Kim Yu-shin

A Silla general who contributed to the unification of the three kingdoms of Korea. He was of Gaya descent, his great-grandson being King Kim Gyu-hye of Geumgwan, which was annexed by Silla in 532. However, his family had been active as Jinkotsu aristocrats, the royal family of Silla, along with Seongkol, in the bone rank system for generations. At the age of 15, he became a Hwarang (leader of the young warrior group of Silla aristocrats) and gained the support of the people, and was particularly close to Kim Chun-chu, who later became King Mu-yeol. He was instrumental in suppressing the Bidam Rebellion, which attempted to depose Queen Seondeok in 647, and was always at the forefront of Silla's war to unify the three kingdoms, which destroyed Goguryeo and Baekje, and even led to conflict with the Tang Dynasty, making him a great military figure.

[Makoto Kimura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

朝鮮、三国統一に貢献した新羅(しらぎ)の将軍。532年新羅に併合された金官国王金仇亥(きんきゅうがい)を曽祖(そうそ)にもつ加耶(かや)系の人物。しかし、一族は代々、骨品制において聖骨とともに新羅の王族である真骨(しんこつ)貴族として活躍している。15歳で花郎(かろう)（新羅貴族の青年戦士団の指導者）となって衆望を集め、とくに後の武烈王となる金春秋と親交があった。647年に善徳女王を廃そうとした毗曇(ひどん)の乱の鎮圧に功があり、高句麗(こうくり)、百済(くだら)を滅ぼし、さらに唐との対立にまで発展する新羅の三国統一戦争ではつねに先頭に立つなど、軍事面で大いに活躍した。

［木村　誠］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例