Yeon Gaesomun

A statesman from the end of the Goguryeo Dynasty in Korea. In Korean and Chinese documents, he is called Quan Gai Somun, and in the Nihon Shoki, he is called Iri Kasumi. He succeeded his father as the leader of the eastern (or western) region and became the Great Tairo. He was a bold and decisive warrior, and killed over 100 of his enemies, including King Yeongyu, and established a wartime regime by supporting King Hozo (642). With this domestic regime as a backdrop, he actively engaged in foreign activities. In 643, he was active in cultural activities, such as accepting Taoism, but he also tried to expand his territory by allying with Baekje, attacking Silla, and recapturing its former territories. At this time, the Tang Dynasty attempted to mediate at the request of Silla, but he did not respond and instead imprisoned the Tang envoys. In 644, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty decided to attack Goguryeo, but failed, and battles with Goguryeo continued after that. He fended off the Tang army with his excellent leadership and strategy, but after his death, the country was divided and he was finally defeated by the Tang army, and Goguryeo was destroyed in 668.

[Hideo Inoue]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

朝鮮、高句麗(こうくり)末期の政治家。朝鮮、中国の諸文献では泉蓋(せんがい)蘇文といい、『日本書紀』では伊梨柯須弥(イリカスミ)という。父の後を継いで東部（あるいは西部）の大人となり、大対盧(だいたいろ)となった。彼は豪気果断な武人的性格で、敵対する栄留王をはじめ宮廷貴族たち100余人を殺害し、宝蔵王を擁立して戦時体制を確立した（642）。彼はこの国内体制を背景に、積極的な対外活動を展開した。643年には道教を受容するなど文化活動も積極的に行ったが、百済(くだら)と結んで新羅(しらぎ)を攻撃し、旧領を奪回するなど領土の拡張にも努めた。このとき唐は新羅の依頼により調停に乗り出したが、これに応ぜず、唐の使者を幽閉した。そこで唐の太宗は644年に高句麗を討伐に踏み切ったが、失敗し、その後も高句麗との戦闘が続いた。彼は優れた統率力と戦略とをもって唐軍の侵入を防いだが、彼の死後、国内が分裂したためついに唐軍に敗れ、668年高句麗は滅びた。

［井上秀雄］

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