Kim Inmun
Encyclopedia
Kim Inmun was a noted aristocrat, scholar, and official of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla
. He was the son of Muyeol
and the younger brother of Munmu
, the twenty-ninth and thirtieth kings respectively of Silla.
In 651, as a young man of twenty-three, Kim Inmun was dispatched by his father, King Muyeol, to Tang
China and entered into the service of Tang Gaozong
, where he soon won that emperor's trust and esteem. In 653 King Muyeol entrusted his son Inmun with the diplomatic mission of securing a Tang military alliance against Silla's rival Baekje
. Kim Inmun mobilized with the Tang troops that subsequently marched on Baekje, and participated in the campaign that ended in the destruction of Baekje and the capture of its last king Uija
. Kim Inmun would go on to serve as a regular mediary between the Tang and Silla courts in the years of Korea's unification wars and for a short period thereafter, living much of his life in the Tang capital.
In 674, in the wake of Silla's unification of the peninsula and the subsequent detioration of the Silla-Tang alliance, Kim Inmun was actually named King of Silla by the Tang emperor and ordered to return to Silla to replace his brother on the throne. It was while en route back to Silla that an embassy from Silla was met proferring apologies to Tang and seeking forgiveness. Kim's title was rescinded and he returned to the Tang capital.
The 12th century Korean history Samguk Sagi
contains a brief biography of Kim Inmun. There it states that he died of illness in the Tang capital of Chang'an
in the fourth month of 694, a detail confirmed in the Tang histories. The Tang emperor sent a special delegation to conduct Kim's body back to Silla. In Silla he was granted the posthumous title of Taedae gakgan (태대각간, 太大角干) and was buried on the western plain of the Silla capital of Gyeongju
.
The 13th century Samguk Yusa
relates that Kim Inmun died on board ship en route back to Silla, but considering the rather detailed account of Kim's death and subsequent funeral embassy found in the Tang histories and repeated in the Samguk Sagi, this account seems doubtful.
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
. He was the son of Muyeol
Muyeol of Silla
King Taejong Muyeol , born Kim Chunchu, was the 29th monarch of the southern Korean kingdom of Silla and ruled from 654 to 661. He is credited for leading the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea...
and the younger brother of Munmu
Munmu of Silla
Munmu of Silla was the thirtieth king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is usually considered to have been the first ruler of the Unified Silla period. Munmu was the son of King Muyeol and Munmyeong, who was the younger sister of Kim Yu-shin...
, the twenty-ninth and thirtieth kings respectively of Silla.
In 651, as a young man of twenty-three, Kim Inmun was dispatched by his father, King Muyeol, to Tang
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
China and entered into the service of Tang Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
, where he soon won that emperor's trust and esteem. In 653 King Muyeol entrusted his son Inmun with the diplomatic mission of securing a Tang military alliance against Silla's rival Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
. Kim Inmun mobilized with the Tang troops that subsequently marched on Baekje, and participated in the campaign that ended in the destruction of Baekje and the capture of its last king Uija
Uija of Baekje
Uija of Baekje was the 31st and final ruler of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. His reign ended when Baekje was conquered by the alliance of the rival Korean kingdom Silla and China's Tang Dynasty.- Background :...
. Kim Inmun would go on to serve as a regular mediary between the Tang and Silla courts in the years of Korea's unification wars and for a short period thereafter, living much of his life in the Tang capital.
In 674, in the wake of Silla's unification of the peninsula and the subsequent detioration of the Silla-Tang alliance, Kim Inmun was actually named King of Silla by the Tang emperor and ordered to return to Silla to replace his brother on the throne. It was while en route back to Silla that an embassy from Silla was met proferring apologies to Tang and seeking forgiveness. Kim's title was rescinded and he returned to the Tang capital.
The 12th century Korean history Samguk Sagi
Samguk Sagi
Samguk Sagi is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The Samguk Sagi is written in Classical Chinese and its compilation was ordered by Goryeo's King Injong Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of...
contains a brief biography of Kim Inmun. There it states that he died of illness in the Tang capital of Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
in the fourth month of 694, a detail confirmed in the Tang histories. The Tang emperor sent a special delegation to conduct Kim's body back to Silla. In Silla he was granted the posthumous title of Taedae gakgan (태대각간, 太大角干) and was buried on the western plain of the Silla capital of Gyeongju
Gyeongju
Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...
.
The 13th century Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
relates that Kim Inmun died on board ship en route back to Silla, but considering the rather detailed account of Kim's death and subsequent funeral embassy found in the Tang histories and repeated in the Samguk Sagi, this account seems doubtful.
See also
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- List of Koreans
- List of Korea-related topics