Biryu (?-?) was the second son of

Jumong Dongmyeong of Goguryeo (), personal name Ko Chumong (), was the founding monarch of the kingdom of Goguryeo, and was worshipped as a god-king by the people of Goguryeo and Goryeo. King Dongmyeong was also an important figure for the kingdom of ...

and

So Seo-no Soseono (; 66/7 – 6 BC) or Yeon Soseono () was the second wife of Dongmyeong of Goguryeo, King Dongmyeong and a key figure in the establishment of both Goguryeo and Baekje. She was the mother of Biryu and Onjo of Baekje, Onjo. Establishment of ...

, and older brother of Onjo, the traditionally recognized founder 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 ...

(18 BCE–660 CE), which was 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 ...

. In an alternate legend, Biryu himself is described as the founder of Baekje.

The Record of Baekje Founding

The Korean history compilation ''

Samguk Sagi ''Samguk sagi'' () is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Completed in 1145, it is well-known in Korea as the oldest surviving chronicle of Korean history. The ''Samguk sagi'' is written in Classical ...

'' presents two founding legends of Baekje, one crediting Onjo, and an alternate crediting Biryu. The ''Samguk Sagi'' relays only Onjo's descendants, not Biryu's, as the royal dynasty of Baekje. However, Biryu's descendants are thought to have maintained enough influence in Baekje for this legend to survive. According to the main account given in the ''Samguk Sagi'', Biryu settled in Michuhol, thought to be today's

Incheon Incheon is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to the east. Inhabited since the Neolithic, Incheon was home to just 4,700 people when it became an international port in 1883. As of February 2020, ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

. Onjo first settled north of the Han River, but later moved his capital to Hanam (meaning "south of the river")

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 ...

() in or near today's

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

. When the Michuhol land proved to be inhospitable, Biryu and his people went to Onjo, demanding that he be the King of

. After Onjo refused, Biryu declared war and attacked Hanam, but failed to conquer it and committed suicide.네이버 백과사전
/ref> Later, the two groups merged to become Baekje. Biryu is also recorded in the ''Haedong goseungjeon'' (). A river and a statelet absorbed into Goguryeo shared his name. The 11th king Biryu and the 20th king Biyu of Baekje also apparently took their names from him.

Popular culture

* Portrayed by Lee Jae Suk in the 2006 MBC TV series ''

''. * Portrayed by Doo Soo in the 2010-2011

KBS1 KBS 1TV is a South Korean free-to-air television channel that launched on 31 December 1961 and is owned by Korean Broadcasting System. The channel offers more serious programming than its sister channel KBS2, and airs with no commercials. Hi ...

TV series '' The King of Legend''. *Portrayed by Hong Jung Hyun in the 2017 KBS TV series '' Chronicles of Korea.''

Notes

References

The Academy of Korean StudiesKorea Britannica
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biryu Baekje royalty