Wen|Mumu
Editor|Stargazing
In the Battle of Seoul in 475 AD, Baekje was forced to move the capital to Woongjin, which was the Woongjin period in Baekje's history. In the early days of Woongjin, Baekje faced many difficulties, and Goguryeo continued to advance south, constantly squeezing the northern development space of Baekje.
Due to the fall of the capital, the Baekje regime was at a low point in the entire East Asian order, and the economic foundation of the regime was affected, and the royal power was weak and the political situation was unstable.
In order to overcome many difficulties and achieve the revival of Baekje, the Baekje kings of the Woongjin period actively strengthened the management of the southern region while constantly stabilizing the royal power, and stabilized their communication relations with the southern dynasties and the Japanese archipelago by activating maritime exchanges.
In 538, Baekje moved the capital to Sipo, which was an important link in the revival of his regime. Baekje (18 BC – 660 AD) was one of the important political forces in East Asia, and its capital was relocated several times during its reign.
1. The Northern Border Problem and the Relocation of the Capital of Sipu
Beginning in the second half of the 4th century, Baekje and Goguryeo competed for a hundred years in the Imjin and Yeosung river basins. In 475 AD, Goguryeo attacked the city of Han in Baekje, King Gaihao was killed, and King Wen Zhou had to move to the southern Woongjin region after he came to the throne.
In the Battle of Seoul, Goguryeo severely damaged Baekje and achieved a breakthrough in its southward advance, and its sphere of influence once extended to the Han River basin in the central part of the Korean Peninsula.
At the same time, it strangled the outlet to the sea in the area of present-day Gyeonggi Bay, blocking the tributary road between Baekje and the Central Plains Dynasty from the sea, thus forming a horn against Baekje from the north and northwest. In the nearly two decades since, there has been no frontal military confrontation between the two sides.
However, after Goguryeo captured the city of Seoul in Baekje, the southward advance did not stop there, and under its continuous military pressure, the crisis in Baekje's northern territory was not resolved. According to the "History of the Three Kingdoms, Baekje Benki", "Jing" also often accompanied Goguryeo to attack Baekje.
At the end of the 5th century, the war between the two sides began again. In response to the southward advance of the Goguryeo and Jingjin forces, Baekje not only strengthened the construction of the defense system around the northern territory and the capital Woongjin, but also actively maintained the Ziro alliance to jointly resist the southward movement of the Goguryeo forces.
Against this backdrop, from the end of the 5th century to the first half of the 6th century, the regimes on the Korean Peninsula continued to wage offensive and defensive wars.
During the period when Baekje was the capital of Woongjin, there were 11 military conflicts with Goguryeo and Jingjin, and Goguryeo and Jingjin took the initiative to attack Baekje 9 times, but most of them retreated in vain under the stubborn resistance of Baekje. Baekje took the initiative to attack Goguryeo twice, the results of which are unknown.
Among them, the battle of Goguryeo in 529 AD achieved a more obvious advantage. This war was followed by the fall of King Changshou in 475 AD, and the second personal conquest of Baekje by King Goguryeo.
The scale of the war was large, and Baekje led 30,000 troops to resist the attack of Goguryeo, and in the end, Baekje was defeated and suffered heavy losses.
Some scholars believe that the Battle of Goguryeo had a greater impact on Baekje, and after this battle, Goguryeo occupied the Han River valley, which further proposed that the Battle of Wugu was an important incentive for Baekje to move south to Sipu.
On the whole, the initiative in the war at this stage was basically on the Goguryeo side, while Baekje was on the defensive.
The Battle of Pheasant Castle officially began in 495 AD, and Baekje began to attack Goguryeo during the reign of King Wuning. In 501 AD, Baekje besieged Goguryeo Suguseongseong. In 512, Goguryeo attacked the cities of Gafe and Maronsan.
After taking control of the area around Chungju, Goguryeo is likely to continue to infiltrate along the Dacheon, a tributary of the South Han River, towards Huaisan in the south, threatening Baekje from the northeast.
In 512 AD, Goguryeo captured Baekje Gavor Castle and Wonsan Castle, and the location of the two cities is not clear, of which "Wonsan Castle" appears in the 26th (8) article of King Wenzao in the "History of the Three Kingdoms": (Baekje) infiltrated Mahan and annexed his country.
Only the two cities of Yuanshan and Jinhyeon could not be held, and it was speculated that the two cities of Yuanshan and Jinhyeon should be located in the hinterland of Mahan and not far from Mahan-eup. According to the "Later Hanshu Han Biography": "Ma Han Dumu Zhiguo". It can be seen that the seat of the Meji Kingdom should be the central area of Mahan.
