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PersonAD 375

King Geunchogo

Thirteenth king of Baekje, who absorbed Mahan and attacked Pyongyang in its golden age

He conquered the remaining Mahan states to the south, reaching the southern coast of Jeolla, and extended his influence over Gaya. In 371 he and Crown Prince Geungusu attacked Pyongyang, killing King Gogugwon of Goguryeo and taking the Hwanghae region. He opened relations with Eastern Jin and dealt with Wa; the Seven-Branched Sword at Isonokami Shrine in Japan is thought to have been sent by Baekje to the Wa king at this time, though Korean and Japanese scholars differ on whether it was a royal gift or tribute. The scholar Go Heung wrote the history Seogi, and father-to-son royal succession took hold in his reign.

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4 related events

  1. AD 346 – AD 375Golden Age of King Geunchogomonarch

    King Geunchogo absorbed Mahan and attacked Goguryeo’s Pyongyang, opening Baekje’s golden age and trading by sea with Eastern Jin and Wa.

  2. 1
    AD 369Baekje Absorbs Mahanmonarch

    King Geunchogo marched south, conquering the remaining Mahan states down to the south coast of Jeolla.

  3. 2
    AD 371Baekje Attacks Pyongyangmonarch

    King Geunchogo and Crown Prince Geungusu struck Pyongyang with 30,000 men; King Gogugwon of Goguryeo was killed by an arrow defending it.

  4. 3
    AD 375Go Heung compiles the Seogimonarch

    Under King Geunchogo, the scholar Go Heung is said to have compiled the Seogi, a record of Baekje’s history.

People who appear alongside

  • Go Heung

    Baekje erudite under King Geunchogo who is said to have compiled the history Seogi

  • King GogugwonAD 371

    Sixteenth king of Goguryeo, killed defending Pyongyang against Baekje

Themes this person appears in

  • Writing Korean HistoryAD 375 – 1931

    From the Seogi, Guksa and Sinjip to the Joseon sanggosa — history-writing as royal display, Confucian record, assertion of independence and nationalist scholarship

  • Crafts and MetalworkAD 346 – 1392

    From the Seven-Branched Sword to mother-of-pearl lacquer — Three Kingdoms crowns, censers and daggers, the great bell of Unified Silla, Goryeo silver inlay and najeon

  • Pyongyang194 BC – 2007

    From Wanggeom-seong of Gojoseon to the inter-Korean summits — capital of Goguryeo, Western Capital of Goryeo, the great city on the Taedong