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The Government of Baekje, was the court system of
Baekje Baekje or Paekche (; ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BCE to 660 CE. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the h ...
(百濟), one of the
Three Kingdoms of Korea The Three Kingdoms of Korea or Samhan (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla) competed for hegemony over the Korea, Korean Peninsula during the ancient period of History of Korea, Korean history. During the Three Kingdoms period (), many states and statele ...
which lasted from 18 BCE–660 CE. The establishment of a centralized state in Baekje is usually traced to the reign of King Goi, who may have first established patrilineal succession. Like most
monarchies A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, reigns as head of state for the rest of their life, or until abdication. The extent of the authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutio ...
, a great deal of power was held by the
aristocracy Aristocracy (; ) is a form of government that places power in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocracy (class), aristocrats. Across Europe, the aristocracy exercised immense Economy, economic, Politics, political, and soc ...
. King Seong, for example, strengthened royal power, but after he was slain in a disastrous campaign against Silla, the nobles took much of that power away from his son. The Hae clan and the Jin clan were the representative royal houses who had considerable power from the early period of Baekje, and they produced many queens over several generations. The Hae clan was probably the royal house before the Buyeo clan (扶餘氏) replaced them, and both clans appear descended from the lineage of
Buyeo Buyeo (; ; ), also rendered as Puyŏ or Fuyu, was an ancient kingdom that was centered in northern Manchuria in modern-day northeast China. It had ties to the Yemaek people, who are considered to be the ancestors of modern Koreans. Buyeo is ...
and
Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...
. The " Great Eight Families" (Sa, Yeon, Hyeop, Hae, Jin, Guk, Mok, and Baek) were powerful nobles in the Sabi era, recorded in Chinese records such as
Tongdian The ''Tongdian'' () is a Chinese institutional history and encyclopedia text. It covers a panoply of topics from high antiquity through the year 756, whereas a quarter of the book focuses on the Tang dynasty. The book was written by Du You from ...
.


Royal Family

The Buyeo clan (扶餘氏) was the royal family of Baekje. The King used the title of "''Eoraha''" (於羅瑕), "Ha" meaning "rulers" and "Eora" meaning "the largest". The common people called the king "''Geon’gilji''" (鞬吉支). The queen was called "''Eoryuk''" (於陸). Also the title Taeja () was given to sons of emperor not like other east Asian countries. In other countries, this title meant
crown prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent. ''Crown prince ...
. ''Wang'' (), or king, was a Chinese royal style used in many states rising from the dissolution of
Gojoseon Gojoseon (; ), contemporary name Joseon (; ), was the first kingdom on the Korea, Korean Peninsula. According to Korean mythology, the kingdom was established by the legendary king Dangun. Gojoseon possessed the most advanced culture in th ...
,
Buyeo Buyeo (; ; ), also rendered as Puyŏ or Fuyu, was an ancient kingdom that was centered in northern Manchuria in modern-day northeast China. It had ties to the Yemaek people, who are considered to be the ancestors of modern Koreans. Buyeo is ...
,
Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...
,
Baekje Baekje or Paekche (; ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BCE to 660 CE. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the h ...
,
Silla Silla (; Old Korean: wikt:徐羅伐#Old Korean, 徐羅伐, Yale romanization of Korean, Yale: Syerapel, Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Seorabeol''; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) was a Korean kingdom that existed between ...
and
Balhae Balhae,, , ) also rendered as Bohai or Bohea, and called Jin (; ) early on, was a multiethnic kingdom established in 698 by Dae Joyeong (Da Zuorong). It was originally known as the Kingdom of Jin (震, Zhen) until 713 when its name was changed ...
,
Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...
.


18 BCE-260 CE

After the kingdom was founded by
Onjo of Baekje Onjo (?–28, reigned c. 18 BC – AD 28) was the founding monarch of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. According to the '' Samguk sagi'', he founded the royal family of Baekje. Background There are a few theories and legends of On ...
, there were the two ranks: Jwabo (左輔) and Ubo (右輔). These two ranks existed for more than 200 years in the early days of Baekje. The "bo" (輔) type officials are found in
Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...
and
Silla Silla (; Old Korean: wikt:徐羅伐#Old Korean, 徐羅伐, Yale romanization of Korean, Yale: Syerapel, Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Seorabeol''; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) was a Korean kingdom that existed between ...
as well as in Chinese history. In China, Jwabo were one of the Sarin (四隣) who assisted a King and were advisors for the Crown Prince. Moreover, there were Jwabo, Ubo and Gyeongbo (京輔) during the
Han Dynasty The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...
whose job it was to administer and defend the capital. In Goguryeo there were the positions Jwabo, Ubo and Daebo (大輔). The Daebo was a symbolic position but both the Jwabo and Ubo were similar to Prime Ministers who took part in politics and national defense. In Silla there was only a Daebo who were advisers of the king; The first to hold the position: Talhae (脫解), Hogong (瓠公) and Algi (閼智) were all foreigners who settled in Silla. In Baekje, records of the Jwabo and Ubo are found five times during the reign of the founding monarch,
Onjo of Baekje Onjo (?–28, reigned c. 18 BC – AD 28) was the founding monarch of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. According to the '' Samguk sagi'', he founded the royal family of Baekje. Background There are a few theories and legends of On ...
and his son and successor Daru of Baekje. After a 200-year gap, during the reign of the 8th king,
Goi of Baekje Goi (died 286, r. 234–286) was the eighth king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Background He is recorded as the second son of the 4th king Gaeru and younger brother of the 5th king Chogo. Upon the death of the 6th king Gusu ...
they were mentioned two times. He appointed Euleum (乙音) as Ubo and assistant to the king. After Goi the Ubo were charged with national security and military affairs. We can also find people who were given positions like Dongbu (東部) and Bukbu (北部) that were written in front of their name in historical materials. They were placed in the surrounding of the capital to defend it from the North and East, battling with the Nangnang (樂浪) and Malgal (靺鞨). This was similar to the Sambo (三輔) of the
Han Dynasty The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...
who were installed around a capital in charge of defense. During this time the Jwabo and Ubo in Goguryeo had similar jobs as the ones in Baekje. When King Goi of Baekje made political reforms in 260 the positions of Jwabo and Ubo were replaced by the new ministers called jwa'pyeong, and after handing over their roles disappeared.