As for the location of Meji Kingdom, according to the distribution area of Zhougou Tuqi tombs, it is more likely to be located in the area of Asan and Tian'an.
Especially through the investigation of the ruins of Cheonan Cheongtangdong and the nearby Xinshali and Huachengli, it is likely that Meji Kingdom is located in the area of Cheonan. Combined with the location of Meji Country, it can be inferred that Maruyama Castle should be located in Cheonan or the surrounding area.
This also shows that the Goguryeo forces at that time once advanced south to the Cheoling area north of the Cheling Mountains. Since the 80s of the 20th century, with the continuous development of archaeological work in Korean academia, many Goguryeo relics have been discovered in the Han River Basin and the area south of the Han River.
Goguryeo relics and relics have been excavated in the areas of Mengcun Tucheng and Mount Asa on the north and south banks of the Han River.
Judging from the types and shapes of the artifacts excavated, the Goguryeo ruins seen in the Mengcun Tucheng and Asa Mountain fortress complexes are roughly dated to the mid-5th to mid-6th centuries.
A number of Goguryeo stone chamber tombs have been found in Seongnam Banqiao Cave, Longin Baoting Cave, Hwaseong Cheongkee-ri and other places located in Mengcun Tucheng along the southbound passage of the Tanchuan River. It is likely that Goguryeo forces entered the Cheonan area through Seongnam, Yongin, Hwaseong, and Anseong.
The ruins of Seongseonggu Mountain Castle and Daejeon Wolpyeongdong in the Geumjiang River Basin have also been confirmed by archaeological investigation to have Goguryeo relics and relics.
Based on the shape of the excavated artifacts and carbon dating, it is estimated that the construction period of Nancheng Gushan Castle was from the second half of the 5th century to the first half of the 6th century, while the time when Goguryeo continued to use the remains of Wolpyeongdong was roughly the second half of the 5th century.
From the two ruins, it is possible that Goguryeo military forces penetrated deep into the Cheongju area, and reached the Geumjiang basin along the Miho River, a northern tributary of the Geumjiang River, and even crossed the Jinjiang River to the Daejeon area for a time, thus posing a direct threat to the Baekje capital of Woongjin.
The above ruins are important traces of Goguryeo's continuous southward advance after the capture of Hanseong in Baekje, and combined with relevant historical materials, Goguryeo forces once advanced south from Tucheng in Mengcun to the Cheoling region in the northern part of the Cheling Mountains.
In the northeast, it extends south along Dacheon, then west along the Miho River and crosses the Geumjiang River basin, posing a military threat to Baekje from both the north and the east.
It can be seen that the military confrontation with Goguryeo in the north was one of the factors that prompted Baekji to move to Supun. The move of the capital to Supu not only increased the depth of the capital's defenses, but also built Raseong to strengthen the defense in view of the topographical characteristics of the new capital Sipu.
2. Political development and southern management
The Baekje people attached great importance to finding and opening up more land for food production and economic development, as well as to support their military confrontation with Goguryeo.
In the early days of Baekje, the capital was located in the Han River basin in the central part of the Korean Peninsula, which can be described as the foundation of the development of the Baekje regime. Originating in the Taebaek Mountains, the Han River runs east-west through the present-day Gyeonggi region of South Korea, and is an important transportation hub on the Korean Peninsula.
Fertile alluvial plains are scattered on both sides, which provided the material basis for the early development of Baekje's regime and foreign exchanges. In 476, Baekje repaired the soybean mountain castle and moved the Hanbei residents to avoid Goguryeo.
It can be seen that after the fall of Seoul, Baekje could not ensure the ability to control the Han River basin, which also meant the loss of an important material supply area to support the development of the regime.
According to the "History of the Three Kingdoms, Baekje Benki", there were 11 famines in Baekje during the 493 years of the Seoul period (18 BC - 475 AD), an average of 1 in 45 years.
During the Sibun period (538-660 AD), there were two famines in 122 years, an average of one in 61 years. However, during the Kumazu period (475-538 AD), there were five famines in just 63 years, an average of one in 13 years.
Compared with Silla and Goguryeo at the same time, although they also experienced disasters, they did not experience such frequent famines. And in the face of severe famine, the Baekje ruling class did not implement effective relief measures, and only carried out one "Fa Cang relief" during the reign of King Wuning.
As a result, there was "hunger and cannibalism" and many border people fled into Silla and Goguryeo. The Woongjin period is the stage when the loss of Baekje's disaster victims is more serious.
The frequent famine and loss of victims indicate that Baekje's economic foundation has been affected by the inability to ensure effective control of the Han River basin, making it difficult to ensure supplies in the event of natural disasters, and the government's inability to effectively pacify and manage the victims.
