Gwisil Boksin
Encyclopedia
Gwisil Boksin was a military leader of the Korean kingdom of Baekje
. He is remembered primarily as a leader of a movement for the restoration of Baekje after the kingdom fell in 660. He was a distant cousin of King Uija, Baekje's last recognized king. He was from the Gwisil Clan
or Kwisil (鬼室; Japanese: Kishitsu).
In 660, Baekje was attacked by the allied armies of Silla
and Tang Dynasty
China. The capital, Sabi, was taken, but Boksin resisted near modern-day Yesan
. After King Uija's surrender to Tang, 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.
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 Goguryeo
. The restoration movement was destroyed shortly thereafter at the Battle of Baekgang
.
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 Jeolla. http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/eng/info_db/dest/sight_detail.jsp?seqno=1961
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.
His son Gwisil Jipsa
(鬼室集斯 Kwisil Chip-sa; Japanese: Kishitsu Shushi) would migrate to Japan in the eighth year of Emperor Tenji (676). Shushi would be the ancestor of some Japanese clans such as the Kikuchi clan
of Higo in Kyushu.
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....
. He is remembered primarily as a leader of a movement for the restoration of Baekje after the kingdom fell in 660. He was a distant cousin of King Uija, Baekje's last recognized king. He was from the Gwisil Clan
Gwisil Clan
The Gwisil Clan were descendants of the Kings of Baekje and were very influential towards the end of the kingdom....
or Kwisil (鬼室; Japanese: Kishitsu).
In 660, Baekje was attacked by the allied armies of Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
and Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
China. The capital, Sabi, was taken, but Boksin resisted near modern-day Yesan
Yesan County
Yesan County is a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Famous people from Yesan include independence fighter Yoon Bong-Gil....
. After King Uija's surrender to Tang, Boksin and the monk Dochim kindled a restoration movement. They sent for the prince Buyeo Pung
Buyeo Pung
Buyeo Pung, known as in Japan, was one of the sons of King Uija of Baekje. When Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, fell to the alliance of Silla and Tang Dynasty in 660, he was in the Wa state of Japan to ensure the alliance between Japan and Baekje. However, there is much dispute about...
, who had been living as a hostage in 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, 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.
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 Goguryeo
Goguryeo
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....
. The restoration movement was destroyed shortly thereafter at the Battle of Baekgang
Battle of Baekgang
The Battle of Baekgang, also known as Battle of Baekgang-gu or by the Japanese name Battle of Hakusukinoe , was a battle between Baekje restoration forces and their ally, Yamato Japan, against the allied forces of Silla and the Tang Dynasty of ancient China...
.
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
Buan County
Buan County is a county in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is bounded by the city of Jeongeup on the east, the county of Gochang on the south, the city of Gimje on the north, and Yellow Sea on the west. Buan is divided into 1 eup, 12 myeon, and 503 ri. Buan had a 2008 estimated population...
, North Jeolla. http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/eng/info_db/dest/sight_detail.jsp?seqno=1961
Rites to propitiate the spirits of Boksin and Dochim are still held annually at the village of Eunsan-ri in Buyeo County
Buyeo County
Buyeo County is a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Buyeo-eup, the county's capital, was the site of the capital of the Baekje kingdom from AD 538 to 660, when it was called Sabi....
, near the ancient Baekje capital.
His son Gwisil Jipsa
Gwisil Jipsa
Gwisil Jipsa , also romanized Kwisil Chipsa, was the son of Gwisil Boksin , a general of Paekche. When Paekche fell in 660 his father tried to save the nation by raising an army and proclaiming Buyeo Pung , the son of the 31st King Uija, as the next king...
(鬼室集斯 Kwisil Chip-sa; Japanese: Kishitsu Shushi) would migrate to Japan in the eighth year of Emperor Tenji (676). Shushi would be the ancestor of some Japanese clans such as the Kikuchi clan
Kikuchi clan
The of Higo Province was a powerful daimyo family of Higo, Kyūshū. The Kikuchi lineage was renowned for its valiant service in defense of the emperor and against foreign invaders. The clan first distinguished itself during the Jürchen invasion of northern Kyūshū in 1019...
of Higo in Kyushu.