Beopheung of Silla

Beopheung of Silla
Hangul	법흥왕
Hanja	法興王
Revised Romanization	Beopheung wang
McCune–Reischauer	Pŏphŭng wang

Monarchs of Korea Silla (Pre-unification)

Hyeokgeose 57 BC – 4 AD Namhae 4–24 Yuri 24–57 Talhae 57–80 Pasa 80–112 Jima 112–134 Ilseong 134–154 Adalla 154–184 Beolhyu 184–196 Naehae 196–230 Jobun 230–247 Cheomhae 247–261 Michu 262–284 Yurye 284–298 Girim 298–310 Heulhae 310–356 Naemul 356–402 Silseong 402–417 Nulji 417–458 Jabi 458–479 Soji 479–500 Jijeung 500–514 Beopheung 514–540 Jinheung 540–576 Jinji 576–579 Jinpyeong 579–632 Seondeok 632–647 Jindeok 647–654 Muyeol 654–661

King Beopheung (r. 514–540 AD) was the 23rd monarch of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was preceded by King Jijeung (r. 500–514) and succeeded by King Jinheung.

By the time of his reign, Buddhism had become fairly common in Silla, as it had been introduced much earlier by Goguryeo monks during King Nulji's reign. One of King Beopheung's ministers, a man named Ichadon, was a Buddhist convert who had even shaved his head and took the tonsure. He constantly implored the king to adopt Buddhism as the state religion, and in fact King Beopheung himself had become fond of Buddha's teachings. However, the other ministers of Silla were greatly opposed to this, and expressed such defiance to the king. Beopheung, having been persuaded by his ministers, was at a crossroads, and encountered great reluctance to change. At this time, Ichadon suggested his own martyrdom and pleaded with the king to execute him in public for the cause of Buddhism. This the king refused to do, and so Ichadon deliberately insulted the ministers of the kingdom, thus provoking the anger of the king. In the end, Ichadon was executed in public, but before his head was cut off, he stated that the blood spilled from his body would not be red but milky white. According to the Samguk Yusa, his predictions proved correct, and Ichadon's milky blood horrified the ministers of the kingdom. As a result of Ichadon's matyrdom, King Beopheung finally chose Buddhism as the state religion. However, true Buddhist freedom in Shilla would not begin until the reign of King Jinheung.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of Korean monarchs#Silla
• History of Korea

References

Beopheung of Silla House of Kim Died: 540
Regnal titles
Preceded by Jijeung	King of Silla 514–540	Succeeded by Jinheung
Titles in pretence
Preceded by Jijeung	— TITULAR — King of Korea 514–540 Reason for succession failure: Three Kingdoms of Korea	Succeeded by Jinheung