Three Kingdoms of Korea

The period and political landscape in which Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla competed for control of the Korean Peninsula and nearby regions.

Goguryeo: An ancient Korean kingdom that controlled northern Korea and parts of Manchuria. Its northern power and long rivalry with China shaped the balance among the three kingdoms.
Silla–Tang alliance: A military and diplomatic partnership between Silla and Tang China in the seventh century. It enabled Silla and Tang to defeat Baekje and Goguryeo, before their interests in the peninsula diverged.
Gwanggaeto the Great: A Goguryeo king who ruled from 391 to 413 and greatly expanded the kingdom’s territory. His campaigns made Goguryeo the dominant power in the peninsula’s early fifth-century politics.
Tomb of King Muryeong: A sealed sixth-century Baekje royal tomb discovered in Gongju, South Korea, in 1971. Its inscriptions and grave goods provide unusually direct evidence about Baekje’s royal court and external ties.
Korean Buddhism: The forms of Buddhism that developed in Korea through interaction with Chinese traditions and local societies. Royal adoption and temple building in all three kingdoms helped establish Buddhism across the peninsula.
Baekje: An ancient Korean kingdom centered in the southwestern Korean Peninsula. Its maritime ties and alliances made it a major rival of Goguryeo and Silla.
Battle of Hwangsanbeol: A 660 battle in which Silla defeated Baekje forces led by Gyebaek. The battle opened the way for Silla and Tang forces to capture Baekje’s capital.
King Seong of Baekje: A Baekje king who ruled from 523 to 554 and moved the capital to Sabi. He strengthened Baekje and joined Silla in recovering the Han River basin, before their alliance broke.
Goguryeo tomb murals: Paintings in Goguryeo tombs depicting figures, animals, architecture, and scenes of daily life. They reveal elite beliefs and visual culture where written accounts are limited.
Korean language: The language spoken by most people in Korea and the basis of its modern national standards. The kingdoms’ written records and place names contribute to the evidence for early Korean linguistic history.

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