King Jinheung

The 24th king of Silla, Korea (reigned 540-576). His given names were Sanbaekjong and Shin Makubu. With the success of the previous king, King Beopheung's, domestic affairs were improved, and he advanced into the international community, bringing Silla to its peak during the Three Kingdoms period. In 541, he established diplomatic relations with Baekje, preparing to advance northward. In 545, he compiled Silla's first national history, which led to the establishment of new regional policies and the promotion of ties with regional powers. In 551, he accepted Gayageum and Garak, appeasing the Gaya countries, and advanced northward into the upper reaches of the Han River. In 553, he took control of the entire Han River basin and established Sinju. The following year, in 554, they defeated King Seong (King Seongmyeong) of Baekje, and taking advantage of the weakening influence of Baekje, in 555 they established a lower province in the lower reaches of the Nakdong River, and by 562 they had brought all of the Gaya provinces (Mimana) under their control. King Jinheung toured the newly acquired territories not only to demonstrate the power of Silla to the newly acquired local nobles, but also to rally together those local forces by erecting monuments to King Jinheung's tours in various places. Looking at these inscriptions, it can be seen that the central government was an aristocratic alliance system, with government positions and government offices remaining undifferentiated, but the local system was quite well developed. In 565, King Jinheung was the first Silla king to be given the title of inner minister of the position of Eshijijeol Dongyi Gaioui Lelang Gundong by Northern Qi.

In terms of culture, Buddhism was at its height, and Buddhist ceremonies such as the construction of large temples and the Haskan-e ceremony were actively carried out as national projects. At the same time, the Hwarang system (the sons of nobles and leaders of young warrior groups), which developed from indigenous beliefs, was adopted by the state and became the foundation for many areas, including the military, administration, religion, and education.

[Hideo Inoue]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

朝鮮、新羅(しらぎ)第24代の王（在位540～576）。諱(いみな)は彡麦(さんばく)宗、深麦夫。前代法興王代の内政充実の成果を背景に、国際社会に進出して三国時代の新羅の最盛期をつくりだした。541年に百済(くだら)と国交を結んで北進態勢を整え、545年には新羅最初の国史を編纂(へんさん)することによって、新しい地方政策がたてられ、地方勢力との結合を図ることになった。551年に伽倻琴(かやきん)・加羅楽などを受け入れて加羅諸国を懐柔するとともに、北方の漢江上流にも進出した。553年には漢江の全流域を支配して、新州を設置した。翌554年には百済の聖王（聖明王）を討ち取り、百済の影響力の弱まったのに乗じ、555年に洛東江(らくとうこう)下流域に下州を設置し、562年までに加羅諸国（任那(みまな)）をすべて支配下に収めた。真興王は新たに獲得した地域を巡回して、新付の地方豪族に新羅の勢力を誇示するだけでなく、それらの地方勢力を結集しようとして、真興王巡狩碑を各地に建立した。これらの碑文をみると、中央政治は貴族連合体制であり、官職、官庁などは未分化のままであるが、地方制度はかなり整備されていた。真興王は565年に新羅王として初めて、使持節東夷(とうい)校尉楽浪(らくろう)郡公の内臣の称号を北斉から与えられた。

　文化面では仏教が全盛で、大寺の造営や八関会などの仏事が国家的事業として盛んに行われた。これとともに固有信仰から発達した花郎（貴族の子で青年戦士団の指導者）制度が国家的に取り上げられ、軍事、行政、宗教、教育など多方面の基盤となった。

［井上秀雄］

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