Geungusu of Baekje
Encyclopedia
Geungusu of Baekje was the 14th king of Baekje
, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea
. Geungusu was the eldest son of the 13th king Geunchogo
, and father to the 15th king Chimnyu
and the 16th king Jinsa
.
, capturing 5,000 prisoners. He pushed on to Pyongyang
and Sugok-seong in 371, killing Goguryeo's king Gogugwon
in battle.
He continued his father's policies, and his father's alliance with the Jin clan. His chief minister, Jin Godo, was the father of his queen, Lady Ai.
in 377 with 30,000 men. Had he pushed onto Goguryeo, which was still under turmoil with Gogugwon's death, then Baekje would have completed the conquest of Goguryeo.
Baekje continued as the military and economic power it was during his father's reign. Geungusu maintained friendly relations with China
and Yamato period
Japan. He is recorded in the Nihonshoki as having sent the noted Baekje scholar Wang In to Japan with copies of the Analects of Confucius
and one copy of the Thousand Character Classic
. However, on the basis of Korean accounts some believe that this took place decades later, in the reign of King Asin
.
There were several astonishing weather-related events during his reign, such as the raining dirt incident in 379. A severe drought in 382 also showed the king's love for his people, as he opened up the kingdom's food storages and fed the people.
, who was Crown Prince of Baekje at the time.
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
. Geungusu was the eldest son of the 13th king Geunchogo
Geunchogo of Baekje
Geunchogo of Baekje was the 13th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He reigned over the apex of Baekje's powers.-Background:...
, and father to the 15th king Chimnyu
Chimnyu of Baekje
Chimnyu of Baekje was the 15th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of Geungusu of Baekje and Lady Ai. He was the first Baekje king to officially recognize Buddhism....
and the 16th king Jinsa
Jinsa of Baekje
Jinsa of Baekje was the 16th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.He was the younger brother of the previous ruler, King Chimnyu. According to the Samguk Sagi, he ascended to the throne because the heir, later King Asin, was too young...
.
Background and rise to the throne
In 369, as crown prince, Geungusu led the Baekje armies against invading troops of the northern Korean kingdom GoguryeoGoguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
, capturing 5,000 prisoners. He pushed on to Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
and Sugok-seong in 371, killing Goguryeo's king Gogugwon
Gogugwon of Goguryeo
King Gogugwon of Goguryeo was the 16th king of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the son of King Micheon and Lady Ju. He's birth name is Sa-Yu. He was made crown prince in 314 and became king upon his father's death...
in battle.
He continued his father's policies, and his father's alliance with the Jin clan. His chief minister, Jin Godo, was the father of his queen, Lady Ai.
Reign
During Geungusu's reign, Baekje was in hostile relations with its northern neighbor, Goguryeo, because of Baekje's attacks on Pyongyang, and the murder of a Goguryeo king during one of the battles. He continued these hostilities as king, taking PyongyangPyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
in 377 with 30,000 men. Had he pushed onto Goguryeo, which was still under turmoil with Gogugwon's death, then Baekje would have completed the conquest of Goguryeo.
Baekje continued as the military and economic power it was during his father's reign. Geungusu maintained friendly relations with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Yamato period
Yamato period
The is the period of Japanese history when the Japanese Imperial court ruled from modern-day Nara Prefecture, then known as Yamato Province.While conventionally assigned to the period 250–710 , the actual start of Yamato rule is disputed...
Japan. He is recorded in the Nihonshoki as having sent the noted Baekje scholar Wang In to Japan with copies of the Analects of Confucius
Analects of Confucius
The Analects, or Lunyu , also known as the Analects of Confucius, are considered a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius and his disciples, as well as the discussions they held....
and one copy of the Thousand Character Classic
Thousand Character Classic
The Thousand Character Classic is a Chinese poem used as a primer for teaching Chinese characters to children. It contains exactly one thousand unique characters. It is said that Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty commissioned 周興嗣 to compose this poem for his prince to practice calligraphy...
. However, on the basis of Korean accounts some believe that this took place decades later, in the reign of King Asin
Asin of Baekje
Asin of Baekje was the 17th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.- Background :Buyeo Abang was the eldest son of Baekje's 15th ruler Chimnyu, and ascended to the throne after the death of Chimnyu’s brother, the 16th king Jinsa, of whom he is said to have killed.- Reign :During his...
.
There were several astonishing weather-related events during his reign, such as the raining dirt incident in 379. A severe drought in 382 also showed the king's love for his people, as he opened up the kingdom's food storages and fed the people.
Death and succession
Geungusu died in 384, after 10 years of reign. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Chimnyu of BaekjeChimnyu of Baekje
Chimnyu of Baekje was the 15th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the eldest son of Geungusu of Baekje and Lady Ai. He was the first Baekje king to officially recognize Buddhism....
, who was Crown Prince of Baekje at the time.