Hangul 귀실복신 Name Gwisil Boksin McCune–Reischauer Kwisil Pok-sin | Hanja 鬼室福信 Died 663 AD | |
Revised Romanization Gwisil Boksin | ||
Gwisil Boksin (鬼室福信, ? – 663) was a military general of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is remembered primarily as a leader of the Baekje Revival Movement to restore the kingdom after the capital fell in 660 to the Silla-Tang alliance.
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Background
The Gwisil clan was a collateral branch of the royal family descending from a younger son of the 26th king, Seong of Baekje. Boksin was therefore was a distant cousin of Baekje's last recognized king, Uija of Baekje. His father was named Gwisil Jeongin (鬼室貞仁) and seems to be the first to take the name "Gwisil". His name is also romanized as "Kwisil Poksin" and in Japan his name is read "Kishitsu Fukushin". As a relative to the royal family he held the highest rank in court as a minister (Sahe, 佐平).
The earliest mention of him is on August 28, 627 when "Baekje Jeongeuro" (백제전으로) is dispatched as an envoy to the court of the Tang Dynasty. At this time he held the rank of Dalsol (達率, 2nd court rank). Emperor Taizong of Tang dictated that Baekje and Goguryeo would stop their attacks on Silla but in February, 628 Baekje underwent a military coup and they attacked Silla, breaking the agreement.
Fall of Baekje
In 660, Baekje was attacked by the allied armies of Silla and Tang Dynasty China. The capital, Sabi, was taken, but Boksin resisted near modern-day Yesan. After King Uija's surrender to Tang Dynasty China, Boksin and the monk Dochim kindled a restoration movement. They sent for the prince Buyeo Pung, who had been living as a hostage in Yamato period Japan, an important Baekje ally. With some Japanese aid, they gathered the remnants of the Baekje army and launched a series of attacks on the Silla-Tang forces.
Death
In 663, Silla and Tang counterattacked, and besieged the restoration movement at a fortress known as Juryu Castle (주류성/周留城). At this point Boksin appears to have betrayed the restoration movement. He had Dochim killed and sought to slay Prince Pung as well. However, Pung killed him first, and fled to Goguryeo. The restoration movement was destroyed shortly thereafter at the Battle of Baekgang.
Excerpt from Nihon Shoki:
The location of Juryu Castle, at which Boksin's life came to an end, is now generally believed to be Ugeumam Mountain Fortress in Buan County, North Jeolla.[1]
Rites to propitiate the spirits of Boksin and Dochim are still held annually at the village of Eunsan-ri in Buyeo County, near the ancient Baekje capital.
Legacy
He had two sons, Gwisil Jipsin (鬼室集信) and Gwisil Jipsa (鬼室集斯) who both settled in Japan. Jipsa is recorded in the Nihon Shoki as coming to Japan in the eight year of Emperor Tenji (676) and became ancestor of several Japanese clans including the Kikuchi clan of Higo Province, Kyushu.