The development of the regime and the strength of the military were based on the economy, so Baekje urgently needed to open up and operate new agricultural areas for food production and economic development, and to provide material support for the revival of Baekje and the military confrontation with Goguryeo.
However, with Goguryeo pressure in the north, Silla gradually developing in the east, the sea in the west, and the only land development space in Baekje in the south, Baekje can only shift the focus of development to the south and pay more attention to the operation of the southern region.
This southern business strategy can be seen in its expansion into the Gaya region, especially during the reign of King Wuning, when Baekje's battle for Gaya was more active.
(509) included the people of Baekje in Ninna, Nippon Prefecture, who fled from the third and fourth dynasties, and moved to Baekje to annex Guanye. In the winter and December of 512, Baekje sent an envoy to pay tribute. Don't ask Ren Naguo to go up to the four counties of Duo Lou, Lower Duo Duo Qi, Jia Tuo, and Mu Lou.
(513) In the summer of June, Baekje sent his sister General Mi Bungui, the general of Shuri Jier, and the deputy Hotou minister Oshiyama ("Baekje Benki" Yun: Zhiyi Ji Shu Maqi Ya) Gong Wujing doctor Duan Yanger.
Don't play the clouds: "With the cripple country to seize the land of the subject country, please ask the heavenly grace to judge the return of the subordinate." ”
In the winter and November, Xinhai Shuo Yi Yi introduced Baekje's sister General Mi Wengui, Srowen Dezhi, An Luo Xin Xi, and Bampa Shuo, Zhuwen Ji Dian Xi, and Zhuwen Zhi to the imperial court, and blessed the Baekje Kingdom with his own wen.
(529) In the spring and March of the year, the king of Baekje said that the subordinate kingdom of Shousui Ji Zhu Shan said: "Fu Dynasty tribute messenger Hengshudao Island Qu (called the island in the sea Qu Ji Kishi also, vulgar cloud Mei Saqi), every bitter storm, because of the wet, all bad and colorless, please take Garo Duo Shajin as the minister to pay tribute to the Jinlu." ”
It was Oshiyama as the invitation to hear it. In that month, the Ministry of Things, Ise, his father, Genji Shilao, and others, gave the king of Baekje with Jinjin.
As mentioned earlier, the fall of Seoul severely damaged Baekje's economic base, and in order to restore and consolidate its economic foundation, Baekje actively expanded into the southern Gaya region.
It not only appeased the displaced people who fled to the Gaya region, but also continued to encroach on the Gaya states in the Tojin River basin to expand their rule.
In addition, the demand for vast plains is also an important factor in the operation of Baekje South, with the southern Geumjiang region bordering the Nongshan Plain to the west and the vast Hunan Plain to the south.
The Hunan Plain is an alluvial plain in the basin of the Wanjin River and the Dongjin River in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, and is the main grain-producing area in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The development and utilization of the agricultural land of the Hunan Plain became the economic pillar of Baekje's revival.
From the perspective of the geographical environment of Xiongjin, Xiongjin is centered on Gongshan Castle located on the south bank of the Jinjiang River, surrounded by mountains and hills, and the usable area is relatively limited.
Although its topographic characteristics are conducive to defense, it is a certain distance from the large agricultural area on the south side, which is not conducive to the food supply of the capital, and the food supply is also one of the important factors determining the location of the capital.
As the core area of the regime's rule, the location of the capital city must be the center of gravity of the regime. Baekje shifted its development center south, and the capital moved south to Supun, building on the lower Geumjiang region to strengthen its operations in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.
In this way, the power of the regime is enhanced. From this point of view, the southern business strategy is also an important factor in Baekje's relocation to the capital of Sipu.
3. The rise and fall of Baekje and maritime exchanges
Located in the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula, Baekje is a regime facing the sea, and it can be said that the development of the Baekje regime was realized through the sea.
According to historical materials, its national name "Baekje", the early southbound capital, economic life and foreign exchanges are closely related to the sea. History: At the beginning of the Baekjia Sea, because of the name Baekje. Then go to Han Mountain, climb Mount Er, and look forward to the place where you can live.
Boiling currents want to live on the seashore, the ten ministers said: "But this land in the south of the river brings Han water to the north, Gaoyue in the east, Woze in the south, and the sea in the west." Its natural danger and location, rare momentum, as the capital of Yus, is it also appropriate? "Although the sea things offered are not known, they are very heartfelt.
Zhijing division won 6,000 miles to the east, the sun of the coast, the western border of Yueju, the south of Wa, the north of Koryo, all of them stepped on the sea and even, to the east, Silla also. In the early days of the regime, the value of the sea was one of the important factors in the location of its capital.
