Synopses & Reviews
This volume presents two histories of the early Korean kingdom of Paekche (trad. 18 BCE-660 CE). The first, written by Jonathan Best, is based largely on primary sources, both written and archaeological. This initial history of Paekche serves, in part, to introduce the second, an extensively annotated translation of the oldest history of the kingdom, the Paekche Annals (
Paekche pon'gi). Written in the chronicle format standard for the traditional official histories of East Asia, the Paekche Annals constitutes one section of the Histories of the Three Kingdoms (
Samguk sagi), a comprehensive account of early Korean history compiled under the editorial direction of Kim Pusik (1075-1151). Although these two representations of Paekche history differ markedly, the underlying problem faced by both the twelfth-century and the twenty-first-century historian is essentially the same: fashioning a responsible, encompassing, and reasonably coherent history of the kingdom from meager, and often disparate and fragmentary, evidence.
Included in the volume are 22 appendixes on problems in Paekche history; a concordance of proper names, official titles, omens, and weights and measures; a glossary of geographical names; and six historical maps of the kingdom showing its changing boundaries.
Review
Rarely has the East Asian scholarly world seen the publication of a work on its early history as important as Jonathan Best&squos History of the Early Korean. This history promises to be a definitive text of early Korean history and an important piece of the puzzle for scholars who are seeking to understand East Asia at the start of the first millennium. Korean Quarterly
Review
Best's book is a watershed in the study of Paekche outside of Korea and perhaps will give further impetus to the growth of studies on traditional Korea in the West...Whether this is on the horizon or not, Best's work will stand alone as both a scrupulously written history of a little understood kingdom, and a scholarly and informed partial translation of one of the most important works in the study of Korea. Daniel Corey Kane
Synopsis
This volume presents two histories of the early Korean kingdom of Paekche (trad. 18 BCE-660 CE). The first, written by Jonathan Best, is based largely on primary sources, both written and archaeological. This initial history of Paekche serves, in part, to introduce the second, an extensively annotated translation of the oldest history of the kingdom, the Paekche Annals (Paekche pon'gi).
About the Author
Jonathan W. Best is Professor of Art History at Wesleyan University.
Wesleyan University
Table of Contents
Preface
Part I: A History of the Early Korean Kingdom of Paekche
1. The Samguk Sagi and its Representation of Early Paekche History
2. The Hansong Era: Paekche from 350 to 475
3. From Recovery at Ungjin to Disaster at Kuch;on: Paekche from 475 to 554
4. Royal Power during the Kingdom's Final Century: Paekche from 554 to 660
Part II: The Paekche Annals of the Samguk sagi
1. (Samguk sagi, Chapter 23): The Annals of the Dynastic Founder, King Onjo, and the Kings Taru, Kiru, Kaeru, and Ch'ogo
2. (Samguk sagi, Chapter 24): The Annals of the Kings Kusu, Saban, Koi, Ch'aekkye, Punso, Piryu, Kye, Kunch'ogo, Kun'gusu, and Ch'imnyu
3. (Samguk sagi, Chapter 25): The Annals of the Kings Chinsa, Asin, Chonji, Kuisin, Piyu, and Kaero
4. (Samguk sagi, Chapter 26): The Annals of the Kings Munju, Samjun, Tongsong, Muryong, and Song
5. (Samguk sagi, Chapter 27): The Annals of the Kings Widok, Hye, Pop, and Mu
6. (Samguk sagi, Chapter 28): The Annals of the King Uija
Appendices
I. Calculating the Approximate Ages of Paekche's Earliest Kings Appearing in the Paekche Annals
II. The P'ae and Tae Rivers
III. Ch'ogo-Kunch'ogo and Kusu-Kun'gusu
IV. King Piryu
V. King Modo of Paekche
VI. Designations for King Muryong
VII. Problematic Dating of the Reigns of Tongsong and Muryong
VIII. Toksan Fortress and Ongmun Valley
IX. The Dating and Circumstances of the Battlefield Death of King Song
X. The Date of King Widok's Accession
XI. The Tung-ch'ing Region
XII. Poksin
XIII. Prince P'ung
XIV. Paekche Armor Presentations to the T'ang Court
XV. Price Kyogi and Senior Counselor Chijok
XVI. Paekche's Capture of Taeya Fortress and Its Repercussions
XVII. The Dating of the Paekche-Koguryo Attack on Tang-hang Fortress
XVIII. The Defeat of Paekche General Uijik's Army in 648
XIX. The Defeat of Paekche General Unsang's Army in 649
XX. The Paekche Annals' Silence on Paekche's Relations with the Japanese Archipelago between 428 and 653
XXI. The Manghae Pavilion and the Date of Its Construction
XXII. The Omen of the Temple-circumambulating Horse
XXIII. The Paekche Annals' Claim of the Po-hai and Malgal Domination of Portions of Paekche's Former Domain at the End of the Seventh Century
Reference Matter
Key to Citations in the Concordance and the Geographical Glossary
Concordance
Geographical Glossary: Place Names in the Paekche Annals
Historical Maps
Bibliographies
Index