Research Article
A Study on the Transition to the Territorial State and Monarchy of Baekje in the 4th Century
동국대학교
Published: January 2022 · Vol. 30 · pp. 143-188
Full Text
Abstract
Baekje divided the whole country into five divisions around the time of King Geunchogo. These five divisions are called 5 bu. At that time, the northern boundary of Baekje was the Yeseong River, the eastern boundary was Chuncheon, and the southern boundary was Charyeong. In the process of dividing the 5 bu, many fortresses were built and the people moved, which became an opportunity for the central power to penetrate deeply and evenly throughout the 5 bu. The fact that Baekje's dominance was evenly spread over the 5 bu at that time is revealed in the change in the troop mobilization system. Baekje has been able to mobilize up to 30,000 troops from the reign of King Geunchogo, and the number of 30,000 can only be achieved by recruiting one man from almost all households incorporated in Baekje at the time.
In addition, Baekje monopolized the production and distribution of ironware, which resulted in crushing the influence of Gukeup on Euprak, and eventually the order within small states was dismantled. This was possible because Baekje directly took control of the iron mines near the Sobaek Mountains. In this way, Baekje strengthened its influence on Euprak society and organized each Euprak as a unit of local administration. In addition, the expansion of the supply of iron tools naturally caused an increase in agricultural productivity, which caused class differentiation and the communal relationship within Euprak was dismantled.
This series of changes that occurred in the process of transforming into a territorial state brought about a change in the way the government was run, and eventually led to the establishment of a monarchy system. Jwapyeong is a title given to local power figures with their own power base during the period of the Allied Kingdom. Therefore, in the process of transforming into a territorial state, the class receiving Jwapyeong gradually decreased. As a result, when the era of King Geunchogo and King Geungusu arrived, only the Jin clan was given Jwapyeong. During this period, the Jin clan enjoyed a status comparable to that of the royal family, such as being given the right to internal affairs. However, it is confirmed that the Jin clan was also incorporated under the Gwandeung(Official Ranks) system when the reign of King Jinsa came.
In addition, Baekje monopolized the production and distribution of ironware, which resulted in crushing the influence of Gukeup on Euprak, and eventually the order within small states was dismantled. This was possible because Baekje directly took control of the iron mines near the Sobaek Mountains. In this way, Baekje strengthened its influence on Euprak society and organized each Euprak as a unit of local administration. In addition, the expansion of the supply of iron tools naturally caused an increase in agricultural productivity, which caused class differentiation and the communal relationship within Euprak was dismantled.
This series of changes that occurred in the process of transforming into a territorial state brought about a change in the way the government was run, and eventually led to the establishment of a monarchy system. Jwapyeong is a title given to local power figures with their own power base during the period of the Allied Kingdom. Therefore, in the process of transforming into a territorial state, the class receiving Jwapyeong gradually decreased. As a result, when the era of King Geunchogo and King Geungusu arrived, only the Jin clan was given Jwapyeong. During this period, the Jin clan enjoyed a status comparable to that of the royal family, such as being given the right to internal affairs. However, it is confirmed that the Jin clan was also incorporated under the Gwandeung(Official Ranks) system when the reign of King Jinsa came.