Hyeokgeose of Silla facts for kids

Hyeokgeose of Silla (born 69 BC, died 4 AD) was a very important person in Korean history. He was the first king and founder of the Silla kingdom. Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, which were powerful states that existed a long time ago. Hyeokgeose is also known as Bak Hyeokgeose. He is considered the ancestor of all Bak (or Park) family clans in Korea.

What Does His Name Mean?

Hyeokgeose's title was Geoseogan. This word meant "king" in the language of the Jinhan confederacy. The Jinhan were a group of small states in the southeast of the Korean Peninsula.

His name "Hyeokgeose" was not his everyday name. It was an honorific name, which is a special title given to show respect. It was pronounced "Bulgeunae" in old Korean. This means "bright world." The characters used in his name, like 赫 (hyeok) meaning "bright," and 世 (se) meaning "world," help to show this meaning.

The Founding Story

Ancient Korean books like the Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa tell the amazing story of how Hyeokgeose founded Silla.

Long ago, people who had left a kingdom called Gojoseon lived in six villages. These villages were in what is now Gyeongsang-do, South Korea.

In 69 BC, the leaders of these six villages met. They wanted to form a kingdom and choose a king. At a well in one of the villages, a strange light shone from the sky. A white horse was bowing down there. One of the chiefs found a large egg. A boy came out of the egg! When they bathed him, his body glowed, and birds and animals danced around him.

The chiefs raised this special boy. When he turned 13, they made him their king. They named their new state Seorabeol.

After becoming king, Hyeokgeose married Lady Aryeong. People believed she was born from the ribs of a dragon.

Some stories also say that Hyeokgeose's mother was Lady Saso. She was from a Chinese royal family and moved to the Jinhan area.

Why the Founding Date is Debated

The story of Silla's founding might tell us about how the Bak family became powerful. It also hints at old beliefs like horse and sun worship.

Today, many historians question the exact founding date of Silla (57 BC). The Samguk Sagi was written from Silla's point of view. It made Silla seem older and more important than the other two kingdoms, Goguryeo and Baekje.

Traditionally, people thought Silla was founded first, then Goguryeo, then Baekje. However, new discoveries from archaeology tell a different story. They suggest that Goguryeo might be the oldest kingdom. Silla might have developed around the same time as Baekje, or even after it.

His Time as King

According to the Samguk Sagi, King Hyeokgeose and his queen traveled their kingdom in 41 BC. They helped their people improve their harvests. The people loved them and called them the "Two Saints" or "Two Holy Ones."

In 37 BC, Hyeokgeose built a city called Geumseong in the capital. This is in modern-day Gyeongju. In 32 BC, he built a royal palace inside Geumseong.

In 28 BC, a Chinese group called the Lelang commandery tried to invade Silla. But when they saw that the people had plenty of food and didn't even lock their doors at night, they were amazed. They called Silla a very moral nation and left without fighting.

In 20 BC, the king of the Mahan confederacy demanded a tribute from Silla. Silla sent a minister named Hogong instead of a tribute. The Mahan king was angry. Hogong bravely criticized the king's rude behavior. The king was furious and wanted to kill Hogong. But his own helpers stopped him, and Hogong was allowed to return to Silla safely.

Hyeokgeose also sent a messenger when the Mahan king died in 19 BC. Later, in 5 BC, a small state called East Okjeo sent a messenger. Hyeokgeose gave him 20 horses as a gift.

Death and Who Came Next

Hyeokgeose ruled for about 60 years. He laid the groundwork for a kingdom that would eventually unite much of the Korean Peninsula in 668 AD.

He kept strong control over his kingdom. He was one of the few Bak rulers who had complete power over Silla. He died when he was 73 years old. He was buried in a place called Sareung. After his death, his oldest son, Namhae, became the next king.

His Lasting Impact

Even though we don't know every detail about Hyeokgeose, his legacy is still important today. One of his biggest legacies is his many descendants. The Park family clans in Korea are the third largest group of people with the same last name. All Park clans in Korea can trace their family history back to Bak Hyeokgeose, the first king of Silla.

The kingdom he started, Silla, was also a huge legacy. The Gyeongju Gim (Kim) and Wolseong Seok clans, who also ruled Silla later, always respected and honored Hyeokgeose for founding the kingdom.

Family

See also

In Spanish: Hyeokgeose de Silla para niños