Beopheung of Silla

23rd monarch of Silla Korea (r. 514–540)

King Beopheung
법흥왕
法興王

King of Silla

Reign

514–540

Coronation

514

Predecessor

Jijeung of Silla

Successor

Jinheung of Silla

Died

540
Silla

Spouse

Queen Kim

Posthumous name
King Beopheung (法興王, 법흥왕)

House

Kim

Father

King Jijeung of Silla

Mother

Queen Yeonje of the Park Clan

Beopheung of Silla
Hangul	법흥왕
Hanja	法興王
Revised Romanization	Beopheung wang
McCune–Reischauer	Pŏphŭng wang

Silla
Monarchs of Korea
(Pre-unification)
Hyeokgeose 57 BCE – 4 CE Namhae 4–24 Yuri 24–57 Talhae 57–80 Pasa 80–112 Jima 112–134 Ilseong 134–154 Adalla 154–184 Beolhyu 184–196 Naehae 196–230 Jobun 230–247 Cheomhae 247–261 Michu 262–284 Yurye 284–298 Girim 298–310 Heulhae 310–356 Naemul 356–402 Silseong 402–417 Nulji 417–458 Jabi 458–479 Soji 479–500 Jijeung 500–514 Beopheung 514–540 Jinheung 540–576 Jinji 576–579 Jinpyeong 579–632 Seondeok 632–647 Jindeok 647–654 Muyeol 654–661
v t e

Beopheung of Silla (r. 514–540 AD) was the 23rd monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was preceded by King Jijeung (r. 500–514) and succeeded by King Jinheung.^[1]

By the time of his reign, Buddhism had become fairly common in Silla, as it had been introduced much earlier by Goguryeo monks during King Nulji's reign. One of King Beopheung's ministers, a man named Ichadon, was a Buddhist convert who had even shaved his head and took the tonsure. He constantly implored the king to adopt Buddhism as the state religion, and in fact King Beopheung himself had become fond of Buddha's teachings.^[2] However, the other ministers of Silla were greatly opposed to this, and expressed such defiance to the king. Beopheung, having been persuaded by his ministers, was at a crossroads, and encountered great reluctance to change. At this time, Ichadon suggested his own martyrdom and pleaded with the king to execute him in public for the cause of Buddhism. This the king refused to do, and so Ichadon deliberately insulted the ministers of the kingdom, thus provoking the anger of the king. In the end, Ichadon was executed in public, but before his head was cut off, he stated that the blood spilled from his body would not be red but milky white.^[3] According to the Samguk Yusa, his predictions proved correct, and Ichadon's milky blood horrified the ministers of the kingdom. As a result of Ichadon's martyrdom, King Beopheung finally chose Buddhism as the state religion. However, true Buddhist freedom in Silla would not begin until the reign of King Jinheung.

Beopheung sent a tribute mission to the Emperor Wu of Liang in 523. This envoy visited Liang China with the help of Baekje. In this tribute, Baekje represents Silla as a subordinate to Baekje. However, Silla acknowledges this because Baekje is needed to guard against Goguryeo and Japan.

Family

Father: Jijeung of Silla (437–514) (r. 500–514)
Mother: Queen Yeonje of the Park Clan (연제부인박씨)
Wife:
- Queen Kim of the Kim clan (조생부인 김씨), daughter of Soji of Silla
  - Daughter: Queen Jiso (지소태후; ? – 574) married Galmunwang Ipjong (입종 갈문왕)
    - Grandson: Jinheung of Silla
    - Grandson: General Mijinbu (미진부; 525–548), 2nd Pungwolju
- Concubine: Princess Okjin of the Gyeongju Kim clan (옥진궁주 김씨), daughter of Wi Hwarang (위화랑), 1st Pungwolju
  - Son: Prince Kim Bidae-jeon (비대전군)
  - Son: Prince Kim Morang (모랑), 3rd Pungwolju
- Concubine: Princess Bogwa (보과공주), of the Buyeo clan (부여씨), daughter of Dongseong of Baekje
  - Daughter: Princess Nammo (남모공주)

Popular Culture

Portrayed by Park Geun-Hyung in the 1987 KBS1 TV series Ichadon

References

^ "법흥왕" [Beopheung of Silla]. terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-05-31.
^ "Buddhism: A New Tradition". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
^ "Nara to Norwich". Sainbury Institute for the study of Japanese Arts and Cultures. Retrieved 30 August 2023.