| Gyerim | |
 | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 계림 |
| Hanja | 鷄林 |
| Revised Romanization | Gyerim |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kyerim |
The Gyerim is a small woodland in Gyeongju National Park,Gyeongju,South Korea. The name literally means "rooster forest." The grove lies near the old site of the Silla kingdom palace in central Gyeongju. Nearby landmarks include the Banwolseong fortress,Cheomseongdae,the Gyeongju National Museum,and the Royal Tombs Complex. [1]
The original name of Gyerim was Sirim (시림,始林). However,according to the Samguk Sagi,a 12th-century Korean history,Sirim was the site where the child Kim Alji,founder of the Gyeongju Kim clan,was discovered. Found in a golden box accompanied by a rooster,he was adopted by the royal family. His descendants became the later kings of Silla and the forest where he was found was renamed Gyerim,"Rooster Forest." [2] The Samgungnyusa ,a 13th-century miscellanea of tales relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea,gives a different origin of the term Gyerim. According to that text,the founder of Silla,Hyeokgeose,was born at a stream called Gyejeong (계정,鷄井),"rooster well," and that his future consort was born from a dragon that came to earth at another place called Gyeryongseo (계룡서,鷄龍瑞),and for this reason the area was renamed Gyerim. [1] [3]
However,it is presumed that Gim's Legend related to Gye(계,鷄) was mixed with the legend of state's founder. Because,The source of these records is a comprehensive record of verbal legends in the 13th century written by Buddhist monks. There is a difference of more than 1000 years from the time when the incident occurred. In the Samguk Sagi,a more reliable history book,Legend related to Gye(계,鷄) is mentioned only in Gim Al-ji's part,but not in Hyeokgeose's part.
Based upon the legends of Silla's founding,Gyerim also became a sobriquet for that state. The earliest recorded reference we have of Gyerim being used to designate Silla is from the Chinese histories. The Old Book of Tang records that in 663 Emperor Gaozong of Tang designated Silla the Gyerim Territory Area Command (Hanja : 鷄林 州都 督府 ) and Munmu of Silla as its commander-in-chief. [1] [4] The early eighth-century Sillan scholar Kim Dae-mun authored a no longer extant book of tales of Silla entitled Gyerim japjeon (Hanja : 鷄林 雜傳 ). [5]
Gyerim also appears in the title of the early twelfth-century Chinese work Gyerim yusa ,which provides one of the earliest sources of information on the pronunciation of the native Korean language. [6]
Being considered a holy place,a monument commemorating the birth legend of Kim Alji was built in 1803 by the Joseon. [7] Gyerim has been designated as historical landmark #19 from the Korean government since January,1963. The grounds cover 7,300 m2 and has a dense forest of old oak,ash,zelkova,willow,Japanese clovers,scarlet maple and Japanese pagoda trees. [1] [3]
Samguk Sagi is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea:Goguryeo,Baekje and Silla. The Samguk Sagi is written in Classical Chinese,the written language of the literati of ancient Korea,and its compilation was ordered by King Injong of Goryeo and undertaken by the government official and historian Kim Busik and a team of junior scholars. Completed in 1145,it is well known in Korea as the oldest surviving chronicle of Korean history. The document has been digitized by the National Institute of Korean History and is available online with Modern Korean translation in Hangul and original text in Classical Chinese.
Silla or Shilla was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla,along with Baekje and Goguryeo,formed the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Samguk yusa or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms is a collection of legends,folktales and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea,as well as to other periods and states before,during and after the Three Kingdoms period. "Samguk yusa is a historical record compiled by the Buddhist monk Il Yeon in 1281 in the late Goryeo Dynasty." It is the earliest extant record of the Dangun legend,which records the founding of Gojoseon as the first Korean nation. The Samguk yusa is National Treasure No. 306.
Hyeokgeose of Silla,also known by his personal full name as Bak Hyeokgeose (朴赫居世),was the founding monarch of Silla,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was the progenitor of all Bak (Park) clans in Korea.
Gyeon Hwon was the king and founder of Later Baekje,one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea,and reigned from 892 to 935. Some records render his name as "Jin Hwon" (진훤). He was also the progenitor of the Hwanggan Gyeon clan. Substantial accounts of his life are preserved in the Samguk Sagi,which presents a single narrative,and the Samguk Yusa,which presents excerpts about him from various sources.
Suro (수로) or Sureung,commonly called Kim Suro,was the legendary founder and Hero King of Geumgwan Gaya (43–532),in southeastern Korea.
Choe Chiwon was a Korean philosopher and poet of the late medieval Unified Silla period (668-935). He studied for many years in Tang China,passed the Tang imperial examination,and rose to the high office there before returning to Silla,where he made ultimately futile attempts to reform the governmental apparatus of a declining Silla state.
Yuri of Silla was the third king of Silla,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is commonly called Yuri Isageum.
Talhae of Silla was the fourth king of Silla,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is commonly called Talhae Isageum,isageum being the royal title in early Silla. Also known by his personal name as Seok Tal-hae (昔脫解).
Adalla of Silla was the eighth ruler of Silla,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is commonly called Adalla Isageum,isageum being the royal title in early Silla. As a descendant of Silla's founder Hyeokgeose,his surname was Bak.
Michu of Silla was the thirteenth ruler of the Korean state of Silla. He was the first king of the Kim clan to sit on the Silla throne;this clan would hold the throne for most of Silla's later history. He was the son of Gudo,a leading Silla general,and the sixth-generation descendant of the clan founder Kim Alji.
Jinpyeong of Silla was the 26th king of the Silla Dynasty,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. King Jinpyeong followed in the footsteps of his predecessor,King Jinji,by reorganizing the central ruling system of Silla. Upon the onset of a multitude of conflicts between Baekje and Goguryeo,he sent emissaries to improve relations and strengthen ties between Silla and the Chinese dynasties Sui and Tang. He is also known for his promotion of Buddhism as a spiritual guide for the kingdom and encouraging Buddhist teachings.
The Battle of Hwangsanbeol took place between the forces of Silla and Baekje in Hwangsanbeol in 660.
Jinseong of Silla was the fifty-first ruler of the Korean kingdom,Silla in 887–897. She was also Silla's third and last reigning queen after Seondeok and Jindeok. Her reign saw the end of Unified Silla and the beginning of the Later Three Kingdoms period. According to her older brother Jeonggang,she was smart by nature and tall like a man.
Heongang of Silla (c.861–886) was the 49th to rule the Korean kingdom of Silla.
Gyeongmun of Silla (841–875) was the 48th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the grandson of King Huigang,and the son of the ichan Kim Gye-myeong. His mother was Lady Gwanghwa,the daughter of King Sinmu. Gyeongmun married Queen Munui,who was the daughter of King Heonan.
Gim Al-ji was a historical figure in Korean history. His descendants formed the Gim royal clan of Silla,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Lady Saso is said to be the mother of Hyeokgeose of Silla. Also known as the Sacred Mother of Mt. Seondo (Hangul:선도산),legends say she was a princess from the Chinese royal family. Having coming from China and settling upon the Jinhan Confederacy,she gave birth to Hyeokgeose of Silla. Later,she was honored as great king by King Gyeongmyeong.
Lady Aryeong was married to Hyeokgeose of Silla who was the founder of Silla. According to Samguk Yusa,Aryeong was born from the left side of the dragon which appeared near the well. However,the Samguk Sagi,says it was the right side.
The Gyerim Territory Area Command was a proposed autonomous administration to be established in Silla territory by the Tang dynasty. In the place of Baekje and Goguryeo,the Tang created the Protectorate General to Pacify the East,Ungjin Commandery.
