age of 110, modern historians commonly assume that Biryu was in fact the son or grandson of Saban's younger brother.[1] After the preceding king Bunseo was assassinated in the 7th year of his reign in 304 by Chinese agents, Biryu ascended to the throne because Bunseo's sons were deemed too young to rule. This appears to have been part of a power struggle between the two branches of the Baekje royal family, the descendants of the 5th king Chogo (Biryu's ancestor) and that of the 8th king Goi.

The Samguk Sagi records that "his character was generous and benevolent, and he was powerful and skilled with a bow. For a long time, he resided among the people, and he was praised far and wide. After the death of Bunseo, all his children were too young to succeed. Therefore, at the recommendation of the ministers and people, he took the throne".[2]

Reign

In 312, he appointed Hae Gu to head the military. In 327, he stopped a rebellion by his half-brother Buyeo Ubok. In 337, he received a mission from the neighboring Silla.

Samguk Sagi:

  • 308 AD, spring, first month, first day of the year. There was a solar eclipse.
  • 312 AD, spring, second month. The king sent ministers to make a tour and listen to the grievances of the people. The widowed and alone could not provide for themselves, and they were given three sok of grain. Summer, fourth month. The king visited Dongmyeong shrine. Bae Hae Gu was made Minister of the Military.
  • 313 AD, spring, first month. Sacrifices were made to heaven and earth in south of the city. The king himself slew the animals.
  • 316 AD, spring. There was a drought. A great star shot in the west. Summer, fourth month. The wells of the capital overflowed. A black dragon was seen inside of it.
  • 320 AD, autumn, eighth month. A tower for shooting was made in the west of the palace. Every month on the first day of the month, he practiced shooting.
  • 321 AD, spring, first month. The king's half-brother, Buyeo Ubok, was made Minister of the Interior. Autumn, seventh month. Venus was seen during the day. In the south of the country, locusts damaged the grain.
  • 325 AD, winter, tenth month. There was a sound in heaven like the wind and the waves were smashing against each other. 11th month. The king went hunting north of Guwon and shot a deer.
  • 327 AD, autumn, seventh month. There was a cloud like a red crow that came toward the sun. Ninth month. The Minister of the Interior, Buyeo Ubok, took control of the fortresses north of the Han River and rebelled. The king dispatched soldiers to attack him.
  • 331 AD, In the spring and summer, there was a great drought. The grass and trees withered, and the rivers ran dry until autumn, when it rained in the seventh month. That year there was a famine, and there were incidents of cannibalism.
  • 333 AD, summer, fifth month. A star fell. There was a fire in the king's palace. It spread to the houses of the people. Autumn, seventh month. They repaired the palace. Bae Jin Yi was made Minister of the Interior. Winter, 12th month. There was thunder.
  • 335 AD, winter, first day of the month. There was a solar eclipse.
  • 336 AD, spring, first month. On "辛巳", a comet was seen in Kui, one of the 28 lunar mansions.
  • 337 AD, spring, second month. Silla dispatched messengers with gifts for the court.
  • 344 AD, winter, tenth month. The king died.

Legacy

He was father of the 13th king King Geunchogo who would become the most famous of all of the kingdom's monarchs bringing Baekje to its pinnacle of power.

Japanese historians suspect Biryu, like Saban, as the progenitor of certain aristocratic clans of Yamato period Japan. Any genealogical records either did not exist or have been lost/destroyed for over a millennium.

Family
  • Father: Gusu of Baekje, because of date discrepancies most scholars believe he is not a son but a descendant.
  • Mother: unknown
    • Family member: Buyeo Sai (扶餘沙伊, ?–234) – first son, 7th King of Baekje, Saban of Baekje
    • Family member: Buyeo Ubok (扶餘優福, ?–?) – in 321 he was appointed Minister of the Interior (Naesin-jwa’pyeong, 內臣佐平) and in 327 he helped put down a rebellion.
      • Queen: Lady Wangbi of the Hae clan (王妃 解氏).
        • 1st son: Buyeo Chan
        • 2nd son: Buyeo Hwi
        • 3rd son: Buyeo San
      • Concubine: Jin Saha of the Jin clan
        • 4th son: Buyeo Gu (扶餘句, 324–375) – 13th King of Baekje, Geunchogo of Baekje.
        • 5th son: Buyeo Mong
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See also

References
  1. Park, Hyun Sook, «백제의중앙과지방»(Central area and regions of Baekje), p. 71, Juryuseong, 2005, ISBN 8987096513
  2. Samguk Sagi, Scroll 23
Biryu of Baekje
Cadet branch of the House of Go
 Died: 344
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Bunseo		 King of Baekje
304–344		 Succeeded by
Gye
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