Gyebaek was a general in the ancient Korea

Korea

Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

n kingdom of Baekje

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....

 during the early to mid 7th century. Little else is known of his personal life—including the year and location of his birth. The Taekwondo

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...

 pattern Gyebaek is named after him.

Background

The Baekje Dynasty flourished for six centuries from 18 BCE until it was defeated by Silla

Silla

Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...

 in 660. Baekje was established in the southwest corner of the Korean peninsula

Korean Peninsula

The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...

, close to the site of present-day Seoul

Seoul

Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

 by Onjo, the third son of King Dongmyeong, the first king of 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....

. It expanded southward and set up a trading relationship 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...

.

The last battle

In 660, Baekjae was invaded by a force of 50,000 from Silla, supported by 144,000 Tang soldiers. Gye Baek, with only 5,000 troops under his command, met them in the battlefield of Hwangsanbeol. Before entering departing to the battlefield, Gyebaek reportedly killed his wife and children to boost the fallen morale and patriotism of his army, and to prevent the thought of them to influence his actions or to cause him to falter in battle.

His forces won four initial battles, causing severe casualities to Silla forces. However, in the end, exhausted and surrounded, Gyebaek's army would be outnumbered and overwhelmed. Baekjae's forces would be all annihliated in battle, alongside with their leader Gyebaek.

Aftermath

Baekje was destroyed after 678 years of rule, shortly after Gye Baek's defeat and death at Hwangsan Field.

As Neo-Confucian philosophy became more influential in the later Korean Dynasties, Gyebaek was recognized by historians and scholars are exemplifying the Confucian ideals of patriotism and devotion to his King and praised as such. Although not much else is known about Gyebaek's life, his actions leading up to his last battle are well known to many Koreans.

External links

• http://english.nonsan.go.kr/nsforeign/english/tour/tour_06_02.html Nonsan govt text about the battle
• Gyebaek statue
• Another Gyebaek statue