Silla

Silla, although the smallest of the three kingdoms, was the first to form. Founded by Chin Han in 57 BC, it was tucked away in the agriculturally fertile southeast. It was also the weakest of the three kingdoms in military terms. Isolated geographically, the people had little threat of raids and attacks from hostile neighbors. The land was rich for farming, so its people did not have to rely upon raiding or conquering other clans in search for food, as did the other two kingdoms. They had a peaceful existence.

Silla became a refuge for people from the other two kingdoms who preferred to live under old clan customs rather than under authoritarian rule. Due to the efforts of its people, Silla gradually developed into a powerful entity on the peninsula. Silla's growth was further stimulated by the introduction of Buddhism in the fifth century AD by the noted monk, Won-hyo. The high spiritual values of Buddhism appealed more to the people than the native myths.

Religious Influence

During this period, tribal deity worship declined on the Korean Peninsula due to the penetration southward from China of Confucianism, Taoism, and later Buddhism. These religions had varying degrees of importance in the development of thought during the Three Kingdom Era.

Confucianism

Confucianism was the first to arrive and began to be absorbed by the Kingdoms of Koguryo and Paekche in the 4th century AD. However, they did not become wholly Confucian societies They maintained their own cultural identities while adopting certain elements of the Confucian system of education and politics. From this introduction, the standards of formalized Korean culture and statesmanship were raised considerably. During this time, the Confucian system of recording events in written form began, so this is the first period of Korean history which was formally recorded.

Under the guidance of the Confucian monk Sundo, King Sosurim of Koguryo, in 372 AD, established T'aehak, the first national college for the education of the aristocracy in his kingdom. Soon after this, he began opening private academies called Kyongdang. These schools were set up to educate the youth of the Koguryo aristocracy in the Confucian classics, Chinese literature, the healing arts, and the martial arts. These were the first formalized schools of martial arts on the Korean Peninsula. These academies were not open to the public but were solely for the privileged.

From the Kingdom of Paekche, Confucian ideals were transmitted to Japan at the bequest of King Kunch Ogo (346-375 AD). Two Confucian scholars, A Chikki and Wang In were sent to Japan. They brought with them ten copies of the Analects of Confucius and one copy of the Chien Cha Wen, "The Thousand Character Classic." This is also the point where the initial transmissions of the Korean martial arts system of Subak was passed from Korea to Japan.

During the Three Kingdom Era, Confucian ideology seems to have had the least direct effect upon the Korean Kingdom of Silla. By the end of the 6th century AD, Confucian ideals apparently influenced some of the cultural doctrines of this kingdom but not to the degree that it had impacted the kingdoms of Koguryo and Paekche.

Taoism

Taoism, which is both a religious and political system of thought, was first brought onto the Korean Peninsula in 624 AD when Emperor Kao Tsu, of the Chinese T'ang Dynasty, sent a Taoist priest, Shu Ta, to meet with King Yong Nyu (617- 642 AD) of Koguryo. At this point, the elite members of Koguryo society begin to take an interest in the speculative thought of Taoism but this enthusiasm only lasted for about one hundred years. It was much later, in the 12th century, that the Taoist concept of Um and Yang (Yin and Yang in Chinese) and the I Ching scriptures were embraced by the Korean masses.

Buddhism

Buddhism came to China from India in the 1st century AD. Though not fundamentally embraced by each of the varying Chinese dynasties, it did expand and reached the Northern Korean kingdom of Koguryo in 372 AD. The teachings then proceeded Southward to Paekche in 384 AD.

Buddhism was introduced to Silla during the reign of King Nul Chi (417-457 AD). Two Buddhist missionaries, Chong Bang and Myolgubi arrived during the early part of his reign and were put to death. The monks, Hukhoja and Ado arrived from Koguryo later in his rule. Near the time of their arrival, King Nul Chi's daughter became ill. Hukhoja cured the princess by burning incense in her presence and making a vow to one of the Bodhisattvas. This cure brought the King's favor and Buddhism was accepted by the Silla aristocracy.

As time progressed on the Korean Peninsula, Buddhism vacillated between favor and outrage within the varying Korean dynasties. By the sixth century, Koguryo, though predominately adhering to a Confucian doctrine, accepted elements of Buddhism into its overall philosophic canon. Po Duk, one of the preeminent Koguryo Buddhist monks of this period, traveled to China where he amassed a large amount of Buddhist scriptures. Upon returning to his kingdom, he attempted to veer the Koguryo government away from any adherence to Confucianism. Unsuccessful, he left for the Kingdom of Paekche, where Buddhism flourished. In Paekche, Buddhism was so universally accepted that in 600 AD King Pop instigated a law which forbid the taking of any life, including animals.

From Paekche, Buddhist monks were sent to Japan in the 6th century. This is the point where Buddhism was introduced to the island nation.

The Buddhist monk, Kwalluk, (Kanroku in Japanese), crossed the East Sea in 602 AD. He brought with him a large number of Buddhist sutras, historical books, works on astronomy, geography, and the occult arts, including the science of Ki. He was instrumental in the founding the Sanron school of Buddhism in Japan.

By the end of the sixth century, Buddhism reached its maturity in all three Kingdoms on the Korean Peninsula. Korean monks were commonly sent to China and India, and missionaries frequently traveling to Japan. Buddhism completely replaced the primal shamanistic religions indigenous to the Korean Peninsula.

Though The Three Kingdoms had become essentially Buddhist in their religious beliefs, there existed ever increasing differences in their political ideologies. Warfare between the kingdoms, though always present, moved onto new expansionist ideologies.