Gwisil Boksin (鬼室福信, ? – 663) was a military general of

Baekje Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. Baekje was founded by Onjo of Baekje, Onjo, the third son of Gogurye ...

, one of the

Three Kingdoms of Korea Samhan or the Three Kingdoms of Korea () refers to the three kingdoms of Goguryeo (고구려, 高句麗), Baekje (백제, 百濟), and Silla (신라, 新羅). Goguryeo was later known as Goryeo (고려, 高麗), from which the modern name ''Kor ...

. He is remembered primarily as a leader of the Baekje Revival Movement to restore the kingdom after the capital fell in 660 to the Silla–Tang alliance.

Background

The Gwisil clan was a collateral branch of the royal family descending from a younger son of the 26th king, Seong of Baekje. Boksin was therefore a distant cousin of Baekje's last recognized king, Uija of Baekje. His father was named Gwisil Jeongin (鬼室貞仁) and seems to be the first to take the name "''Gwisil''". His name is also romanized as "''Kwisil Poksin''" and in Japan his name is read "''Kishitsu Fukushin''". As a relative to the royal family he held the highest rank in court as a minister (''Sahe'', 佐平). The earliest mention of him is dated August 627 when a certain 'nephew' of King Mu of Baekje named Boksin (福信) or Shinbok (信福) is dispatched as an envoy to the court of the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...

. At this time he held the rank of Dalsol (達率, 2nd court rank).

Emperor Taizong of Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang (28January 59810July 649), previously Prince of Qin, personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is traditionally regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty ...

dictated that

and

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 ...

would stop their attacks on

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 of ...

but in February, 628 Baekje underwent a military coup and they attacked Silla, breaking the agreement.

Fall of Baekje

In 660, Baekje was attacked by the allied armies of

and

China. The capital, Sabi, was taken, but Boksin resisted near modern-day Yesan. After King Uija's surrender to Tang dynasty China, Boksin and the monk Dochim kindled a restoration movement. They sent for the prince Buyeo Pung, who had been living as a hostage in Yamato period Japan, an important Baekje ally. With some Japanese aid, they gathered the remnants of the Baekje army and launched a series of attacks on the Silla-Tang forces.

Death

In 663, Silla and Tang counterattacked, and besieged the restoration movement at a fortress known as Juryu Castle (주류성/周留城). At this point Boksin appears to have betrayed the restoration movement. He had Dochim killed and sought to slay Prince Pung as well. However, Pung killed him first, and fled to

. The restoration movement was destroyed shortly thereafter at the Battle of Baekgang. Excerpt from '' Nihon Shoki'': *"''Vanguard shogun Kamitsukeno no Kimi Wakako took Silla’s twin castles in Sabikinue. The Baekje King Pungjang suspected Boksin of treachery, and so made holes in the palms of his hands and bound him with a leather cord. Then he asked the myriad ministers, “Boksin’s crime is this. Shall we behead him or no?” Then Tatsusotsu Deok Jipdeuk said, “This evil betrayer cannot be released.” Then Boksin spat on Jipdeuk and said, “You rotten dog.” The king ordered a strong man to behead Boksin and pickle his neck.''" The location of Juryu Castle, at which Boksin's life came to an end, is now generally believed to be Ugeumam Mountain Fortress in Buan County, North Jeollabr>
Rites to propitiate the spirits of Boksin and Dochim are still held annually at the village of Eunsan-ri in Buyeo County, near the ancient Baekje capital.

Legacy

He had two sons, Gwisil Jipsin (鬼室集信) and Gwisil Jipsa (鬼室集斯) who both settled in Japan. Jipsa is recorded in the '' Nihon Shoki'' as coming to Japan in the eight year of Emperor Tenji (676) and became ancestor of several Japanese clans including the Kikuchi clan of Higo Province,

Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surroun ...

. Hong, Wontack. (1994). ''Paekche of Korea and the Origin of Yamato Japan''. Seoul: Kudara International.

Popular culture

* Portrayed by Kim Young-ki in the 2012-2013

KBS1 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, ...

TV series '' Dream of the Emperor''.

Notes

References

* Hong, Wontack. (1994). ''Paekche of Korea and the Origin of Yamato Japan''. Seoul: Kudara International. * https://web.archive.org/web/20061220223926/http://gias.snu.ac.kr/wthong/ * https://web.archive.org/web/20080827190959/http://www.himemiko.info/2006/01/ * https://web.archive.org/web/20071113135549/http://www.kansai.gr.jp/culture_e/ibunka/monuments/siga/index.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Gwisil, Boksin 663 deaths Baekje people Year of birth unknown