Reform of 260-262

In 260 King
Goi of Baekje Goi (died 286, r. 234–286) was the eighth king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Background He is recorded as the second son of the 4th king Gaeru and younger brother of the 5th king Chogo. Upon the death of the 6th king Gusu ...
reformed the political structure of Baekje and started the 16 rank system and the six ministers (''jwa’pyeong''). In 262 he made the Yull'yeong Law Code and promulgated rules for color-coded official garments. The king proclaimed that the first six ranks should don purple outerware, and hang silver flowers from their crown. Those above the eleventh rank would wear crimson, and those of sixteenth or higher blue. The 16 Rank System: * 1st Rank: Sahe or jwa’pyeong (佐平) consisted of six ministers (''jwa'pyeong'') charged with different roles of government. 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, d ...
'',
Il-yeon Il-yeon (; 1206–1289), also spelled Iryeon, was a Korean Buddhist monk and All-Enlightened National Preceptor () during the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. His birth name was either Kim Gyeong-myeong () or Jeon Gyeon-myeong (), and his courtesy name w ...
: ''Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea'', translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. Mintz. Book Two, page 121. Silk Pagoda (2006).
during the Sabi period, the chief minister (''Sang-jwa'pyeong'') of Baekje was chosen by a unique system. The names of several candidates were placed under a rock (Cheonjeongdae) near Hoamsa temple. After a few days, the rock was moved and the candidate whose name had a certain mark was chosen as the new chief minister. Whether this was a form of
selection by lot In governance, sortition is the selection of public officials or jurors at random, i.e. by lottery, in order to obtain a representative sample. In ancient Athenian democracy, sortition was the traditional and primary method for appointing poli ...
or a covert selection by the elite is not clear. ** Sang-jwa'pyeong (上佐平) – Chief Minister (Prime Minister). *** Byeong'gwan-jwa'pyeong (兵官佐平) – Minister of Defense (Military Affairs). *** Naesin-jwa’pyeong (内臣佐平, 內臣佐平) – Minister of the Interior (Internal Affairs and Communication of Royal Edicts). *** Naedu-jwa’pyeong (內頭佐平) – Minister of Finance. *** Naebeop-jwa’pyeong (內法佐平) – Minister of Rituals. *** Wisa-jwa’pyeong (衛士佐平) – Minister of the Royal Guards. *** Jojeong-jwa’pyeong (朝廷佐平) – Minister of Justice. * 2nd-6th Ranks: Sol (率) ** 2nd Rank: Dalsol (達率) ** 3rd Rank: Eunsol (恩率) ** 4th Rank: Deoksol (德率) ** 5th Rank: Hansol (扜率) ** 6th Rank: Nasol (奈率) * 7th-11th Ranks: Deok (德) ** 7th Rank: Jangdeok (將德) ** 8th Rank: Sideok (施德) ** 9th Rank: Godeok (固德) ** 10th Rank: Gyedeok (季德) ** 11th Rank: Daedeok (對德) * 12th-16th Ranks: ** 12th Rank: Mundok (文督) ** 13th Rank: Mudok (武督) ** 14th Rank: Jwagun (佐軍) ** 15th Rank: Jinmu (振武) ** 16th Rank: Geuke (克虞)


See also

*
Three Kingdoms of Korea The Three Kingdoms of Korea or Samhan (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla) competed for hegemony over the Korea, Korean Peninsula during the ancient period of History of Korea, Korean history. During the Three Kingdoms period (), many states and statele ...
* Crown of Baekje *
Wiryeseong Wiryeseong () was the name of two early capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Both are believed to have been in the modern-day Seoul area. According to ''Samguk Sagi'' (the oldest surviving Korean history book, written in the 12 ...
* Ungjin Commandery * Great Eight Families * Jin clan * Hae clan * List of Baekje people * List of Baekje researchers * List of Baekje monarchs


References


Sources

* Content in this article was copied fro
Samguk Sagi Scroll 23
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112211047/http://nihonshoki.wikidot.com/ss-23 , date=2019-11-12 at the Shoki Wiki, which is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA 3.0) license.
The Academy of Korean StudiesDoosan Encyclopedia
Ancient peoples Former countries in East Asia Former countries in Korean history 18 BC establishments 660 disestablishments Three Kingdoms of Korea 1st-century BC establishments