Beopheung of Silla (r. 514–540 AD) was the 23rd monarch of

Silla Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms o ...

, one of the

Three Kingdoms The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Eastern Han dynasty and was followed by the West ...

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic ...

. He was preceded by King Jijeung (r. 500–514) and succeeded by King Jinheung. By the time of his reign,

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

had become fairly common in Silla, as it had been introduced much earlier by

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled mos ...

monks during King Nulji's reign. One of King Beopheung's ministers, a man named

Ichadon Ichadon (501–527; Hanja: 異次頓), also known as Geochadon (Hanja: 居次頓) or by his courtesy name Yeomchok (Hanja: 厭觸) or Yeomdo (Hanja: 厭都), was a Buddhist monk and advisor to the Silla king Beopheung. Miracle Early in his reign ...

, was a Buddhist convert who had even shaved his head and took the tonsure. He constantly implored the king to adopt Buddhism as the state religion, and in fact King Beopheung himself had become fond of Buddha's teachings. However, the other ministers of Silla were greatly opposed to this, and expressed such defiance to the king. Beopheung, having been persuaded by his ministers, was at a crossroads, and encountered great reluctance to change. At this time, Ichadon suggested his own martyrdom and pleaded with the king to execute him in public for the cause of Buddhism. This the king refused to do, and so Ichadon deliberately insulted the ministers of the kingdom, thus provoking the anger of the king. In the end, Ichadon was executed in public, but before his head was cut off, he stated that the blood spilled from his body would not be red but milky white. According to the

Samguk Yusa ''Samguk yusa'' () or ''Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms'' is a collection of legends, folktales and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, duri ...

, his predictions proved correct, and Ichadon's milky blood horrified the ministers of the kingdom. As a result of Ichadon's martyrdom, King Beopheung finally chose Buddhism as the state religion. However, true Buddhist freedom in Silla would not begin until the reign of King Jinheung. Beopheung sent a tribute mission to the king of Liang dynasty in 523. This envoy visited ''Liang'' with the help of Baekje. In this tribute, Baekje represents Silla as a subordinate to Baekje. However, Silla acknowledges this because Baekje is needed to guard against Goguryeo and Japan.

Family

*Father: Jijeung of Silla (437–514) (r. 500–514) *Mother: Queen Yeonje of the Park Clan (연제부인박씨) *Wife: ** Queen Kim of the Kim clan (조생부인 김씨), daughter of

Soji of Silla Soji of Silla was Ruler of Silla (died 500, r. 479–500). He was preceded by Jabi Maripgan (458–479) and succeeded by King Jijeung (500–514). Family *Grandfather: King Nulji of Silla *Grandmother: Queen Aro, of the Kim clan (아로부� ...

Princess Bodo ***Daughter: Queen Jiso (지소태후) (? - 574) married Galmunwang Ipjong (입종 갈문왕) ****Grandson: Jinheung of Silla ****Grandson: General Mijinbu (525-548)( 미진부), 2nd Pungwolju **Concubine: Princess Okjin of the Gyeongju Kim clan (옥진궁주 김씨), daughter of Wi Hwarang (위화랑), 1st Pungwolju ***Son: Prince Kim Bidae-jeon (비대전군) ***Son: Prince Kim Morang (모랑), 3rd Pungwolju **Concubine: Princess Bogwa (보과공주), of the Buyeo clan (부여씨), daughter of

Dongseong of Baekje Dongseong of Baekje (?–501, r. 479–501by the translators of Il-yeon's: ''Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea'', translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 124. Silk Pagoda (2006). ) was ...

***Daughter: Princess Nammo (남모공주)

References

Silla rulers Silla Buddhists Korean Buddhist monarchs Buddhism in Silla 540 deaths 6th-century monarchs in Asia Year of birth unknown 6th-century Korean people {{Noble-stub

Family

See also

References