Boiling currents insisted on living on the seashore despite the advice of the ten ministers, which should be greedy for the benefits of fish salt and boats, and the "west blocking the sea" advised by the ten ministers showed the importance of the sea to the defense of the capital.
For the early Baekje, the sea was a natural defensive barrier, and with the development of shipbuilding technology and the accumulation of navigation knowledge, the sea gradually became an important channel for Baekje's foreign exchanges.
Baekje communicates and exchanges with the Central Plains Dynasty and the Japanese archipelago through the sea. In the tributary exchanges with the Central Plains Dynasty, Baekje absorbed a large number of Central Plains cultural systems.
It had an important impact on the strengthening of Baekje's royal power, institutional improvement, and economic and cultural development, and at the same time, Baekje played a role as a mediator to spread the Central Plains culture it absorbed to the Japanese archipelago.
Not only that, but this cultural advantage is also reflected in the interaction between Baekje and Silla to maintain the alliance with Silla. Baekje's foreign relations show the outstanding characteristics of integrating political alliances with culture as ties.
Driven by strong political and cultural needs, Baekje has maintained active exchanges with the Southern Dynasties and the Japanese archipelago.
In particular, Baekje faced many difficulties in the early days of moving the capital to Woongjin, the northern territory was hostile to Goguryeo for a long time, and the internal royal power was weak and the political situation was unstable, and successively experienced changes in revenge and chaos.
Moreover, Baekje's lack of access to Southern Qi "advances" also means that its regime has lost its original political position in the entire East Asian order.
Therefore, the Baekje kings of the Woongjin period worked to consolidate royal power internally, but externally resisted Goguryeo's southward offensive, restored old frontiers, improved Baekje's position in the East Asian order, and laid the foundation for Baekje's revival.
Stabilizing relations with the South Korea and the Japanese archipelago was important not only for the re-establishment of royal power and the restoration of its former political position in the East Asian system, but also for strong support in competing with other regimes on the Korean Peninsula.
Therefore, actively carrying out cross-sea communication was particularly important for the Baekje regime during the Woongjin period. However, the Baekje West Sea Route in the early days of Woongjin was blocked by Goguryeo. In order to get out of the predicament and restore traffic in the West Sea, Baekje urgently needs to explore new sea routes.
Most previous research results suggest that during this period, Baekje achieved exchanges with the Southern Dynasty by crossing the Western Sea, that is, Baekje, threatened by Goguryeo's maritime power, tried to open a route of envoys across the Yellow Sea after moving south.
Some scholars have even suggested that in order to maintain contacts with the Southern Dynasties after the 6th century, Baekje used the sea route from Black Mountain Island on the southwest coast to Meiju. The Baekje Yuehai tribute was a very difficult thing in the eyes of the Central Plains Dynasty.
As recorded in the Book of Sui, in the face of the Baekje envoys who came to pay tribute, Emperor Wen of Sui affirmed the difficulty in it: Gaozu Shanzhi, issued an edict: The king of Baekje heard of Pingchen and ordered the table from afar. It is difficult to repeat, and if there is a storm, it will cause injury.
King Baekje's heart is clear, and he has been entrusted. Although they are far apart, things are the same, so why send several envoys to understand each other. From now on, there is no need to pay tribute every year, and there will be no envoys, and Wang Yi knows it.
The content of the edict very bluntly expressed Emperor Wen of Sui's sympathy for the envoys of Baekje. "If it is difficult to repeat, if there is a storm, it will cause injury" reflects that it is not easy for the Baekje envoys to cross the sea, and it is very likely that they will be in distress at sea.
It shows that after Baekji moved south, it was likely to be through the risky cross-sea route to the Central Plains Dynasty.
Moreover, Baekje successfully sent an envoy to Southern Qi in 486 AD, indicating that in the following period, it basically overcame Goguryeo's blockage of its sea traffic and maintained a relatively stable tributary relationship with the Southern Dynasty.
The Youryang dynasty (502–557) was the most intimate period of Baekje's relationship with the Southern Dynasties. Emperor Yuandi of Liang's "Gonggongtu" and relics unearthed from the tomb of King Wuning are all reflected.
Further active foreign exchanges are also one of the backgrounds of Baekjinan's relocation to Sipu, especially to promote political, economic and cultural exchanges with the South Korea.
After moving the capital to Woongjin, it was difficult for Baekje to reuse the mouth of the Han River, so the location of the mouth of the Geumjiang River became particularly important, and the mouth of the Geumjiang River was supposed to be one of the ports for foreign exchanges during the Woongjin and Supu periods.