Silla - Shiragi (English spelling) Sinra

Japanese: 新羅 - しらぎ（英語表記）Sinra

One of the three ancient kingdoms of Korea, and the first unified dynasty of Korea (?-935). Also called "Silla". According to the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" in the "Eastern Barbarians" section, there were Jinhan countries in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula in the 3rd century, but in the mid-4th century, due to various circumstances, one of them, Siro, became the center of a tribal confederation and was called Silla in the 1970s. From then until the beginning of the 6th century, the kingdom attempted to form a unified state while facing off against Goguryeo and Baekje. The first foundation of the Silla Kingdom was established by King Beopheung (reigned 514-540), who combined Geumgwan-Gaya, the center of Mimana, to threaten Japan externally, paid tribute to the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasty of China to oppose Goguryeo, and domestically established legal codes and era names to strengthen royal authority. The next king, King Jinheung (reigned 540-576), actively promoted foreign development, fought against Baekje, killed King Seongmyeong, and overthrew the remaining Mimana in 562, preventing Japan from dominating Korea. The king paid direct tribute to Northern Qi in China, enhancing its national status, and promoted centralization by improving its government and military systems. Furthermore, the period from King Muyeol (reigned 654-661) to King Munmu (reigned 661-681) corresponds to the early Sui and Tang dynasties in China. Silla allied with the Tang, destroying Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668, and resisting the Tang's attempt to directly control the peninsula, defeating their power and completing the virtual unification of the peninsula in the 16th year of King Munmu's reign (676). The century following King Muyeol was the golden age of Silla, and in 735, it gained Tang recognition for its control over the area south of the Taedong River, expanding its territory. With Gyeongju as the capital, the country was divided into nine provinces, the system of counties and prefectures was reorganized, and cultural fortunes flourished. However, various contradictions over the succession to the throne led to the Kim Heonjang Rebellion in the 14th year of King Heondeok's reign (822). This rebellion weakened the central government's power, and led to the emergence of the era of conflict known as the "Later Three Kingdoms." In 927, King Gyeongae was killed by the forces of Later Baekje, and King Gyeongsun ascended to the throne. In 935, King Gyeongsun surrendered to the most powerful clan leader, Wang Geon, of Goryeo, and became an aristocrat under his rule, and Silla was destroyed in both name and reality.

Shinra Shinra

Please see the "Silla" page.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

朝鮮，古代三国の一つで，朝鮮最初の統一王朝 (?～935) 。「しんら」とも呼ぶ。『三国志』魏志東夷伝によれば朝鮮半島南東部には3世紀頃辰韓諸国があったというが，4世紀なかば頃諸般の情勢に促されて，そのなかの一国，斯盧 (しろ) 国が中心となり部族連合的国家が成立，同世紀 70年代には新羅と称した。以後6世紀初頭まで高句麗，百済と対立しつつ統一国家形成をはかった。新羅王国の最初の基礎を定めたのは法興王 (在位 514～540) で，対外的には任那の中心金官加羅を合せて日本に脅威を与え，中国南朝の梁に朝貢して高句麗に対抗し，国内的には律令や年号を制定して王権の強化をはかった。次の真興王 (在位 540～576) は積極的に対外発展を進め百済と戦って聖明王を殺し，また残存任那を 562年打倒して日本の朝鮮支配を阻止した。王は中国の北斉に直接朝貢してその国家的地位を高めるとともに官制や軍制を整備して中央集権を促進した。さらに武烈王 (在位 654～661) から文武王 (在位 661～681) の時代は中国では隋，唐の初期にあたるが，唐と結んで 660年百済を，668年高句麗を滅ぼし，さらに半島を直接支配下におこうとする唐に抵抗して唐の勢力を退け，文武王 16 (676) 年半島の事実上の統一を完成した。武烈王以後約1世紀は新羅の全盛期で，735年には大同江以南の支配を唐に承認させ，領域の拡大をみた。慶州を首都として全国を9州に分け，郡県の制も一応整理され文運も隆昌をきわめた。しかし王位の相続にからむ諸種の矛盾は憲徳王 14 (822) 年の金憲章の大乱を引起し，この反乱を契機として中央の権力は弱化し，地方では豪族が割拠した，いわゆる「後三国」の対立時代を現出し，927年には後百済 (こうひゃくさい) のために景哀王が殺され，敬順王が即位した。 935年敬順王は最有力の豪族，高麗の太祖王建に投降してその貴族になり，新羅は名実ともに滅亡した。