Muryeong (461/462–523, r. 501–23) was the 25th king of Baekje , one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea . During his reign, Baekje remained allied with Silla against Goguryeo , and expanded its relationships with China and Japan .
14-499: The Tomb of King Muryeong calls him King Sama (斯麻), and records his birth year as 462. The Samguk sagi calls him King Muryeong, with the personal name ( 휘 ) of Sama (斯摩). He is described as the second son of the 24th king Dongseong . He became king when Dongseong was assassinated by the court official Baekga. The following year, he crushed a planned rebellion by Baekga. China's Liang shu gives his surname as Yeo and personal name as Yung, and states that he restored Baekje into
28-542: A bronze mirror, and in 513 and 516, Confucian scholars to Japan. In 1971, King Muryeong's tomb was excavated in Songsan-ri , Gongju , South Korea, where he was buried with his queen. In 2001, Japan's emperor Akihito told reporters "I, on my part, feel a certain kinship with Korea, given that it is recorded in the Chronicles of Japan that the mother of Emperor Kanmu was one of the descendant of King Muryong of Baekje." It
42-468: A strong nation. Japan's Nihonshoki gives his birthdate as 25 June 461, and describes him as the son of the 21st king Gaero . It is recorded Buyeo Gonji , the brother of King Gaero went to Japan to serve Emperor Yūryaku with King Muryeong's mother, and she went into labor as their ship was passing by a small Japanese island. He was called Semakishi (嶋君) and King Shima (斯麻王) in Japanese records because he
56-548: Is also registered on the South Korean government's tentative list of World Heritage Sites . The tomb was accidentally discovered during water drainage work on the No.5 and 6 tombs in 1971. It had been untouched by grave robbers and thieves for over a millennium, and when it was excavated it was the first time the tomb had been opened since the bodies of the king and queen were interred there fifteen hundred years earlier. The exterior of
70-591: Is the ancient tumulus of King Muryeong , who ruled the Baekje from 501 to 523, and his queen. The rarity of intact Baekje tombs makes this one of the major archaeological discoveries in Korea and a crucial source for the understanding of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea . The tomb is located in what is now Gongju , South Chungcheong Province , South Korea . It is Korean Historic Site No. 13. King Muryeong's Tomb
84-693: The Liang shu , Muryeong sent Baekje's first mission to the newly established court of the Chinese Liang Dynasty . A second mission was sent in 521, announcing various victories over Goguryeo . In reply, the Liang emperor bestowed various titles on him, including "Great General Tranquilizing the East (寧東大將軍)" and "King of Baekje". These titles were also found engraved on a tablet in King Muryeong's tomb. In 503, he sent
98-448: The bricks of the tomb is in alternating rows of lengthwise and widthwise arrangements. The bricks mainly have lotus motifs but other decorations were incorporated as well. From the tomb, 2906 objects were excavated and subsequently classified into 108 categories. The most important objects include two pairs of royal diadems made for the king and queen and two stone epigraphs containing valuable inscriptions and dates. The epigraphs give
112-582: The chamber and the brick colour pattern. The style of King Muryeong's tumulus is found only in the Gongju area. While Chinese custom placed tombs in the north, this tomb was placed in the south. However, the king was placed in the east part of the tomb while the queen was placed in west which follows Chinese practice. The main chamber is rectangular and made of black brick. It is 4.2 meters north–south, 2.72 meters east–west, and 3.14 meters (13 ft 9 in×8 ft 11 in×10 ft 4 in) in height. While
126-455: The name and age of the king and queen and dates of their deaths and burials, a rarity for Korean tombs. These dates are also extremely valuable as they corroborate exactly the text of the Samguk Sagi . Other objects include Chinese celadon jars, a copper bowl, gold and silver bracelets and earrings, footrests, bronze mirrors, a ring-pommelled sword, and gilt-bronze shoes. The bier in the tomb
140-444: The north and south walls stand straight, the east and west walls curve inward, creating an arched roof. The south wall has an arch-shaped door which leads to a passageway and entrance of the tomb. The door is 2.9 meters in length, 1.04 meters in width, and 1.45 meters in height (114×41×57 inches). The east and west walls have two onion-shaped or flame-shaped niches to hold lamps while the north wall has one such niche. The placement of
154-406: The tomb looks like an earthen mound, 20 meters in diameter and 7.7 meters (66 ft × 25 ft) in height. It is believed that the mound was originally larger. Notably, the tomb employed a drainage system. The tomb is based on the southern Chinese prototypes but also incorporates Baekje elements to create a Korean-style tomb. Solely Korean elements of the tomb include the arched shape of
SECTION 10
#1732855630242168-650: Was born in an island. In 501, he sent an army to attack Goguryeo's Sugok-seong. In 503, he repelled an attack by the Mohe . In 507, he successfully countered another attack by Goguryeo and Mohe forces. In 512, Goguryeo conquered two castles, but Muryeong personally led 3,000 men to destroy the Goguryeo army. In 523, he ordered the building of a fortified wall to defend the northern border. According to both historical and archeological sources, contact and trade between China and Baekje increased during Muryeong's reign. In 512, according to
182-470: Was covered by the remains of the wood coffins. The grave goods were placed below the coffins while some of the most important artifacts were placed on the bodies of the king and queen, such as the sword by the king's waist and the diadem ornaments at the heads of both the king and queen. 36°27′38″N 127°06′46″E / 36.4606°N 127.1128°E / 36.4606; 127.1128 South China South China ( pinyin : Huá'nán )
196-516: Was the first time that a Japanese emperor publicly referred a Korean blood in the imperial line. According to the Shoku Nihongi , Emperor Kanmu 's mother, Takano no Niigasa (720 – 790) is a descendant of Prince Junda , son of Muryeong, who died in Japan in 513 ( Nihon Shoki Chapter 17). Tomb of King Muryeong The Tomb of King Muryeong , also known as Songsan-ri Tomb No. 7 ( 공주 송산리 7호분 ),
#241758