Talhae of Silla

Talhae of Silla
Hangul 탈해 이사금, 토해 이사금
Hanja 脫解尼師今, 吐解尼師今
Revised Romanization Talhae Isageum, Tohae Isageum
McCune–Reischauer T'arhae Isagŭm, T'ohae Isagŭm
Monarchs of Korea
Silla
(Pre-unification)
  1. Hyeokgeose 57 BCE – 4 CE
  2. Namhae 4–24
  3. Yuri 24–57
  4. Talhae 57–80
  5. Pasa 80–112
  6. Jima 112–134
  7. Ilseong 134–154
  8. Adalla 154–184
  9. Beolhyu 184–196
  10. Naehae 196–230
  11. Jobun 230–247
  12. Cheomhae 247–261
  13. Michu 262–284
  14. Yurye 284–298
  15. Girim 298–310
  16. Heulhae 310–356
  17. Naemul 356–402
  18. Silseong 402–417
  19. Nulji 417–458
  20. Jabi 458–479
  21. Soji 479–500
  22. Jijeung 500–514
  23. Beopheung 514–540
  24. Jinheung 540–576
  25. Jinji 576–579
  26. Jinpyeong 579–632
  27. Seondeok 632–647
  28. Jindeok 647–654
  29. Muyeol 654–661

Talhae of Silla (?-80, r. 57-80) was the fourth king of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He is commonly called Talhae Isageum or Seok Talhae, isageum being the royal title in early Silla.

Contents

Background

He was a member of the Gyeongju Seok clan, one of the noble clans that shared the Silla throne during the early Common Era.

He was born in a small kingdom 1000 li1 northeast of Wa (Japan)[1]. (The name of the kingdom is Dapana-guk 다파나국 多婆那國2 according to Samguk Sagi, or Yongseong-guk 용성국 龍城國 "Dragon Castle/City"[2] according to Samguk Yusa.) His father, King Hamdalpa, was a king of this kingdom, his mother was a queen or princess of another small kingdom.

According to the Samguk Sagi, when he was born as an egg, his father considered it an ill omen and had it boxed and floated at sea. The egg floated past Geumgwan Gaya and landed east of Gyerim (near today's Gyeongju, South Korea), where he was raised by an old man as a fisherman. His family is said to have taken over a high official's house by claiming to be metalsmiths.

His birth year is unknown, but he was probably an old man when he assumed the throne, having married the daughter (or younger sister) of Silla's King Namhae in the year 8. He was offered the throne as successor to the second king Namhae, but the older Yuri served as king first. Yuri in turn designated Talhae his successor.

1li is roughly equivalent to 400-500 meters.

2Tamba no kuni was located 460km northeast of Wa no Nakoku(倭奴國).

Reign

In 64, the rival Korean kingdom Baekje attacked several times. Silla battled the Gaya confederacy in 77.

According to legend, in 65 the infant Kim Alji, ancestor of the Gyeongju Kim family, was found by Hogong in a golden box in the royal Gyerim forest. Talhae named his kingdom Gyerim at this time (the name Silla was officially adapted much later).

A tomb believed to be Talhae's is located in northern Gyeongju City. The Gyeongju National Museum is constructed on the site where Talhae had a palace built.

References

  1. ^ 三國史記 卷第一 新羅本紀第一 脱解尼師今, 脱解本多婆那國所生也 其國在倭國東北一千里
  2. ^ 三國遺事 紀異 卷第一 脱解王, 我本龍城國人 亦云正明國 或云琓夏國 琓夏或作花厦國 龍城在倭東北一千里

See also