Jashin was an earnest farmer who lived during the time of King Seong of Baekje. When King Seong resolved to move his nation’s capital from the mountain redoubt of Ungjin to the wide riverside plains of Sabi, there was much resistance to his plans. But among the common people, the king found support from Jashin and like-minded folk who saw great potential in the new capital, such as the fertile lands of Sabi ripe for farming and the access to the sea provided by the Geumgang River. However, the road to realizing the king’s vision was full of trials and turmoil. Continue reading
Category: Three Kingdoms
The Priest, Poet, and Painter
Gyesan was a hopeful priest who lived in the time of King Onjo and the founding of the small nation of Sipje, so named for the ten loyal servants who stood by the king. Together with Dochim the strong painter and Munmyeong the ill-fortuned poet, these three kinsmen served King Onjo as his faithful servants as he settled a new kingdom. Continue reading
A Painter from Shilla
Long ago, a painter from the nation of Shilla had studied under a poet from Baekje. The two of them became disciple and mentor, but the Painter was strong-willed and greatly desired knowledge above all else. In time, he realized that the wisdom he sought lied in the painted form. In time, his art became known even to the court of the king of Shilla. Continue reading
Pyeongkang the Poet
The brave poet Pyeongkang was a mentor to King Gaero, the twenty-first ruler of Baekje. When Gaero was a young prince, his father died but did not receive a proper burial as befitted a monarch, not for twenty years. Bereft of his father’s love from an early age, Gaero found little love from the ministers who had risen to power in his father’s absence. When Gaero finally ascended to power, he ousted those who had wronged his family, and he chose to be advised by his mentor Pyeongkang instead. Pyeongkang sensed in the king two great desires. One was the wish to see his people prosper. The other was the ambition to pursue glory through war. Pyeongkang too was courageous of heart and urged the royal disciple to seek prosperity for his kingdom through conquest. Continue reading
The Hwarang at Hwangsanbeol
The following is a summary of game of Ten Candles set in the twilight of the Three Kingdoms Era of Korean history. Two Hwarang brothers from Silla accompany an envoy to the kingdom of Goguryeo to seek an alliance in the coming war against the rival kingdom of Baekje. In the eventual war between Silla and Baekje, these brothers join the Battle of Hwangsanbeol to avenge the losses of their kingdom.
The Horsekeeper and the Blacksmith
In the year 523, King Muryeong of Baekje laid on his deathbed in the fortress of Ungjin which served as the royal palace. The 25th monarch of the kingdom was nearing the end of his long reign. At his side were two loyal retainers, Dal the Horsekeeper and Hyun the Blacksmith. They sat with the king into the twilight hours of his final days. Continue reading
The Scholar and the Poet
In the reign of King Geunchogo of Baekje, there lived a scholar named Suro who was given to thoughtful planning and deliberation. But he developed a most unexpected bond with a poet named Deokman, who would later live in exile in Goguryeo. When Master Goheung wrote the history of Baekje, Suro asked him to include the story of his brother by oath. Continue reading
A Monk Named Somyung
In the reign of King Geunchogo of Baekje, there lived a witty and clever monk named Somyung. One day, Somyung made a wondrous discovery. The monk was meant to travel to the Jin Dynasty, but he followed his intuition and ventured into the mountains instead. Continue reading