Proto–Three Kingdoms
Main article: Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Proto–Three Kingdoms period, sometimes called the Multiple States Period, is the earlier part of
what is commonly called the Three Kingdoms Period, following the fall of Gojoseon but
before Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla fully developed into kingdoms.
This time period saw numerous states spring up from the former territories of Gojoseon, which
encompassed northern Korea and southern Manchuria. With the fall of Gojoseon, southern Korea
entered the Samhan period.
Located in the southern part of Korea, Samhan referred to the three confederacies
of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. Mahan was the largest and consisted of 54
states. Byeonhan and Jinhan both consisted of twelve states, bringing a total of 78 states within
the Samhan. These three confederacies eventually developed into Baekje, Silla, and Gaya.
Three Kingdoms
Main articles: Three Kingdoms of Korea, Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla
7th century Tang dynasty painting of envoys from the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla
The Three Kingdoms of Korea consisted of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. Silla and Baekje controlled
the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the former Samhan territories, while
Goguryeo controlled the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria and the Liaodong
Peninsula, uniting Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and other states in the former Gojoseon territories.[25]
Goguryeo was a highly militaristic state;[26][27][self-published source?] it was a powerful empire and one of the great
powers in East Asia,[28][29][30][31][self-published source?] reaching its zenith in the 5th century when its territories
expanded to encompass most of Manchuria to the north, parts of Inner Mongolia to the west,[32] parts
of Russia to the east,[33] and the Seoul region to the south.[34] Goguryeo experienced a golden age
under Gwanggaeto the Great and his son Jangsu,[35][36][37][38] who both subdued Baekje and Silla during
their times, achieving a brief unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and becoming the most
dominant power on the Korean Peninsula.[39][40] In addition to contesting for control of the Korean
Peninsula, Goguryeo had many military conflicts with various Chinese dynasties,[41][self-published source?] most
notably the Goguryeo–Sui War, in which Goguryeo defeated a huge force said to number over a
million men.[42][43][44][45][46] In 642, the powerful general Yeon Gaesomun led a coup and gained complete
control over Goguryeo. In response, Emperor Tang Taizong of China led a campaign against
Goguryeo, but was defeated and retreated.[47][48][self-published source?] After the death of Tang Taizong, his son
Emperor Tang Gaozong allied with the Korean kingdom of Silla and invaded Goguryeo again, but
was unable to overcome Goguryeo's stalwart defenses and was defeated in 662. [49][50] However, Yeon
Gaesomun died of a natural cause in 666 and Goguryeo was thrown into chaos and weakened by a
succession struggle among his sons and younger brother, with his eldest son defecting to Tang and
his younger brother defecting to Silla.[51][52] The Tang-Silla alliance finally conquered Goguryeo in 668.
After the collapse of Goguryeo, Tang and Silla ended their alliance and fought over control of the
Korean Peninsula. Silla succeeded in gaining control over most of the Korean Peninsula, while Tang
gained control over Goguryeo's northern territories. However, 30 years after the fall of Goguryeo, a
Goguryeo general by the name of Dae Joyeong founded the Korean-Mohe state of Balhae and
successfully expelled the Tang presence from much of the former Goguryeo territories.
Seokguram Grotto from the Silla era, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The southwestern Korean kingdom of Baekje was founded around modern-day Seoul by
a Goguryeo prince, a son of the founder of Goguryeo.[53][54][self-published source?][55] Baekje absorbed all of
the Mahan states and subjugated most of the western Korean peninsula (including the modern
provinces of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeolla, as well as parts of Hwanghae and Gangwon) to a
centralised government; during the expansion of its territory, Baekje acquired Chinese culture and
technology through maritime contacts with the Southern Dynasties. Baekje was a great maritime
power;[56] its nautical skill, which made it the Phoenicia of East Asia, was instrumental in the
dissemination of Buddhism throughout East Asia and continental culture to Japan. [57][58] Historic
evidence suggests that Japanese culture, art, and language were influenced by the kingdom of
Baekje and Korea itself;[31][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] Baekje also played an important role in transmitting
advanced Chinese culture to the Japanese archipelago. Baekje was once a great military power on
the Korean Peninsula, most notably in the 4th century during the rule of Geunchogo when its
influence extended across the sea to Liaoxi and Shandong in China, taking advantage of the
weakened state of Former Qin, and Kyushu in the Japanese archipelago; [70] however, Baekje was
critically defeated by Gwanggaeto the Great and declined. [citation needed]
The Three Kingdoms of Korea, at the end of the 5th century
Although later records claim that Silla was the oldest of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, it is now
believed to have been the last kingdom to develop. By the 2nd century, Silla existed as a large state
in the southeast, occupying and influencing its neighboring city-states. In 562, Silla annexed
the Gaya confederacy, which was located between Baekje and Silla. The Three Kingdoms of Korea
often warred with each other and Silla was often dominated by Baekje and Goguryeo. Silla was the
smallest and weakest of the three, but it used cunning diplomatic means to make opportunistic pacts
and alliances with the more powerful Korean kingdoms, and eventually Tang China, to its great
advantage.[71][72] In 660, King Muyeol ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided
by Tang forces, conquered Baekje after defeating General Gyebaek at the Battle of Hwangsanbeol.
In 661, Silla and Tang attacked Goguryeo but were repelled. King Munmu, son of Muyeol and
nephew of General Kim Yu-shin, launched another campaign in 667 and Goguryeo fell in the
following year.
