Research Article
A Review of the Connection between Chu(州) and Kunju(軍主) in 6th Century of Silla
경희대학교
Published: January 2018 · Vol. 26 · pp. 25-69
Full Text
Abstract
It is estimated that from the 6th to 7th century, Silla's local system consists of three sections as Chu(州)-Kun(郡)-Sŏng·Ch’on (城·村). It was understood to have strong military characteristics. Kunju(軍主), known as the governor of Chu, the district of the highest level, was recognized as a government post showing the military characteristic most clearly. This study examines records on Chu to look into the connection between Chu and Kunju.
In Samguksagi(三國史記), Chu was recorded in two forms. One is the case when the word 'Chu' comes after specific place name and the other is after abstract word. Based on the record in Samguksagi, five of the six Jungs(停: A sort of corps) - in other words, broad-area Chujungs(廣域州停) - were stationed in the former Chus. The latter Chu, which was the broader area, was recognized as the military jurisdiction district of the broad-area Chujung. Kunju was conceived as the governor of Chu, staying at the specific-place-named Chu and controlling military affairs and administration of the broad-area Chu.
However, in discord with the record in Samguksagi, the record of Ch’angnyongbi(昌寧碑: The monument was erected at Ch’angnyong in 561) remains in the way the place name and Kunju were directly combined and recorded. It supports the opinion that the post of Kunju wasn't called 'Chu' and Kunju was not the governor of Chu. If 'Sabangkunju(四方軍主: Kunjus in four places)' governed the broad-area districts, then four broad-area Chus should've existed. But it appears that in the mid-6th-century Silla, only broad-area districts were established such as Sangchu(上州), Hachu(下州), Shinchu(新州), Wuchu·Silji·Haseoahkun(于抽悉支河西阿郡). No broad-area district was established that could correspond to Birisŏng(碑利城). Kunju's post and broad-area Chu were not in fact established according to the conditions corresponding to governance of Chu, administrative district, army post and military jurisdiction district. There is more possibility that the jurisdiction of Kunju was limited to Kunju's post and the function of Kunju must've not experienced great change from the 6th century to the early 7th century.
In Samguksagi(三國史記), Chu was recorded in two forms. One is the case when the word 'Chu' comes after specific place name and the other is after abstract word. Based on the record in Samguksagi, five of the six Jungs(停: A sort of corps) - in other words, broad-area Chujungs(廣域州停) - were stationed in the former Chus. The latter Chu, which was the broader area, was recognized as the military jurisdiction district of the broad-area Chujung. Kunju was conceived as the governor of Chu, staying at the specific-place-named Chu and controlling military affairs and administration of the broad-area Chu.
However, in discord with the record in Samguksagi, the record of Ch’angnyongbi(昌寧碑: The monument was erected at Ch’angnyong in 561) remains in the way the place name and Kunju were directly combined and recorded. It supports the opinion that the post of Kunju wasn't called 'Chu' and Kunju was not the governor of Chu. If 'Sabangkunju(四方軍主: Kunjus in four places)' governed the broad-area districts, then four broad-area Chus should've existed. But it appears that in the mid-6th-century Silla, only broad-area districts were established such as Sangchu(上州), Hachu(下州), Shinchu(新州), Wuchu·Silji·Haseoahkun(于抽悉支河西阿郡). No broad-area district was established that could correspond to Birisŏng(碑利城). Kunju's post and broad-area Chu were not in fact established according to the conditions corresponding to governance of Chu, administrative district, army post and military jurisdiction district. There is more possibility that the jurisdiction of Kunju was limited to Kunju's post and the function of Kunju must've not experienced great change from the 6th century to the early 7th century.