Paekche

Long ago, a kingdom called Paekche lived in Korea.

A leader named Onjo started it.

Paekche was a very big place. It had a lot of people.

Many people lived in the lands.

The people were great at sailing. They used boats on the sea. They shared new ideas with others.

They even shared new ways to pray.

They sent people to far lands. They traded with many groups. This helped them grow strong.

Paekche is a famous part of history. It was a special place.

Long ago, a kingdom called Paekche lived in Korea.

It started in 18 BCE. A leader named Onjo founded it. He moved his people south to a place called Wiryeseong.

Paekche was a very big kingdom. It had about 3,800,000 people. This was a huge number for that time.

The kingdom was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. It fought and made deals with its neighbors, Goguryeo and Silla.

Paekche was also a great sea power. They were very good at sailing on the ocean. They traded with China and Japan.

They shared many things, like new art and Buddhism. Buddhism is a way of life and prayer.

In the 5th century, the kingdom faced hard times. They had to move their capital to new cities. Later, in 660 CE, Silla and Tang China attacked. Paekche lost this war. Some people tried to bring the kingdom back. They even asked Japan for help. But the new forces won in 663 CE. The kingdom of Paekche was gone.

Paekche was a powerful kingdom in southwestern Korea.

It existed from 18 BCE to 660 CE. This kingdom was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Its neighbors were Goguryeo and Silla. Paekche had a very large population. It had about 3,800,000 people living there. This was much larger than the population of Silla.

This size helped the kingdom become a major force in the region.

The kingdom began with a leader named Onjo. He was the third son of a man named Dongmyeong. Onjo led a group of people south from Goguryeo. They settled in a place called Wiryeseong. This area is where southern Seoul is today. Onjo first called his country Shipje. Later, he renamed it Paekche. The name Paekche means "hundred counties." This name showed how the kingdom grew over time.

Paekche was a great maritime power on the sea. They were very skilled at sailing and trading. They built strong ties with China and Japan.

Because of their ships, they shared many important things. They helped spread Buddhism across East Asia. They also shared continental culture with Japan. They shared writing, pottery, and new ways of art. This made Paekche a very important center for many different people.

As time passed, the kingdom faced many hard jobs. In the 5th century, Goguryeo attacked from the north. Paekche had to move its capital to Ungjin. Later, King Seong moved the capital to Sabi.

Sabi was a strong city on the Geum River. Being near the river made trade with China easier. The kingdom grew its culture and religion during this time. King Seong even tried to call the land Nambuyeo.

In 660 CE, the kingdom faced its final struggle. An alliance of Silla and Tang China attacked Paekche. A general named Gyebaek led the Paekche army. However, the alliance was too large to defeat. The capital of Sabi fell shortly after the battle.

Some people tried to start the kingdom again. They even asked Japan for help with soldiers. In 663 CE, a final big battle happened at Baekgang. The alliance won, and the kingdom of Paekche ended.

Paekche was a major kingdom in southwestern Korea that lasted from 18 BCE to 660 CE. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, alongside Goguryeo and Silla.

Paekche was notable for having a very large population. It had roughly 3,800,000 people, which was divided into about 760,000 households. This population was much larger than Silla, which had only 850,000 people. It was also comparable in size to Goguryeo, which had 3,500,000 people. Because of this large population, Paekche became a significant regional power.

The kingdom was founded by a leader named Onjo. He was the third son of Dongmyeong and Soseono. Onjo and his brother Biryu led people south from the kingdom of Goguryeo. Onjo settled in Wiryeseong, which is located in what is now southern Seoul. He originally named his country Shipje, meaning "tens of counties." After a conflict with his brother Biryu, Onjo renamed the land Paekche. This name means "hundred counties" or "hundred vassals." This change reflected the growing strength of the state.

Paekche was a famous maritime power with great nautical skills. Historians sometimes compare its sea influence to the Phoenicians of East Asia.

The kingdom used its ships to build strong trade and political ties with China and Japan. These sea routes allowed for the spread of Buddhism throughout East Asia. Paekche also shared continental culture with Japan. They introduced the Chinese writing system, advanced pottery, and new ceremonial burial practices. This cultural exchange helped shape the development of many neighboring regions.

The kingdom's territory changed many times due to wars and expansion. During the 4th century, King Geunchogo expanded the borders significantly. At its peak, Paekche controlled most of the western Korean peninsula.

His reign included a major victory against Goguryeo at Pyongyang in 371. However, the 5th century brought new challenges from the north. Goguryeo forces captured the Seoul region in 475. This forced Paekche to move its capital to Ungjin, which is modern-day Gongju.

In 538, King Seong moved the capital again to Sabi, known today as Buyeo County.

He renamed the country Nambuyeo, or "Southern Buyeo," to honor its ancient roots. The Sabi period was a time of great cultural growth. The location of Sabi on the Geum River helped trade with China flourish. During this time, Buddhism became the official state religion in 528. The kingdom's administration became more organized with a complex system of government ranks.

The political structure of Paekche was highly organized. The central government used sixteen different ranks for its officials. The top six officials formed a group similar to a modern cabinet.

These top officials, called the Sol rank, managed political and military matters. The nobility held a great deal of power within the kingdom. Powerful families like the Hae and Jin clans often provided queens. In the Sabi era, a unique system was used to choose the chief minister. Names were placed under a rock, and a mark would reveal the winner.

The end of Paekche came through a massive military alliance. In 660, the forces of Silla and Tang China attacked the kingdom.

A general named Gyebaek led the defense at the Battle of Hwangsanbeol. Despite his efforts, the Paekche army was defeated by the larger alliance. The capital at Sabi fell shortly after the battle. This led to the annexation of the territory by Tang China. Many members of the ruling class fled to Japan during this collapse.

Even after the fall, people tried to restore the kingdom. A monk named Dochim and a general named Buyeo Boksin led a revival movement.

They brought Prince Buyeo Pung back from Japan to lead them. In 663, a final major conflict occurred at the Battle of Baekgang. This was a naval battle involving Japanese ships and Tang forces. The Silla-Tang alliance won the battle, which ended the last hope for Paekche. The kingdom finally became part of Unified Silla.